Dramatic Scene

[Kelly returns to the couch from a trek to the far-away beverage fridge, Cherry Coke in hand.]

Airan: I was going to ask you to get me one of those.

Kelly: Oh. I thought you were already drinking one.

Airan: [despondent] No. I wasn't.

Kelly: Are you going to be okay? Do you think you might wither up without one?

Airan: I feel myself wasting away. It's cold, so cold ...

Kelly: In these final moments, is there anything you want to tell me?

Airan: [dramatic pause] I'm a dude.

Peek-a-boo

Seriously, how cute are my kids?

Don't Be So Shy

Apparently, this is National Delurk Week -- all you folks who visit the blog regularly but never comment, countless thousands of you, now's your chance to leave a comment and say hello. Come on, lurkers, you know who you are. (And I know, too, thanks to site-tracking services -- here you thought you were anonymous!)

Peapod is like a box of chocolates.

You never know what you're going to get.

I am lazy, so I enjoy the convenience of Peapod. I don't use the service that often -- maybe once every few months. But when I'm desperate and the fridge is empty and the girls are tired of eating nothing but Cheerios, Peapod can be a lifesaver.

The problem with Peapod is that every time I place an order, something comes either not quite what I expected or else totally wrong. For example, there was the time when I thought I was ordering two leeks, but I was actually ordering two bunches of leeks. Eek! What can any normal household do with six leeks??

This time: I ordered soy ground "beef," and instead got tofu dogs. I know, I know -- most of you read "soy ground 'beef'" and thought "Gross!" But trust me when I tell you that soy grounds are quite nice. (Says the former vegetarian who longs to return to her old ways.) Tofu dogs, however -- there just ain't nothin' you can do to make tofu taste like a hot dog, and you shouldn't try. It's not natural.

What surprises will you bring me next time, Peapod? Shoelaces instead of string cheese? Instead of Sam Adams, will you bring Samuel L. Jackson? (Now that's a mix-up I wouldn't mind so much.)

click

Friends, I have been crazy busy lately. I have lots of freelance work (which is a blessing and a curse), and the twins' emerging walking skills keep me hopping all day long. I have so many things I want to write about and tasks I want to accomplish (like a certain promise made to FADKOG that I have not forgotten!), but everything is on the back burner for now.

While my blog is in deathly dull mode, might I offer up another diversion for you? Check out my oh-so-talented hubby's new blog: click. Chicago photography like you've never seen before. Visit. Comment. Admire.

More later -- it's back to the grindstone for me!

I See London

Low-rise pants have been all the rage for some time now. Personally, I love 'em -- they're comfortable, stylish, and perfect for short-waisted ladies such as myself. Of course, all the style experts warn that if you're going to wear those low-rise pants, you must wear low-rise underthings to go with them -- the world in general isn't interested in seeing your undergarments, no matter how pretty they are.

So here's what I want to know: When is someone going to come up with low-rise diapers?

Girls, Girls, Girls

Miss Libby and her mom, Kerri, paid us a visit this afternoon.

What a cutie pie! The twins had a great time sharing their toys with Libby and then instantly deciding they needed those toys back right away. Sure, they like the baby, but not that much!

Where's the Pause Button?

While there have been times throughout the twins' lives when I've thought, "This is so great! They're so much fun right now," that enthusiasm has usually been tempered with thoughts like "Omigod. I cannot wait until the girls are old enough to [insert self-sufficiency milestone here]." Every stage has been fun, and there are things about their early baby days I miss -- for example, they almost never fall asleep in our arms anymore. But I have always been looking forward to the next developmental stage. Won't it be great when they sleep through the night? Won't life be easier when they can feed themselves? How fantastic will it be when they can walk on their own? (Still working on that one.)

The tides are starting to turn. I realized yesterday that I love this age, right now, this minute. I don't want them to change. They are so sweet and cute and fun. They bestow kisses freely and happily. They have very earnest conversations in complete gibberish. (Or maybe I'm just not smart enough to understand them.) They take delight in the simplest things. They learn so quickly. And they are snuggly and cuddly and happy to let you hold them in your arms and just enjoy how wonderful they are.

Sure, they still have their less-than-shiny-happy moments, but we can deal with that. I love life with these kids exactly as it is at this moment. I don't want a thing about it to change. How can it get any better than this?

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Here's what I've been doing since I last posted:

1. Hanging out with family.
2. Opening an embarrassment of presents.
3. Eating way too much food.
4. Visiting the King Tut exhibit at the Field Museum.
5. Playing too much World of Warcraft.
6. Surfing the blogosphere almost none.
7. Eating even more food.
8. Doing absolutely no freelance work, despite the piles that need my attention.
9. Eating just a bit more.

Phew. That's hard work. The holidays wear me out.

Quizzes, quizzes, and more quizzes

Some quiz fun.

You paid attention during 80% of high school!

68-84% Pretty good, you know that there are libraries and newspapers, and you remember what you've read. You were a child that wasn't left behind!

Do you deserve your high school diploma?
Create a Quiz

You Are 80% Democrat

You have a good deal of donkey running through your blood, and you're proud to be liberal. You don't fit every Democrat stereotype, but you definitely belong in the Democrat party.

How Democrat Are You?

You Are 4% Republican

If you have anything in common with the Republican party, it's by sheer chance. You're a staunch liberal, and nothing is going to change that!

How Republican Are You?