just another manic monday

the end appears to be in sight. meg's managed to pack four months of clothes into one very large and one medium suitcase, a feat of which im extremely proud - considering she needed the same amount of space to squeeze a week's worth of clothes to go to the beach.

i like to travel light - if i can't carry it comfortably, i don't need to bring it with me. an unexpected benefit from meg's shoulder surgery is that she's been forced to listen to me to some extent and limit the amount of clothing she packs. for example: "no more than six long-sleeve shirts," i said. "SIX?" she whimpered. "i have 14 i want to take."

libby's turned the corner -she woke up feeling nauseous but the fever and the headache were gone. the nausea was gone by supper time - she managed to help Beloved eat the chicken parmigiana he brought back from brooklyn.

baby jake was here today, and he's really learning to talk. when he saw buddy he said "puppa." when he saw sam, he said, clear as day, "TWO!" when we walked the puppies, and a plane went overhead, he pointed up and said, "PLANE!" as the plane disappeared into the sky over the trees, he waved and said, "bye-bye plane." on the way in, he paused at the door, and said, "need help nana." when i got my vacuum he went and got his, and actually waited, poised, for me to begin. the minute i started, he did too. it kept him occupied for a good 20 minutes. it's too bad, as i said to his mommy later, that by the time he's old enough to run the big vacuum, he probably won't be quite as enthusiastic.

and furthermore, the war will end. blessed be.