family portrait

Chickadee has drawn a picture of her family: God, Papa, Mama, Dandy, and herself. I love that she thinks that when God hangs out with our family, He is smiling.

pathetic

This is so pathetic. I'm sharing it with the hope that things are nearly as pathetic at your home and that you'll tell me about it and I can feel better -- misery loves company and all.

Y'all know that I think my husband is the greatest thing that ever happened to me, and that I call him My Gift from a Generous God. And he is.

But when it comes to gift-giving . . .

Some years he gives me nothing at all, just promises of some future thingamabob which he means sincerely at the time of promising (you've never seen anything as sincere as his warm brown eyes) and he just as sincerely forgets about within the day. Sometimes he gives very cool things: a telescope, a wooly blue shawl-cape, a dinner out in Siberia, all of which I loved. For my most recent birthday he gave me two red hot pads; these did not make my list of cool things.

But this year, he is giving me a nice present. It's all wrapped and under the tree. He doesn't know a thing about it, but we won't let that little detail get in the way, will we?

Now, just watch. Since I have the bases covered, this will be a year that he really nails a great gift and then I will feel like a chump. (A chump with an extra present, though, and I can live with that).

And really, this is a man who takes my car out specifically to fill the tank because he knows how much I hate to do that. This is a man who -- when I pull in the driveway with a car full of groceries -- comes out to help me unload them. This is a man who, if I have to ask him to buy some girl products, will always buy chocolate (good chocolate) too. So really, it doesn't matter what he buys for Christmas, does it?

So I have talked myself out of thinking this is pathetic . . . but just in case that feeling returns, there is still that nicely wrapped present to myself under my tree.

vintage Kuhn Rikon on eBay

On eBay for under $50.00 for both, including shipping. They are Kuhn Rikon's Braising Pan (retail 230.00) and the Minipan (retail 130.00). I'm more than a little excited about my good deal.

Fred Thompson shares good news about the economy

And who wouldn't like some good news?

lessons on partying from a 9 year old

Live blogging here:

Dandy: Mom, you are a terrible partyer!
Me: What is wrong with my partying?
Dandy: You are just sitting there!
Me: Yeah, that's what I like to do.
Dandy: You are doing it wrong.
Me: What am I supposed to do?
Dandy: Eat ice-cream! Look at the tree! Snuggle your son!
Me: Anything else?
Dandy: No looking at the computer. You are supposed to be partying!
Me: Why?
Dandy: You are done with school. You told Papa we'd be partying.

He has a point. I just hope that when he is in college and he finishes a semester, he celebrates the same way.

almost done

Our last class meeting of Eng 101 was tonight. I took advantage of the quiet empty classroom and got all but the last seven essays graded. My eyes are blearing-over, so I have to stop. So close . . .


:: one year ago today: money and banking -- explained

Where does money come from?

Yes this is a rerun, but in light of the RIDICULOUS bail-outs, I think it worth it to see it again.