If Yes Then No

Patrick woke me up this morning to tell me that Caroline had just said "cat" with the 't' perfectly articulated at the end. Actually what he said was, "Mommy! Caroline just said "cat" like a normal person! Don't you want to wake up and hear her?"

My family has an unerring ability to make me feel like I stumbled home from the casino at 5 am having forgotten to pick up any milk or generic toilet paper - again. Patrick is especially good at it; like when he lifted Caroline up so she could peer under the pillow covering my face and said, "You remember Mommy; don't you Caroline?" Steve rushed in smelling like sunshine and pancake batter and said reproachfully, "Oh Patrick! You know Mommy is still sleeping. We haven't even finished breakfast yet." And EddyBear stumped through the door behind Steve and said, "Car? Up? Go? Yo-Yo?" which no doubt was also intended to convey disdain over the fact that I was still in bed with the best of a bright and beautiful morning already behind us.

I am not a morning person. I have never been a morning person. I thought that once the twinks stopped waking me up every night I might become a little more of a morning person than I have been for the past two years, maybe, but... no. Now I am just a slightly less puffy insomniac getting six straight hours of sleep.

I wish I could do a neat little flowchart here because I want to go in three different directions:

- Patrick drives me crazy. Quite often. But to give credit where credit is due he is without question the greatest big brother ever created (rivaling my own big brother - and that's saying something.) He could not be any prouder of or more invested in Caroline and Edward's accomplishments if he had constructed them himself out of playdoh.

Last night Caroline stood up in her chair for the twentieth time. Steve, also for the twentieth time, said, "Caroline, sit down and eat." The first nineteen times she sat back down and giggled, or at least squatted a little lower in the chair. This time, however, she put her hands on her hips and thundered*, "NO!" And pointing at Steve she repeated, "No! No! No!" Then she stood there (STOOD there) with her chin stuck out at a belligerent angle.

Steve and I were speechless, having missed the whole toddler jerkface stage the first time around.

Patrick, however, beamed.

"Wasn't that the cutest thing you have ever heard in YOUR ENTIRE LIFE?"

* well... "thundered"... Caroline sounds like a pixie on helium. Edward has a fairly deep voice for a little kid. They are two very different gerbils

-- Edward had a mini language explosion this week and has added new sounds. He is also at least trying to scrape a consonant onto the end of some words rather than letting them gargle off any old way. We can understand him a little better and we are highly amused to discover that he converses like an abecedary.

"Apple?" he says. "Boat. Book. Bear. Car. Dog. Duck. E! E! Flower. Frog**... ." And so on until you get to his new favorite word, yo-yo, an item which he has never actually seen. You would be amazed at how often yo-yo can come up in conversation when you aren't too particular about context or narrative flow. My friend Noelle was over the night and she was drawing things for Edward on a Magnadoodle, which is when we discovered that he can identify roughly half of the letters in the alphabet. Suddenly all of his late evenings with Patrick's handed down books and a nightlight make sense.

Patrick, it almost goes without saying, is thrilled by what he considers to be a right and proper interest in letters and promptly began drilling Edward on the other half of the alphabet using a book he wrote this morning for that express purpose.

I love Patrick's prissy lip compression in this picture. Very School Marm.

I tried giving Edward and Caroline a little water in an open cup today. You can see that Edward is still wet. How do kids learn that skill, again? Is there a trick to it? I am pretty sure I just gave Patrick a sippy cup until... forever.

** Ah-puh. Boh-ut. Buh. Bah. Cah-ur. Dah. Duh. E! Whuh-whuh. Fuh... and yo yo.

--- Someone left a comment on the last post saying that Caroline bears a striking resemblance to Susan Boyle. I have deleted maybe five comments in the past six years and that was one of them. Not that I don't think Susan Boyle looks very nice, I do, it was just that I suspected that the comment was not intended to be complimentary. I don't know, maybe I was wrong. I try to be appreciative of the fact that an open blog with zero comment deletion presents so many more opportunities for learning and growth and realizing that I am wrong about things but I read that one and my teeth snapped shut and the next thing I knew... zing! I had deleted the comment.

Personally, I think she is the cutest thing I have ever seen in MY ENTIRE LIFE. Just ask Patrick.

