( The Battle )

Tomorrow I will post something from The Washington Post Book World's poetry issue. Tonight, once again, I cannot see straight. Daniel came home from school around 11 a.m., this time with an upset stomach, and it's a good thing Paul could pick him up because I wasn't even recovered from the Nyquil yet or safe to drive, particularly in the pouring rain. My chest hurts from coughing and I am wondering if I could have gotten bronchitis even though the other members of my family cleared this thing out without needing medication. No fever, at least, at the moment...last night at this time I was shaking with chills.


( Ikebana at the National Arboretum )

I have nothing else to report except that Adam, delighted with his new bunk beds and in anticipation of receiving the new dresser to replace the one that's falling apart -- it's laminate over particleboard, we've had it for nearly 15 years, it was originally older son's changing table -- willingly cleaned his room for the first time in, well, ever. Those of you who have actually seen his room will appreciate the magnitude of this endeavor. *g* It still needs some work, but is an enormous improvement and he is very happy with it even though we still need to re-hang the penguin pictures. All the stuffed penguins are now living in the upper bunk along with stuffed dragons, cats, snakes, banana slugs, otters, turtles and the rest of the menagerie; the real cats thus far have preferred to hide under the bed or sleep on it.