child abuse
Ok I've been a real sport about this but I don't think I can't sustain this for much longer. This gives a whole new meaning to the term child abuse. It's constant. The bickering beween them, the need for something to do, to eat, to see. I can only do so much cooking, playing, teaching, talking, mentoring, tickling 'cause I don't know I think the last time I checked I was an adult!
Yesterday I hit the wall. Today starts a new phase. It's Sunday, a beautiful day. I'm in my office 20 miles from home getting some peace.

OK I feel better now.

Flipping wind

Mousse-plastered denizen angled against the odds
Hands in pockets, a dog-eared soul faces the wind
Another day, apparently triumphant, if you believe their nods
Still leaves him parched and singed.

The sun dangles with a tease
Ready for the final plunge
Headlights blind receding peace
Another day has not begun

A quiet milestone
The word for juice in Russian is pronounced sok. So it has become a habit to ask the kids at breakfast, What about sok?
When we asked that yesterday, Aly went over to the laundry basket and picked out a pair of socks.
The Russian language is all but gone in our house. Wow.

My daughter Aly hasn't figured out how to take a compliment. Even though her English has ramped up from nothing 3 months ago, there are some interesting non-verbal aspects to her personality that are stuck. If I say "Aly, you look pretty today" she will respond with a series of guttural grunts, growls, and screams. I look at her like she's nuts and she bursts out laughing.
But yesterday we turned a corner. While she ate breakfast, I said "Aly, your hair looks really nice today." She responded with a universal adolescent gesture: the hair flip.

Ohmagawd. Behold that thing on the horizon: an ego

Just like before, Glenn's state of mind shifted as soon as he heard the first fsssszzzt of the water spray. The thump of soggy strips against the windshield forced his eyes closed. And so it began all over again. As the great wet machinery took him in he began to dream. A hot sun baked his face. He could not distinguish the sound of ocean waves from the swarm of birds around him but it didn't matter. He was carried up into the ether. There were voices behind but one in particular that danced in his ears. He heard her approach and say his name. He tried to speak but couldn't manage a syllable. He was having trouble hearing her in this sudden wind. The swirl carried him to another place. Sweet but ghostly. His father's hand touched his shoulder. He woke to look back through the rear view mirror but only saw the air duct rolling down the glass. A moment later the sun blinded him and that weariness returned.

Why is it that sleep would only find him here?

Pulling a U-turn, Glenn queued up again. When he reached the attendant he searched again for a quizzical look. Just like before, no reaction. The windows rollup up and Glenn's state of mind shifted as soon as he heard the first fsssszzzt of the water spray......