 Previous Post Round-up:

Thank you so much for the tonsil help. I really appreciate it. I especially was thankful for all of you who assured me that we are doing the right thing. I realize I did not say in so many words that I was waffling but it must have been obvious that I was biting my nails over this decision. So thank you. Also thanks for all the book and movie thoughts. I got Frank Asch's Cardboard Genius (Patrick pronounces this word with a hard G - Gee-nuous. I find this fact mildly hilarious) from the library and Patrick read the entire thing in the car. He loved it. I am also looking into Percy Jackson and Artemis Fowl and... I don't know. Lots of others. I opened the library catalog page in one window and the comments in the other.

And I loved that Sally mentioned her son was also hesitant with non-animated movies and that it helped to read the book first. I had an awwwwww connection moment (Patrick's teacher used to press both her index fingers to both her thumbs and interlock them for "connections" - Patrick still does this when he puts two previously unlinked ideas together in his mind, like putting Tupperware over Caroline's head and calling it a space helmet - connection!)   

Going even further back I randomly stuffed series suggestions from you into our Netflix queue and we have been watching some new stuff. Well, first we watched a new season of old stuff because I had not realized that the next season of Weeds was out. Oooooooh! Ooooooooh, I say.

Although

*please don't read this if you have never watched Weeds but plan to do so*

I try hard not to randomly judge other people's parenting but I have a really hard time letting go and enjoying Nancy Botwin's antics when she makes these HORRIBLE maternal decisions. Good GOD. 

It's funny and entertaining and I want to rescue her children and set appropriate boundaries for them. Does that make me all middle aged and Lovejoy? It must.

We tried the first season on Pushing Daisies and I wanted to somehow cast Zooey Deschanel as the lead. Not that she doesn't have better things to do, and not that the show was without its own charm, but it began to gnaw at me. Also, the pie maker had a lopsided sincere smirk thing that bugged me.

I know we are supposed to try The Wire. We want to try the Wire. But... is it over-the-top horribly unnerving like Oz or just kinda gritty unnerving like the first few seasons of the Sopranos? Please advise.

I have a few new recipes up at Scrambled and I think I am getting a better grasp on photographing food. The new blog has become my creative outlet. Steve said, I thought your normal blog was your creative outlet? I said, no, my normal blog is like my best friend. Steve said, that is very very sad.

Kisses.

PS They have not yet hired one of the four teachers who might be Patrick's homebase teacher next year. We got the educational equivalent of a Save the Date card from the school; like, this is the letter that would be telling you about your child's teacher for the upcoming year but it isn't and here's why. I suspect Meet the Teacher night is going to be a surprise for everyone including the teacher. I think we should go the reality show route - bring in 12 candidates to Meet the Teacher and then eliminate them one by one as they deal with such challenges as: How do you get a puking kindergartener into the Childrens Theater bathroom without abandoning the rest of your class in the lobby? How do you teach reading to 31 K-1 students when they range in ability from picture books to chapter books, two speak English as a shaky second language, five have aggressive helicopter parents (Hiiiii!) and three didn't get breakfast? I doubt the principal will take my suggestion though.

Two years ago I would have been breathing into a paper bag over not knowing who Patrick's teacher might be. See how I have mellowed like cognac?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Comments

[liz]

The difference is that Caroline is absolutely precious and Susan Boyle is not. I don't like to disparage people based on their looks but I was rather offended, as a 47-year-old woman, when some well-groomed talking head tv person said that Susan Boyle looked like your average 47-year-old woman, really she doesn't.

[kris]

susan boyle looks loads better than some 47 yr old woman that i have seen. and loads worse than some so maybe that is what makes her average...

[Sheridan]

Susan Boyle? That person has got to be kidding. I think she is the most beautiful child I have seen in a long time. Including my own. So there.

[Kara]

1. Caroline does not look like that woman. She is absolutely adorable.
2. I kinda think of you (and a handful of other bloggers) as one of my best friends too, and my husband also thinks that is sad. Pfft.
3. I am absolutely loving your food blog! You and I seem to have similar taste in recipes/food, and seem to be about the same skill level, so I am definitely going to try some of your recipes. But my favorite part? Your notes. It's like getting a little bonus blog entry, and I love it! Please don't lose that part--it's that kind of stuff that helps me decide if I should try a recipe or not. Good work!

[CharmingBitch]

Love love love your food blog.

The Wire is awesome. Gritty, for sure, but so, so awesome. Just do it, don't think about it.

Susan Boyle is fine as Susan Boyle. Susan Boyle as a comparison to your beautiful baby girl made me literally suck in my breath all, ''I've got the vapors''-like. So yeah, delete that non-sense and mooooooove on. The nerve, really.

