Ouch!!

My brother is in the process of building their new house. Today he suffered a bit of a side effect:

One Hit Wonder

I'm sure hardly anyone but me remembers this song but since I first heard it---in the 80's I guess (yikes!)---it has always remained one of my top ten favorites. Few songs can I say that I've never gotten sick of, and this is one of them. I'm not sure exactly what the appeal is, but it's stuck for sure. I mention it because I just saw today where the singer/songwriter Paul Davis died yesterday. He had a few other hits, but this was the one that had any sort of staying power. For me, anyway.

The Last Hurrah Of Spring Break

We don't very often do anything major during the school breaks. This time was no different. The kids did a lot of bike-riding around the neighborhood, some computer, lots of sleeping-in (Monday morning is going to be very painful), comic-book reading, etc. Saturday was the first day of the new hockey season so there were hockey games. But Friday I decided that I was tired of being around the house, tired of the same ole everything and made the kids get in the car (they're very much homebodies so I have to twist their arms to go anywhere), and we headed over the hill to Santa Cruz. It wasn't very warm, but it was a beautiful day. And the thing about Santa Cruz---which I love---is not just the destination: it's the trip as well. The ride over to Santa Cruz is absolutely beautiful. Pictures can't even really capture it, but they'll have to try:






All in all, it was a great day. I introduced my kids to the Saturn Cafe, which is a health-food "hippie" joint that's been around Santa Cruz for years and years. Things like tofu burgers are on the menu (my kids opted for grilled cheese and macaroni and cheese. I guess that seemed safer to them) and they've got the best fries anywhere.....

So now it's back to the routine. If it weren't for waking up so early, getting back to the routine would be something I'd thoroughly look forward to.

A Fine Young Man

My 18-year-old just bought himself his very own car. Ain't he a handsome chap and isn't it just a cool little ride? I'm very proud of him for doing this. Seems like most of the kids his age I've come across have had a car handed over.....so I'm proud of him for working hard and buying it himself. He'll have a much greater sense of accomplishment and pride of ownership. Good job!

Sticker Shock

or something like it. I just put gas in the ole van and almost fell over in a dead faint, right there at the pump: $78.32 to fill up my tank. That's a first and unfortunately not a last. I know that a lot of people see higher numbers than that, and I'm certainly glad I don't drive diesel right now...but this is nuts! Soon it's going to be a choice between eating or gas in the car. Well, maybe I'll lose that last 15 pounds after all.