Stranglehold

You know the kids have spring fever when the teachers walk into the lunch room reciting the serenity prayer.

Rich, buttery popcorn

Last night there was a meeting at school for parents to learn more about the nightmare that is No Child Left Behind, and I helped provide child care (a movie and popcorn) for anyone who wanted to bring kids. About five parents and four kids showed up. As I handed one little boy a paper bag of popcorn and settled him in to watch The Incredibles, he looked up at me and inquired, "Is this that popcorn they were making in the teacher's room?"

"Yes," I replied, pouring him some apple juice.

"Oh. I don't want any of that, it smells like throw-up."

"It does?" I obligingly smelled the popcorn and found that while it might taste like rich, buttery heaven, it did indeed smell like throw-up.

We contented ourselves with the apple juice.

Nail envy

My uncle, upon listening to my aunts and I discussing professional manicures vs. doing your nails yourself, "You know... I can see myself dying without ever having had my cuticles done and not feeling bereft."

So... It's Been a While

I have failed miserably at updating over the past few weeks. A big "sorry" to the two people who read this. But, in my defense, it HAS beena busy time. The New York trip was amazing - hopefully I will have some pictures to post soon. We saw the Glass Menagerie with Jessica Lange, which was amazing, went to the top of the Empire State Building, where alas!, no Cary Grant was waiting (it was Cary Grant, wasn't it?), saw the Gates at Central Park, and I had a few wonderful pints with Vanessa, who sadly, must return to Merry Olde England in a few days. She will be missed, but on the bright side, I'm excited to have another excuse to visit across the pond!

In other sad news, our beloved Scotty dog is no longer with us (except in our hearts, of course). It has been a very tearul and emotional week, but I think everyone knows it was for the best and will always remember him. And I think that's about all I can write on that at the moment - maybe later I'll do better!

Finally, the fam and I went up to Orono to see the Maine Black Bears in the Hockey East playoffs. And, after many years of wondering that the HELL the crowd was chanting at the beginning of each period, mother finally figured out that the words are actually on the jumbotron as the crowd says them. Brilliant.

You say Maine Black Bears, you've said it all.

Hopefully the truth - it's Maine-BC on Friday. Also? I drew Illinois in the work bracket. We'll see how that goes! I think I would rather have had an underdog - now the pressure is on!