Has there been more sunshine lately? How are you doing now? Hey - at least questions are not platitudes. And I can always quote Simone Weil - "Every separation is a link."

I notice from the photos that you are definitely happiest with books. Me too!

Cute shoes, ... but of course you go barefoot. How could anyone with such clean, soft, inviting carpet resist? I hope that it is helping you stay warm this winter.

It’s a universal and impartial law of nature, and yet so deeply personal and unique. It does not matter that the 'same' thing is happening to everyone.

You are busy & have much to plan. Just bend your little finger to show that you have neither disowned nor forgotten me. I always wish for more news about the girls, but it seems clear that they do not enjoy being blog subjects (understandable, really). The Ohio River is no substitute for the Atlantic Ocean, but you could still have fun on it with that boat in the garage.

The Pinky/Brain one is my favorite. "I am adoring it for no ...", No, no, that's wrong. I am admiring it for good reason.

And you already had amazing hair! When I was 13 I had terminal acne and very fine, straight & greasy (within 8 hours of a shampoo) hair, and I could certainly have used your help in the clothes department. I remember thinking that I assessed my strengths as an easygoing nature and good teeth, and I figured I could guarantee the teeth for life. You've done quite a bit for the world already, in the form of the six you've produced and taught to think for themselves.

I also like to describe myself as in the middle. I take the position that there are two extreme responses to any possible human action: the extreme that will use force to prevent people from taking that action; or the extreme that will use force to make people take that action. For most possibilities, excluding battery, murder, theft, fraud, kidnapping, I am opposed to both of these extreme responses. On the voting point, I did vote, and I always have, but I find myself giving more and more respect to Wendy McElroy's (http://www.wendymcelroy.com/news.php) conclusion. See "The Good Intentions Paving Company" about 5 entries down. Now that my Macbook lost its motherboard & is in the hospital for an undefined period of time and things are beyond hectic at work, I hardly ever get to visit here. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the near future. Missing you.