Shelby's Sleeping Lean

This is Shelby, leaning on a pillow made by my friend Amy. Watching Shelby sleep is one of my favorite pastimes. How cute is she? No, really, I'm asking. I want to tell you that I hope you have someone in your life that makes you feel giddy inside when you look at her/him, like I feel when I look at Shelby sleeping. Warm fuzzies.

Pure Love

  One of the last times I went to New York City, I had this for lunch. I've done this post before, with a different burger and shake. I said it then, and I'll say it now. Ain't nothing like a cheeseburger and chocolate shake from a coffee shop (aka, a diner) in New York City. You can't get a meal like this anywhere else. It brings tears to my eyes, and saliva to my mouth.

I Love When Stuff Like This Happens

The other day at school, a parent came in with his baby in the baby carrier. He had to take his older child to the bathroom, so he said to me, "I'll just put the baby here in the corner.", and he put her down. And that's right, Dirty Dancing fans, I said it:

"No one puts baby in a corner!" Thank you, Jennifer Grey.

Things Kids Say in Preschool

Vic: Mama says, "Touch your own winky!"

Saoirse to me: Do you know how to say "hi" in African?

Me: No.

Saoirse: Me neither.

Letter to Dad

Dear Dad,

Recently, I've come into a little bit of money. I can now afford to pay for you to come to Boston and stay in a nice hotel for the weekend. I'm going to the opera tonight, and I'd like you to go with me. It's Carmen, my favorite. I think I've seen it with you twice. You know how you always tell me the plot of the opera on the way over to the Met, in the cab? Even though I've seen it twice, I want you to tell me again. You're a good plot teller.

I'll pay for you to take the Acela train over here. It's comfortable, especially in business class. I've made a bunch of trips back and forth to NYC over the past two years.

So, whaddaya say? Want to come to Boston? I have the money. Oh shit. I just remembered something. I have the money because you died. Fuck.

Quotes of the Day

I was at the Science Museum, and a volunteer was showing a kid, about 8 years old, a model of the human skeleton.

Volunteer: Now, look at this...

Kid: You kill people?!

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Kaden, 4, was telling me about sports teams his dad liked:

The football team that my dad votes for is The Patriots.

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Madeline, almost 4, told me about a new member of the family for one of her friends:

My friends rented a baby.

Alex: What's that?

Madeline: It's when someone else had a baby in her tummy, and had the baby, and gave it to them.

Halloween NIght 09

Last night was one of the best Trick or Treat nights we've ever had at our house. We got lots of big groups of kids, and lots of older kids (i.e. high school), which I don't mind at all. They're fun to mess with. My three favorite costumes are pictured above. First, there's Obama, with his Obama mask and blue Oxford shirt. I said to the kid, "Oh, you're Obama?", he nodded, and without missing a beat, the kid in the Jason mask said, "I'm a Republican." Oh god, gotta love those liberal parents!

The Facebook page needs no explanation. Love it!

I had some 12 year olds come to our porch with cell phones, digging into our candy bowls while on the phone. I put a stop to that. I said, "You better say 'hold on' and say 'Trick or Treat to me!'" They did, and I emphasized the rudeness of being on a call while taking candy from strangers.

Seems like people really got into the Halloween spirit this year, maybe because it was Saturday night? While running around during the day, I saw a lot of adults in costume on the subway. Saw a couple of Willy Wonkas, some really great Oompah Loompahs, a Mad Hatter, and my favorite on the subway: The Man with the Yellow Hat and Curious George.

Happy post Halloween, everyone! No candy left, and an extra hour of sleep. Things are lookin' good.

Happy Halloween!

That's Why They Call Me The Enforcer

My good friend Emily and her son Sumner were having a conversation. Sumer's a former preschool student of mine. I'm a teacher at Corner Co-op Nursery School, and Rosie is the Teacher/Director, i.e., my boss.

Sumner: Mom, Alex is in charge of the Corner Co-op, isn't she?

Emily: No; actually, Sumner, Rosie's in charge.

Sumner: Alex kind of acts like she's in charge. But I always thought that Rosie should be in charge.

CVS--Cashier Very Sad

I just had a depressing visit to CVS. I had to make photo prints for school, and I had to get milk. I made the prints at the NEW PRINT STATION!, where they print out your pics immediately and then give you a receipt that doesn't have the price on it.

I got the milk, and noticed that they also had yogurt and eggs.  I need breakfast for tomorrow, so I got those too. It depressed me to buy my eggs at CVS; call me a snob.

So I went to the register and I handed the cashier guy my receipt. This guy seems depressed. He's one of those quiet, greasy haired lonely guys who doesn't like his job. I asked him how the new system worked--did I give him the receipt and he'd tell me how much it was? He said, "No, just tell me how many prints you made." I was trying to remember, but then he scanned the receipt and told me how many. I told him that it was an "interesting" system; I mean, theoretically, I could make 50 prints and tell him I made 10, or not say anything, and walk out of the store. He said, "You wouldn't do that, would you?" Of course I wouldn't, but..."I'm just telling you, for your design system." He replied, "If I designed systems, I wouldn't be working the cash register."

To which I said, "GOT it!" and beat it out of there. Oh god. I'm glad I'm a happy person and that I love my job. This particular CVS has so many characters. There's the pharmacist who looks like early man, the mousy depressed cashier, and a new cashier/manager guy who reminds me of the "bad" brother from Slumdog Millionaire. He's very nice, but just a little too slick. Thing is, this CVS is 2 blocks from my house, so I go there all the time. Never a dull moment, I guess.