YAWN!

Hi. We're watching Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. How are you?

Rough day. Abbie is testing to see what would happen if she did pretty much what she wanted, regardless of what I have just told her to do/not do. And Grant is just being kind of mean and rude. Actually, he's also been repeating words and phrases that he doesn't know the meaning of, hoping that they are funny. They aren't. So, I'm the mean, evil Mommy today. Never my favorite.

Yesterday was good. We played outside lots. We went to the library, and the book I wanted wasn't there, of course, but we read some kid books. I even found a cute one about a little pig who sends a big hug to his grandmother in the mail, and all the mail carriers and stuff have to hug each other in order to get it to her. It's hard to find a sweet kids book. Lots of them are just not what you would want.... Makes me want to go out and publish mine.

Then we ran off to the park! I had packed snack food in a picnic basket, and we ran around and had snacks and met a huge and very sweet Great Dane, did lots of giggling, some swinging... You know -we played at the park. We played on the deck when we got home, too. It really was a beautiful day.

Josh really liked the chicken recipe. I served it over jasmine rice. Very yummy. But I'm out of ideas again, and nowhere near out of chicken.

Speaking of Josh, he spent the day applying to every job on the Internet. Really. Right now, he's off at a meeting he's not getting paid for. Are your fingers crossed? Mine are. Please, please, PLEASE can we just have some good news?

Know what sounds good? Cheesecake. It's a good thing I don't have one in front of me. I would undoubtedly eat the whole thing.

I have to buy health insurance. Have you heard? That's what the fancy reforms were about. So, either I have to come up with money I don't have, or be dependent on everyone else, whether or not I want to. I was kinda hoping we could do something toward maybe...NOT having health insurance. Well. Disappointing, but at least they're trying. I have a friend who is so furious that he can't seem to talk about anything else. He's claiming that his rights are being violated because he is being required to purchase. He says that telling us how to spend our money is unconstitutional. (Except, of course, for the taxes.) I can almost see that argument, actually. Car insurance is required, but only if you accept the privilege of driving a car. You have the right to decline. Not anymore. Well, I think we can do better than this, anyway. Just getting started was the hardest part. Maybe now we can make some changes that are actually helpful. In the meantime, please don't be mad at me because you will be footing my health insurance bill. It was not my idea.

But, I'm not really too hung up on that. I have concerns that are closer to home. Like...affording the bills.

Went to taiko on Tuesday, and I came home exhausted. At first, it didn't look like it was going to turn out that way; Laura is learning Tsurugi, and I had to play atarigane. I like it and all, but I wanted to learn the chuu part, too. We did that for a long time. Then I filled in for missing people and played Omiyage and Drive. I got through both, but need practice. Um...which, I guess, I was getting. The best news of all is that even though my back was sore when I got home, my wrist wasn't! Yay! I'm sad that I won't be able to make it to practice on Thursday, but I will be there Sunday. I feel especially upset that Michelle won't have a ride, and will have to stay home, as well. Sadly, her parents are out of state this week.

I wish I could somehow help her find a place where she can live independently. Isn't it too bad that St. Louis doesn't have much in the way of public transportation?

Oops! It's very late. I have to start some bedtime-ing. Hope you are well and happy today. I am wishing you subliminal cheesecake!