Happy new year and stuff.

Somehow HALF of the first month of the year is gone. The dog still sleeps the WHOLE day on my bed. And cedar fever has singed my brain and ALL of my sinus cavities.


We lost a tooth. The night before we turned 10. The Big One hasn't lost a tooth in years it seems. Seems lucky that The Tooth Fairy and The Birthday Fairy should visit in the same night.


We wished for nothing more than a Calvin and Hobbes book. A big bowl of mashed potatoes. ("That's all ... just the potatoes. And a candle, of course.") And a dump truck load of cash, please. Two of those wishes came true. And the small envelope of green bills seemed like all the money in the world.



"The skateboard I've always wanted. ALWAYS. FINALLY!!" It's courtesy of Daddy and his friend Boog in Galveston. We decided the "B" on the bottom is for "Boog." Or "Big One." (Boog runs the surf shop in Galveston that was supposed to be long gone after Ike. But, because he was spared, I get to keep on saying I have a friend named "Boog." And that really makes me grin. "Boog." hee.)

We won a green ribbon for art. You may remember our period of "Junk Yard Art." It advanced to the second level, but not the final level. But, there was green cake and lemony tea and cheese cubes and a self-absorbed speaker and a green ribbon. You know the one of which I speak. "Participant." It reeks a little of "Honorable Mention." Or "Most Improved." It's the ribbon that kinda says, "Not quiiiiite good enough." But close. This has been a fall/winter of green ribbons. And it rather brings out the competitiveness in their father and me. But, with ribbon in hand, Our Ones feel nothing short of First Place.

And did I mention there was cake?