Zion says

Our friend's son (Jascha, 14) and daughter (Zion, 12) were over this evening, at Noah's invitation. Zion tells this story (paraphrase).

I have never been so embarrassed! We were playing Simon Says, and Jascha says, "Simon says, do obeisance."

So I said, "Jascha! C'mon. What does 'obeisance' mean?"

Then I looked down, and Noah was kneeling on the floor with his arms stretched out towards Jascha. "C'mon Zion. You're supposed to bow."

My baby's growing up

A few weeks ago, Steve pointed out to me that Noah had a loose tooth. I'm such a sap, I almost cried. And last evening, while we were at a movie, Noah gave his tooth a final wiggle et voila, it came out.

These waypoints sometimes give me premonitions of future days when Noah doesn't want a hug from Mama, wants me to drop him a block from his destination, and when the longest conversation he'll want to share is to ask, "Can I borrow the car?"

One tooth, one emotional trauma.

Out of office replies

Someone sent me these in an email, and I just couldn't let them just languish in my 'archive' folder.

Best Out of Office Auto Replies:

1. I am currently out at a job interview and will reply to you if I fail to get the position. Be prepared for my mood.
   
2. You are receiving this automatic notification because I am out of the office. If I was in, chances are you wouldn't have received anything at all.
   
3. I will be unable to delete all the unread, worthless emails you send me until I return from holiday on November 5. Please be patient and your mail will be deleted in the order it was received.
   
4. Thank you for your message, which has been added to a queuing system. You are currently in 352nd place, and can expect to receive a reply in approximately 19 weeks.
   
5. I've run away to join a different circus.

-------

And since I'm in a sharing mood, go check out 'Monk-e-mail' (click the link in the sidebar). Steve and I gutted ourselves recording a birthday message for friends. I think it's most fun for the sender, so go dress a monkey and send someone a goofy message. You'll like it.

The cupboard is bare

Donations to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank are at an all-time low. Yikes. While they've normally raised around $150K by this time of the year, they've only raised $22K this year.

Scary.

Especially since I had Noah, the thought of hungry children breaks my heart. (See, I'm tearing up just writing this.)

The food bank can turn a dollar’s cash donation into three dollar’s worth of food through bulk discounts and corporate matching.

If you donate only $10, that's like a $30 donation of food for a family. And $20 makes $60, and so on, and so on...

I'm an arts major; you do the math.

Jardins de Versailles

One of my favourite days in France was spent walking around Versailles with David and Jen.

We had a picnic of bread, cheese and wine (but of course) under the trees, and Steve was much moved by the experience.

I enjoyed this series of shots Steve took, because with the aid of the zoom function, they give you an idea of what it would be like if one could actually walk on any of the grass throughout the grounds, which, of course, one couldn't.

While I played paparazzi to the garden's bees. . .

David and Jen passed the time en garde. (I wish I could post the video of their fencing match, ending with Jen's near puncture and dramatic response.)

I am not particularly interested in classical statuary, but as Versailles is practically over run with hunks of marble, I felt compelled to represent that. This tortured soul called to me.

FMS setback

We left Paris on Wednesday. On the following Saturday, David (Steve's brother) & Jen (Dave's darling) were going to an art opening. Guess who else was invited?

I'll bet Johnny loves karaoke.