Found out that one of the stresses my daughter has is that she is not feeling intelligent enough because of her brother. The problem is that this year, for the first time since lower elementary school, they are in the same school. So now she hears about him being so smart from her peers. We're going to have to work on that among other things. She's quite smart, it's just her brother is a genius who sort of leaves all of us in the dust. Reminds me of the scene in Firefly where Simon explains about his sister.

That's rough, Gudanov, for a kid.

IOmeN, I just got my acceptance letter for our company's program for people who want to pursue national credentialing [link] I am hoping it will help to close up some of the hole in my heart from not getting my degree.

I skipped the debate and went on a date (which was fine but meh. Sigh) and then went to Target where in spending the $100 you invariably end up spending at target, I bought pumpkin spice Life cereal. I thought y'all would appreciate.

I skipped the debate to have dinner with Liese!!! First time meeting face to face. I love traveling buffistae! Such nummy food. Will have to try the yak next time I go to that restaurant.

Gertrude Marshall, 104, bank analyst [link]

Mrs. Marshall was a pacifist and felt a strong attraction to the beliefs and activities of the Society of Friends. She joined the Quakers, and from 1952 until 1993, served in many leadership roles, including clerk of Haverford Monthly Meeting, clerk of Medford Monthly Meeting, clerk of Representative Meeting, and clerk of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.

She also served on the boards of the American Friends Service Committee and the National Council of Churches. Much of her outreach work reflected her opposition to the Vietnam War, and her support of racial and gender equality.

Mrs. Marshall was concerned that she would not live to cast her vote in this fall's presidential election.

"She was 8 years old in 1920, and remembered the passage of the 19th Amendment that gave American women the right to vote for the first time," her son said.

Racing against the press of declining health, Mrs. Marshall completed an absentee ballot on Tuesday, the day before she died.

"She cast her vote and signed her name as her final act of a long life of service to others," her son said.

Timelies all!

I have a dentist appointment at 9:45 for the temporary crown that fell out, and a follow-up visit to an orthopedist at 1. I'm not going to work today, obviously.

"She cast her vote and signed her name as her final act of a long life of service to others," her son said.

Love that.

My commute was a cluster this morning, but I was actually already running late, at least for me, so at least that was covered up? Not that anyone cares when I get here!

How is the foot, Sheryl?

Gud, I went through this with my sons. #2 has heard all his life from friends, teachers, and family how brilliant his brother is. It is very stressful. It is a much different dynamic now that they are in their 20s. #2 totally has his act together with employment, school, and relationships. #1 is pretty much dysfunctional. So the whole 'your brother is a genius' thing doesn't sting as much.

But it was very hard when they were kids. #1 was leading reading circle and doing multiplication in kindergarten while #2 had to be held back a year. While as adults we could see that #2 was so much more accomplished at all things a person needs to be a successful in a practical sense.

Kids have a lot of stress and the stress of being smarter than everyone you know including your teachers is just as frustrating as being the kid brother of that brainiac. Also, parenting is ridiculously stressful!!

Sue, does Marshalls ballot count? I mean I don't know the rules on that.

"She cast her vote and signed her name as her final act of a long life of service to others," her son said.

That's wonderful. Made me tear up a little.