Children Talking to Children In the Dark

Some of you may have noticed I was kind of... absent.

July is the only month I work outside the home. By the time I'd put in over three hours in teaching swimming in our sometimes less than roasty-toasty lake water, and then gone home and run, and took offspring to lessons and appointments, and then made dinner, I spent a great deal of time falling asleep on the keyboard. For the most part, I managed to read all your postings, but I usually read everything first, and then comment, and it was about then that I often fell asleep. I've been enjoying your offerings, though.

In retrospect, maybe signing up for the sg1friendathon during July was foolhardy, but I got it written, spellchecked, and beta'd before the deadline. It was just a bit more reminiscent of my college experience than I would have wanted it to be...

I missed some birthdays, so happy [belated! :( ] birthday to beatrice_otter, badkarma, and misswelles. I thought of you all, I didn't manage to post. So sorry. badkarma and misswelles, you share a birthday with my beloved youngest daughter, the Whirlwind of Destruction, who turned 9. Needless to say, that was a busy day at the Thothmes household!

Speaking of the Whirlwind, we had a bit of excitement when she got suspended from hockey camp for a half day, and finished out the last two days on probation, but we got through it all. I really expected that hockey camp, of all places, would be a place that could handle a child with a little too much energy and initiative, but I was wrong. Who knew?

Now I am on vacation in Maine, so I won't be so present for the first week of August, either. All four of my kids are here, and much other family is coming and going, as well as assorted friends of the family, guests, and hangers on. I will be more focused on swimming in the lake, watching the loons in the cove, and joining in the games and conversations than hanging out here. The best part of summer is here, and real life is in bloom!

Right now middle daughter is playing a Mozart sonata on the grand piano. Earlier my husband and his mother were playing Bach's Sheep May Safely Graze and God's time is the best in a two piano four hands version. I taught the Whirlwind how to dive a couple of hours ago. Life is good.

Enjoy your own vacations and keep cool, and I'll be back next week.

Happy birthday to samantilles. I Wish I had something exciting to offer, but rl has been intense lately, which means my muse is sitting over there in the corner, with her back turned, pouting in a most unbecoming way. You'd think I was ignoring her on purpose.

In lieu of anything written, I send you a virtual Daniel, bearing cake, and flashing that same "I'm too cute for you to not love me!" smile he gave when he showed up with the teddy bear for baby Janet in Heroes.

May your day be filled with friendship, song, and celebration! And let's not forget cake! (My idea!)

For those of you who may have noticed some radio silence in this corner of the 'webz, my dearly beloved [Gritted teeth? What makes you think they're gritted? Flying spittle? Noooo! Silly! This is just...ummm...extra whipped cream. Yeah. Whipped cream. *Gives the Jack-O'Neill-tm-wide-eyed-look-of-Unconvincing-Innocence*] middle daughter managed to infect my computer with Antivirus System PRO, a virus that pretty much defines DO-NOT-WANT. She was *grrrrrrr* inclined to deny responsibility until history logs made our case for us irrefutably, and is now off-line, pending retraining. Not everything is up and running yet, but life here is slowly returning to normal.

Point is, I've been exiled for a while by this, so if you have anything you particularly want me to notice really soon, gimme a heads-up. Otherwise, I'll get there...um...Christmas is coming, isn't it?...eventually.