Ackery

I needed a good laugh anyway.

The driveway-fixing guy called this morning, well before I had finished my cup of tea and just after the painters arrived somewhat unexpectedly.

"Tomorrow's supposed to be nice, so we'll come out and do the driveway then, okay?"
"Oh, that's great! Thanks!"
"Yeah, and if you're not home, you can just leave a check taped to the door. That'll be fine."
[crickets]

Really, driveway guy? I've never met you in my life, just spoken to you over the phone, and based on the sound of your voice alone, I should cheerfully tape a check to the door, before you've even started the work or I've had a chance to see what kind of job you did? Really? REALLY?

Needless to say, I'll be home.

It very nearly makes up for the Firefly debacle.

Somehow, I have managed to avoid watching even a single episode of American Idol. I know that Kelly Clarkson won once, and then a skinny little guy...Clay? Ty? I know that Simon is mean, because I watched that Susan Boyle video, and I know that Paula Abdul is supposed to be a little bit of a nutter. And there endeth my knowledge of American Idol.

Still, next week, I will be parked in front of the television, watching the last few minutes of American Idol, so as not to miss even a single second of Glee.

Grrr. The embed continues to elude me. Here's the direct link, anyway.

Glee -- Extended trailer

Girl, Six, Ready To Take On World

Much like somebody else I know, Ellie woke me up Thursday morning to announce that she felt significantly older. In fact, she informed me, she had felt older in the middle of the night. As I was operating on four hours of sleep, I felt much older, too. How did we celebrate her birthday? We toured model homes and decided which rooms would be hers, then went out for pizza at a restaurant that encourages you to throw peanut shells on the floor. Good times.

Despite the fact that she is no longer the baby, she will always be my baby, and I always picture her as such. But evidence is mounting that she is well on her way to being All Grown Up. Kindergarten is almost over and her class is starting their transition-to-first-grade activities; she's been invited up to the next level in her gymnastics program (and has politely but firmly declined); she has a new, fancy bike and is pretty much ready to take on the word. I love so many things about her: her confidence, her sunniness, her generosity, her goofy sense of humor, her determination. She truly believes that life is a grand adventure, and it thrills me to my toes that I get to come along for the journey.

Happy birthday, Ellie-bear.