Yeah, it really is about the kids.

What's a Monster Sookie ?  There's probably two parts to that question. The first being, what's a sookie ?  That's our name for pacifiers or soothers or whathaveyou.  I have no idea where the name came from, but I'm pretty sure I gave it too them when James was in the special care unit just after he was born and it was probably based on the sound he was making with the one the nurses had given him while he was there. So what's a Monster sookie?  That picture over there.  Brenda and Steve bought one for James well before he was old enough to actually use it (it only comes in one size, which is, I think, intended for six-month-olds).  We didn't really get a lot of use out of it until just last year when I was Han Solo for Halloween and James got to be my Li'l Chewbacca co-pilot. Exceptionally adorable. Last summer we brought out the outfits again for the Ottawa Comic Con.  When I was wandering around just as Han Solo I had maybe a half-dozen peo...

It's actually kind of difficult to live in the moment.  At least for me.  I'm not sure why, it just is how I've always been.  Years ago a former manager of mine told me that I should enjoy the quiet periods at work because they never last.  This was, for the record, about four months before that particular place shuttered (and about three months before I left for a different job, but that's a different story). James is firmly in his two-year-old "no" phase.  Nearly everything you ask him gets and answer of "no" right now, whether he means no or not.  Usually he doesn't and he quickly corrects himself, but his first position is always "no".  It's cute.  I have a really difficult time not laughing when I'm trying to be stern with him. "James, c'mon and put on your sneakers, it's time to go out." "NO NEEKERS!" "James, c'mon and wash your hands, it's time to eat." "NO WASHY ...