[Beth]

Thank God you think of this as your friend... my husband looked at me like I was growing another arm out of my head when I mentioned that you felt like a friend. I never had any imaginary friends... he seems to fear that we are entering that phase now and not with our two kids. Take care!!
PS... just had my tonsils out at 29 and was the worst experience of my life... you are making the absolute right choice.

[Jacqui]

Caroline is cute as a button, that person must be nuts! Still, I don't get the whole deal with Susan Boyle's looks - what, do we really now expect every entertainer to be stunningly good looking? The media reaction to this has really ticked me off big time. So she's ordinary looking but boy can she sing, shouldn't that be what it's about? Why is it so funny that she's got a fabulous voice and a bog-standard body and face? I dunno. I love Caroline's overalls in that last photo, we had the same pair and still mourn them 3 years on. Probably wouldn't look as good on a four year old though...

[Jenny]

Dear Julia,

I follow about 15 blogs, mostly in the infertility and widow arenas, and I want you to know that yours is my very favorite. I am always excited whenever I see a new post in Google Reader. Sometimes I click through immediately, and sometimes I save the best for last. You have such a way with words, and I love the photos you include (such Adorable children!). I'm so glad you feel like we are your best friend. Please write a book. I would buy it for myself and all my friends and family. :)

Jenny

[Natalie]

I highly suggest the Percy Jackson series (my son and I, who just turned 13, have been reading them since the first one was published) and I love them. However, there are some very unlikely scenarios and some shaky-at-best Greek mythology history and I wonder if someone as smart and analytical as Patrick would dig the fact that we just have to suspend our disbelief, or if it would bother him? Read the first one yourself - it's cute and won't take any time at all - and judge for yourself!

Good luck all the way around with the tonsils - I'm sure he (AND you) will be capital F-I-N-E fiiiine.

[sash]

Long time lurker here...
But, the books! Oh, the books!
Has Patrick read Madeleine L'Engels A Wrinkle in Time series? I remember LOVING those as a kid.

[Chi-An]

1. I agree, Caroline does not really resemble Susan Boyle. Actually, I think Caroline resembles my daughter Miranda (http://wombat.san-francisco.ca.us/gallery/v/sd2009/2009-07-31-0038.jpg.html ). Inasmuch as she could, considering Miranda's a year older and, you know, half Asian. So having said that, is it terribly self-serving to say that I think Caroline is adorable?

2. I agree with Beth, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside that you think of your blog as your friend. I think of you as my friend. My husband just thinks that you have a Theo, two years out (our son Theo is a younger version of Patrick, in many ways).

3. Books for Patrick...do you have a problem finding books that are challenging for him but thematically appropriate for his age and temperament? That's the trouble I have with Theo. He's 5 3/4, entering kindergarten tomorrow, and polished off a 106-page chapter book this afternoon. Currently reading his way through the _Little House on the Prairie_ series as his main meals, with the _A to Z Mysteries_ and _Boxcar Children Mysteries_ crammed in around for appetizers and desserts. Devours chess strategy books in his spare time.

But it took him three tries to get through the scene in _Cars_ where Lightning McQueen and Mater get chased by the combine harvester, and he cried buckets at Charlotte's death at the end of _Charlotte's Web_.

Some of the suggestions from other readers, like the _Harry Potter_ books, I'm not planning on giving to Theo until he's at least 8... but that is many, many reading hours away from now. Since Patrick was such a non-fiction fan for a long time, maybe you can suggest some non-fiction books that might be handy?

[Erin]

Julia - I just love reading your blog and I am glad your blog is your best friend. Caroline is adorable as are Edward and Patrick. I just wanted to say, keep up the good work.

A loyal WI reader.

PS - WTF is up with Favre? You guys can have him!

[clarabella]

The Wire IS gritty, but in a whole other dimension from Oz, I would say. The writing is just unbelievable. If you can deal with the violence (there is A LOT) and the sex, the story will blow your mind.
I love the gush-fest happening here about thinking of your blog as your friend. I read quite a few (upper teens, maybe) blogs from various mothers across the web, and yours is one of my favoritest. I also get concerned about you and your family as I would a friend IRL. Case in point, my partner thought I was crazy when I got all hand-wringy when I didn't see a post for a while when Patrick was really sick. I was all "I'm worried about Julia and Patrick. She hasn't posted in a couple days, and I hope nothing more serious has happened." He looked at me like I was crazy, but I still barged into his office to share my relief when your next post did show up.
So, yay! I like to consider myself your cyber-buddy (in a totally platonic, not-weird kind of way).

