It's a French thing. Was he French? Of course, I'm not French and I do it every spring.

Thinly slice radishes. Spread white bread or baguette with butter and layer radishes on top. Sprinkle with salt. It's really very good. Here's a fancier version with herbed butter: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/radishes-with-butter-and-salt-recipe2.html

Yeah, I've done the opposite too. I received my only moving violation, a ticket for the carpool lane, because I forgot I couldn't be in the lane without my son. Normally he rides with me on that route but that day he stayed home. I followed my usual lane changes and everything, went through the carpool lane, and got pulled over. I thought about telling the officer I made a mistake because I usually have my son with me and I forgot I didn't, but then I decided that could make things worse.

nm

I'm so glad you were all able to spend some time with Joey. :grouphug:

Wow...

Another powerful quote from that article:

I'm wondering if it's easier to buy a large kitchen rug...but I'm lazy that way.

My parents, who are wonderful with kids and would lay down their lives for us, forgot me at the grocery store parking lot when I was an infant. I had been born the week before and this was the first time they went shopping with a baby. They had the bagged groceries in the main part of the cart and I was bundled up in the little elevated space where kids can sit. They loaded the groceries and drove away, leaving me in the little section. Outside. In winter. In the Midwest. I used to ride on my mom's lap in the front seat, no car seats. She wasn't used to having a baby in her lap so they went home, unloaded the groceries, and realized I was missing. They went back to the store and there I was, still in the parking lot. I show no permanent damage except I insist on living in warm places. Coincidence?

I think there's a danger in thinking you would never forget. That's the problem - it can happen to anyone.

I picked up Book 2 at a convention last weekend. I had a long conversation with Dr. Perrin and was impressed by his sincerity. I'm really looking forward to starting it after we finish WWE. (I also picked up Greek Code Cracker and my DS loves it.)

I'm re-reading it now, after reading it the first time in high school. I can't believe how much more I'm getting out of it. My understanding of Southern culture has greatly increased since my first reading and I now see how many things I missed the first time. And it's more poignant now that I have my own children and I think about the world in which I want them to live. Tell your daughter that she may never find a more beautiful book, but if she reads it every few years she will see something new each time.

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

I'll PM you per people's requests to stay on topic. :)

Do the people against surrogacy also believe every child is here by the will of God? Because then that objection doesn't make sense to me.

And here I thought the controversy was going to be about gay dads.... :laugh:

I looked at the Amazon preview and switched to a "side part" ponytail instead of my usual "no part" ponytail. I daresay it looks better. I'm keeping my gray hairs, though. For me, after what I went through to get them, they are a badge of honor. Plus I'm too uncoordinated to dye my own hair and I need the salon money for the kids' college fund. Otherwise I'm going look too fabulous when I show up at the loan office. :D

Interesting. Your desire to avoid adult situations and topics is understandable given the age of your son. Have you given any thought to future readings about difficult topics but easier language? Where would those fit in? As an example, consider To Kill A Mockingbird. Very easy reading level, but deep topics for discussion. I am re-reading it now, having read it in high school, and am getting much more out of it, mostly due to an increased awareness of Southern culture. Some of the vocabulary has been instructive. The reading level, however is low. Would that be something you skipped when the time came because the reading level is already below what your son can currently process? Not being argumentative, just thinking aloud. I hope that comes across as intended. :)

Outside Inside (String Cheese Incident) Concert in Central Park (Simon and Garfunkel) Harvest Moon (Neil Young) Hymns of the 49th Parallel (k.d. lang) Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E Minor (performed by Itzhak Perlman) Those are for me. I've also listed to Music Together, Classical Kids, and SOTW CDs for the kids. And some SWB lectures, of course. :)

Yes, and I do feel better, actually. I did take about an extra half hour of my time but that's mostly because my eyebrows were out of control. If I maintained them regularly then I think it would take an extra 5-10 minutes. I'm not in fear of the neighbors dropping by to see if their kids are here, so that's a plus! During the school year I didn't have to worry until 3:00 but now that school's out kids are all over the neighborhood and their parents/babysitters stop by at random times.

No, I'm really frumpy. Yesterday while reading the "The Frumpy Thread" I paid attention to myself in my normal state. Red flannel elastic waist pants, frayed at the bottom where I cut the extra inches off. A Target t-shirt with no bra. No makeup. Unibrow. I cut my own hair and don't own a hair dryer or styling stuff. 20 lbs overweight due to medical problems, but at least I'm down 9 lbs as we get it straightened out. Today I have light makeup, hair up, no more unibrow, skirt with twin set. I'm even wearing the slippers with no holes in them, darn it! :lol: Seriously, I look different. Some people are just not paying attention. :glare: :laugh:

Today I've put on a nicer outfit, put up my hair, plucked my overgrown eyebrows, covered up a dark spot on my face, and put on some lip gloss. Nobody has noticed, including DH. Hmmm.

I don't have much advice but I did notice he likes audiobooks and he likes narrating stories. Can he listen to books and then re-tell stories to you while you write the narrations down? Or can he learn to type his summaries with help? And maybe illustrate them? Bookmaking? :grouphug:

Did the same trip last year and it was a blast. Stayed in cabin 5 at Shady Rest. It was great the kids played with the owners' kids. They needed some time to just hang out with other youngers.

SF fines are $935 x 2, one ticket for using the space and one ticket for misuse of placard.