That Makes it All Better & The First Day of School

Let me see if I can set the scene for you. I was driving close to Old Town--that street that runs right in front of Big Lots & See's Candy--the one that's two lanes, but on a very narrow street. I'm in the right hand lane, when unexpectedly, I see something red in the corner of my eye. I turn my head to see a little red Nissan (?) sneaking up on my right side in the turning lane that DOESN'T EXIST--which the driver realizes abruptly as he nearly rear ends the car in front of me. I start cursing him nine kinds of idiot, my kids are joining in from the back seat. Suddenly, the driver side window slides down, and a very good looking Italian man, blows me a kiss in that pointer, tall one and thumb, three finger kiss that only a southern European man can pull off and not appear gay. I am woman enough to admit that this little gesture sure set me back on my heels. And, after I'd let him in, the light turned green and we drove away, I realized that makes it all better. I laughed so hard at my 30-something woman self. . .


My favorite commercial of all time is the one for Office Depot. The music starts "It's the most wonderful time of the year. . ." and you see a dad with an ecstatic smile on his face dancing down the aisle with several sullen kids stomping behind him--it cracks me up every time.

It was Porter's first day of school ever, and he was a champ. He walked into his classroom, sat down at his desk and was ready. Of course the rest of the class was sitting on the carpet for carpet time. . . Paul cried, I didn't. But when I came home all by myself for the first time in I don't know how long, I just about lost it.
































Jake's in forth grade and is an old hat at this entire first day of school thing--he even has the same teachers as last year, but he still said he was nervous for this year. I just wanted to hold them both and reassure them that it's going to be okay. School is important, but it's the learning you do in life that turns out to be the most important.

We've moved on to the second book in the Olympiad series. The Sea of Monsters--it is a fantastic book for 4th + graders. Lots of action and monsters and Percy Jackson is a great hero--as is his best friend Annabeth. These are great books.