[Aunt Becky]

I suppose Susan Boyle is better than Jerry Springer, but damn, good for you for hitting the delete key there. I typically delete when people wax on and on about how boring I am.

Because, dude, tell me something I DIDN'T know.

[Kristin]

Caroline is gorgeous. Edward is adorable. And, I absolutely love the pics of Patrick being a big brother.

[Sharon B]

I don't often comment but have been reading for ages. My Husband doesn't 'get' my connections to the blogs I follow either but I truly think of you all as the friends and neighbours we don't have where we live just now. I laugh with the comedic parts of your days, rejoice with your triumphs and worry over your troubles. So thank you for sharing your life and especially those gorgeous children with us ;-)

[Becca]

I have such fond memories of trying to teach my sister to read when I was five and she was two. I was devastated when I realized she'd just memorized the story.

[Brenda]

Susan Boyle as a child was much cuter than this child is.
Wait and see what she looks like when she grows up.

[Stephanie]

The Wire is in the Sopranos universe, not Oz. We rented Dexter, and I proceeded to mute the TV and close my eyes for 95% of each episode, because I hate the parts where people are being killed or look like the are probably going to get killed, but I love the Wire. I don't know why I thought Dexter would be a good idea.

I do not think it is a compliment to compare a kid to a person most famous for being ugly, ever, but it is also possible to look like someone and not be similarly attractive. I look a lot like Nicole Kidman(pre scary plastic surgery), but one of us regularly qualifies for magazine beautiful people lists, and the other looks lately a bit too much like the mother of three she is. I don't know if Caroline looks like Susan Boyle. But even if she does, she is cute, and Susan Boyle is not.

[Kirsten]

Caroline is adorable!
And The Wire is more along The Sopranos line. I do not much care for violence in my entertainment -- but in The Wire it is part of the telling of the story -- and it is an interesting, very well told story. I will say that the penultimate episode in the 4th season was too violent for me, so if you get that far (and you will if you start watching the show), be forewarned. Also, it does jump the shark in the 5th season...but I thought it was even worth watching then.

[QoB]

The Wire is not gritty like Oz, much more like the Sopranos. But the main pleasure in it is the writing and the story, which is probably why so many of us think you will love it:)

My godson has also developed a serious vocabulary in the last three weeks, and is now even more insistent that we all "go dwive cah now, go HOME, mammy", going so far as to take the car keys and unlock the car from inside the house using the remote. They always know more than you think...

[Kelly]

Your Caroline is adorable. Susan Boyle? Not so much. What a bizarre thing to say.

[Anna]

Adore The Wire. Much more like the Sopranos and in fact, my mother, who found the Sopranos way too confronting loves The Wire, although she has to pause it a lot to check what's going on.

Try it. You'll love it.

[Cookie]

There is nothing wrong with Susan Boyle, but your adorable Caroline looks nothing like her. If I had a daughter I would want one just like Caroline (and often your posts about her are the very reason I waffle back to the side of having a third and trying for a girl).

The comments on shows really has me wanting to try new shows, but I really don't have the time right now. So I will be that person two years from now, watching old shows and going, oh I get it now!

Also, love the best friend comment about this blog. You are so sweet :)

[Anjali]

Caroline looks like a doll you see on the top shelf of an expensive specialty doll shop -- because the owner doesn't want little kids to get their grimy hands on it!

She's too cute, in other words.

[Sally]

Wow! It's an honor to be mentioned. :) I'm glad you think Patrick might respond to to the book + movie idea. Thanks for mentioning me!

[Elizabeth]

Re: Nancy Botwin. I loved Season One, and most of Season Two. But we just finished the most recent season (3? 4? the one in Ren Mar) and I told my husband that now she just stresses me out.

[Ruth]

I had a similar book-selection problem with my Eldest when he was Patrick's age. We had great success with Beverly Cleary, particularly the stories about Henry Huggins (he was a bit shocked by Ramona. So naughty!! Rules are there to be follwed, you know. To no one's surprise, my daughter LOVED Ramona when her time with the books came).

(p.s. Holy cats, Brenda ... was that necessary?)

