What's In A Name? Everything.

I got a call from the pediatric dentist's office today.

"Hello?  Mrs. SuburbanCorrespondent?  I'm just calling to remind you that you have an appointment for 3 children tomorrow at 12:20 for sealants."  

"Yes!  Got it!  12:20 - we'll be there!  Um, 3 children?"

"Yes, ma'am.  All 3 at 12:20.  We'll see you then!"

"Wait!  3 children, you said?"

"That's right, ma'am."

Darn, this woman won't cut me a break.  She's making me ask.

"Uh, could you tell me which 3 kids that is?"

I'm thinking that the only way the Galbraiths managed was that there weren't sealants way back then...or maybe this is just one more clue that I might have too many offspring...

[Cheaper By The Dozen image: CRTA]  

This Blog Is Cheaper Than The New York Times...

...but way less informative...

I think I already used up my 20 free articles with the NYTimes for the month, and it's not even noon.  Time to fork over some cash, I guess.  I don't mind paying 15 dollars a month for 24/7 quality journalism.  What I DO mind is that the crossword puzzle is not included in the deal.  Thanks a lot, Adolph Ochs Sulzberger - if I develop premature Alzheiimers, it's all your fault.

Just had to get that rant off my chest.

Oh, and all you techno-geeks who are cackling about how easy it is to get through the new paywall at the Times?  It's also pretty darn easy to pocket some gum at 7-11 and walk out without paying.  Just sayin'...

Even so, every time I click on that link, I'm tempted to try it.  What is it about white-collar crime that is so appealing?  Is it because it makes us feel smart?

Get thee behind me, hackers!





[NYT image: politico.com]
[Devil image: vat19]

7 Quick Takes: The Jaded Parent Edition

I have to get up at 7 AM both days this weekend to take various children to where they need to go.  I feel cheated.

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I would persuade Larry to do the chauffeuring instead, but he's not here.  Not that that bothers me or anything...

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I am currently suffering from the worst case of pinkeye I have ever had.  As Rachel said this evening, "You look really freaky."  Thanks, sweetheart.

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David made spinach lasagna tonight.  That's right, folks - when he's not fixing our computers, he's cooking vegetarian meals.  I'd like to take credit for this marvelous state of affairs; but, having been at this parenting gig for almost 20 years now, I know better than to be smug.  For all I know, next week Larry and I could be just another pair of clueless parents telling the FBI, "Gee, we had no idea he was hacking into NORAD."

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It's hard for me to believe that Larry and I were once innocent enough to think that we had any sort of control over how our kids turned out.  You know, way back when all the kids were little, before we encountered that crapshoot more commonly known as adolescence? 

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Of course, Rachel helped to shake us out of our complacency, too.  And she was only 4 at the time.

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Why don't you check out Jen's 7 Quick Takes?  She's not as jaded as I am.  But then, her oldest is only 7.
 


[Innocence image: Fapit.net]

In Over My Head

You know what's sad?  When you're asking your teen tech geek to set up the program that will enable you to monitor his computer use, that's what.

Sad, and futile...

David also showed me how to recover forgotten passwords, while commenting, "Of course, if I wanted to, I could keep mine hidden."  Isn't he nice, pointing out our parental vulnerability?  I'm thinking that statement was a not-so-subtle bid for a larger allowance.  A bit of technological blackmail, as it were...



[Hacker image: BigIceTees]

Trying To Feel Useful

A friend of mine has a Navy Seabee son who just arrived in Okinawa.  He's already suited up and part of the clean-up effort.  Another friend has a Marine aircraft mechanic son on the USS Enterprise somewhere near Libya.  Moi?  I'm spending my days in relative safety, watching videos of Japanese people hiding under desks while their offices shake around them or running for high ground as their cars wash away.  I figure the least I can do is send money.  So I did.  And you can, too.

Doctors Without Borders is in Japan right now, helping people on the ground.  Just click on that picture up there and you can help out too.  They don't allow directed giving however; if you prefer, the American Red Cross lets you designate your donation specifically towards the earthquake/tsunami fund.


And now?  Back to those videos...