Les Pumpkins

I was recently reminded by one of the rock-star school teachers that I actually have this blog! Life got crazy and I let it slip my mind.

This past Halloween, the kids made it through the whole of the pumpkin carving process on their own. Considering a responsible parent must supply the dullest knives imaginable in order to ensure all fingers remain attached to the body, this is something of a magnificent feat.

Mr. Brewmaster always goes ambitious, and this year produced the Lord Vader-o-lantern. His creations consistently leave our humble o-lanterns in the dust.

Caving in Arkansas

I recently spent the end of my summer vacationing in Arkansas. You heard me right.

Convincing my husband to go along with this was a simple matter of playing the family obligation card—we were participating in a joint vacation with my father from California and visiting his middle sister, possibly my father’s last trip home—and the issue was settled. My husband is nothing if not a Man of Family Values. That’s not to say he fits the political profile of those touting Family Values as their reason for spouting often ridiculous rhetoric. Absolutely not. Which is why this trip was anticipated with some anxiety on his part, being born on foreign soil, disturbed with the antics of the Christian right, and generally unsure if visiting “the South” was beneficial for sane Northerners like ourselves.

Now, the family aspect made the trip worthwhile in itself. My dad grew up in Fort Smith, his father one of nine. Most of the family…

Orange in Cambridge

On Mother’s Day this year we opted for a quiet day in Cambridge. I reminisced on my old haunts, and also befuddled myself with my complete lack of memory on how to get from one old haunt to another.

Because Jared’s birthday was the day before, we swung by the MIT museum to check out the robotics exhibits, amongst other things. Now he wants to go to MIT. Assuming he does his part and gets accepted, I suppose I should do my part and start saving every little penny. It’s definitely a far cry from his earlier sentiment of a couple of years ago, when he teared up at the thought of going to college at all because it meant he would be leaving home.

We finished off the day at Full Moon for a delicious, albeit loud (they boast a play room in the dining room for the little kids), meal. I loved it!…

Good Boy!

So, Toby, the giant mutt guard dog, was sitting in the open doorway, as I was going back and forth from the kitchen to the grill. I come behind him for a pass through back outside, and he’s watching the cat. Who is sitting on the porch 2 feet away with a chipmunk in her mouth.

I let out a squeak.

Which startles Kitty.

Who drops the chipmunk.

Who runs away.

Who Kitty chases back out into the yard.

Who is watched by a painfully still and barely whining Toby. The giant mutt guard dog.

Finally

I’m hoping to set this theme, but you know, I change my mind every day. But I think I can live with this.