Other hits: The "Boys v. the Girls" series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, The Phantom Tollbooth (Numbers! Letters! Rhyme and Reason! Right up Patrick's alley, I should think); The Castle in the Attic and it's sequel, The Battle for the Castle, by Elizabeth Winthrop; The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks (and its sequels); Edward Eager's Tales of Magic (the first book is Seven-Day Magic), and anything by Avi.

[Ruth]

arg!! The p.s. should have been at the END of my comment, not stuck there in the middle. Clearly, I have not had enough coffee this morning.

[Ruth]

aaaaaaaand, I do know that the possessive of "it" does not use an apostrophe.

Off to up my caffeine levels now.

[Molly]

I could not get through a single episode of Oz and The Wire is my all-time favorite show. If you love literature, I think you'll love this show. It is dense and moving and the characters are so fully realized that, years later, I still think about them. It's a show about the fates and about futility but it's also hilarious (at times) and, at its core, deeply compassionate about the people whose stories it tells. In other words, it beats The Sopranos hands down in my book. Watch it! Did you watch Deadwood? And Weeds is a show I can't seem to stop watching even though I find nearly all of the characters (except maybe Uncle Andy) completely reprehensible. Nancy Botwin makes me ill. I kind of love Celia, however.

Also, your kid is way cute.

[SarcastiCarrie]

My husband sees the blog names up in the address bar, so sometimes I'll say, "Julia Typepad's Patrick is in the hospital." And he'll look worried and ask if I went to college with you. When I say, inveitably, "No" he proceeds to patronize me like, "There, there, I'm sure your make-believe friend in the computer who is probably a fiction writer and has no actual children and is just pretending to get your sysmpathy will be just fine and so will her make-believe pretend son." It is as infuriating as people putting ice cubes in pinot noir.

[Christine]

Yeah, you can totally discontinue Weeds, it hasn't been good since the second season.

I think Cricket is freakin adorable, and not that it's an insult to look like Susan Boyle, but uh, she doesn't. I mean? really? (Of course I might be biased because frankly she looks just like me as a baby, seriously. I'll have to get my family to scan in photos.)

[Heather]

Clearly I'm not with it because I had to google to see who Susan Boyle was. So without knowing any background about her and based on her picture: generally no, very little actual facial resemblance. Maybe SOME hair resemblance if you just look at the shape only, and don't compare sweet bouncy curls with oddly cropped frizz. I had to see if we should give that commenter the benefit of the doubt. You have me wondering what her point was- 1) being mean... but why? 2) trying to be funny but missing the mark 3) just to be written off as weird.
ps ditto exactly everything Jenny said

[tree town gal]

caroline is beyond gorgeous and expressive... the "NO.NO.NO"... wish that had been videoed... patrick is the best big brother -- wish i could rent him for a spot.

love the food blog and i want to send you couscous from Tunisia (via zings) you must try... tell me how/where to send.

funny, i think of you and your blog-readers as friends, too. pathetic since i don't blog, but you all have fabulous ideas.

[MJ]

I thought of you when I read this article in the NY Times a few weeks ago - http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/health/04real.html. Here's the key part (well, it's most of the article): A growing number of studies are finding that temperature regulation plays a role in many cases of chronic insomnia. Researchers have shown, for example, that insomniacs tend to have a warmer core body temperature than normal sleepers just before bed, which leads to heightened arousal and a struggle to fall asleep as the body tries to reset its internal thermostat.
For normal sleepers, the drop in core temperature is marked by an increase in temperature in the hands and feet, as the blood vessels dilate and the body radiates heat. Studies show that for troubled sleepers, a cool room and a hot-water bottle placed at the feet, which rapidly dilates blood vessels, can push the internal thermostat to a better setting.
Hope this helps!

[Jill]

Re: books- LK tried The Wizard Heir and the headmaster cut the kid's arm and drank his blood. He wasn't prepared for that and didn't finish it. He did like The Warrior Heir (same author, Chima).

[Swiggy]

Carline is a beauty.

At least Patrick's school knows that he's going to be a student this year. About a month ago, I called the school about teacher assignments to make sure we didn't get the dud our neighbor had cautioned us on. I was told the teacher assignments were still being decided but they would be sent out the next week. Next week came and went and the Monday after I called the school again to find out where the Monkey had been placed. Turns out they didn't have him placed at all! They didn't realize he would be attending! My question was, was I supposed to register him again even though he went to Kindergarten there the previous school year. What would have happened if I hadn't called? I would have shown up on meet the teacher night got to choose the one I wanted?

Sorry, still bitter about it.

I had my tonsils out a couple of years ago at the age of 30. Since then I have barely gotten sick, so it's definitely worth doing if they're bothering Patrick.

[Julia]

Aw rats, now I am feeling guilty about Susan Boyle whose own mother is no longer around to self-righteously delete in her defense.

In my opinion she is a very attractive person and I thought she was even cuter than Caroline when she swung her hips at the judges and said... whatever it was she said. And that's just the front of me, or the half of me or whatever it was.

The reason I got rid of the Boyle comparison is because it was from someone calling herself Reality Check and it asked if Caroline can sing, too? It was intended to be nasty. I should have ignored it. Start with a reality check end with a Brenda. Let this be a lesson to you. Any time you acknowledge unkind comments they proliferate like thistles.

[jan]

Anybody out there who grew up in the 50s and 6os remember the series books: "Danny Dunn, boy inventor?" He went to the deep sea, outer space--kool. I think Patrick would like them in spite of and even because of their out-of-datedness, scientifically. Oh, and the "Voyage to the Mushroom Planet" series! I think I may have mentioned this here before. Sigh, and some novel about bears on another planet with claws made of sapphire. They don't write em like they used to... Harry Potter is derivative c**p. Sorry.

[PlantingOaks]

Hmm, the only thing I can think of is there was a snap of her as a child that looks appropriately impish and cherubic, but why one's mind would jump to that...

On the other hand, we had a cousin who at around Caroline's age was uncannily suggestive of Walter Mathau if you can imagine it. He had those jowls and serious pout expression. It was more than a bit odd. But we didn't tell the parents, and he's since grown out of it.

[Annabelle]

I think of some blog writers as friends, as well. My husband tends to roll his eyes when I start a sentence as follows: "So, this person whose blog I read - this is the one who lives near the Cities - wrote about..." Even though we don't have children there are still so many bits and pieces of others' lives that I identify with.

And I love love love the food blog. Even though we had our traditional popcorn for Sunday dinner last night, I do like to mix it up occasionally.

I am 14 months younger than my older brother, and I distinctly remember him teaching me how to read. Good times...

[Lurker]

Speaking of your lovely recipes...I tried the roasted tomatoes and garlic last night. But I was feeling lazy and used whole grape tomatoes instead of Roma. And they didn't turn out as awesome and chewy and delicious looking as yours. Bummer.

[llcsis]

On the topic of must-see-TV: I just spent nearly two weeks prone due to foot surgery and watched all 5 seasons of "La femme Nikita."

It's fabulous, done by the same people that make "24." I'm now in a state of altered reality where I see spies around every corner and am pathetically in lust with Roy DuPuis.

I'd have deleted the post too - Caroline is exquisite, Susan Boyle - not so much...

[Candy]

I'm glad you deleted the Susan Boyle comment, because when I saw it, I would have had to take up a sword and defend Cricket's honor and be all "Ohhh no you din't" and snap snap and stuff. So...good thing.

[Cadence Daly]

What a great post to start the week.

Big brother Patrick is a treasure -- the twins are so lucky to have him. Will be thinking of him (and you) this Thursday.

I agree with you re: Nancy Botwin -- a train wreck of a parent if ever there was one. We are current with the series, and things only get worse.

[Beth S]

Another great book idea is the Hank the Cowdog Series. Doug has had the same issues as Patrick with regard to reading at such a high level so young and finding appropriate stories. The Hank series is so much fun, Doug will laugh out loud while he's reading them, but it is all harmless fun. The author is John Erickson and I think there are about 40 books (each about 120 pages).

[bad penguin]

We resisted the Wire for a long time, because everyone went on and on about it, and then once we watched it, we were totally sucked in. The writing is complex and the characters are interesting and frequently the writers go in a direction you are not expecting. I never watched Oz, but I think the Wire is comparable to the Sopranos in grittiness.

Patrick sounds like a wonderful big brother.

[Sara Neyer]

She. Does. Not.

[Dara]

I think you are a wonderful, gifted writer and a pretty damn fine cook. I just wish my family would eat 1/3 of your recipes....my husband thinks Ragu sauce is real Italian! My children are very picky, but they will taste some things. I have the best luck with our 19 month old son in "the taste it, you'll like it" department.

As for Caroline, she couldn't be any cuter. Some people think their snark is cute, but no, it's not.

I wanted to mention this PBS series, "Wallander" with Kenneth Branagh. I think you'd enjoy it.

xoxox