RIP Sea Monster

Yesterday our household experienced a loss. A minor one if you ask me, but here's the story. I bought Bill a fish tank for our 1st wedding anniversary, now over 7 years ago. He was pleased and has since done every single tank cleaning, water change, etc. We've had several fish come and go, upwards of 10 a year maybe? That number includes small aquatic frogs, snails and "ghost shrimp" which true to their name are virtually invisible and instantly lost in the tank habitat, therefore a royal waste of 32 cents.

Since the first batch of fish, however, our giant plecostomus has been with us. Through our move to this house, through the murky green days. He was tough but gentle, a noisy bubbler but stealthy swimmer. A majestic prehistoric creature forced to live with a bubble activated fake skull. Interestingly enough, his life span was tragically cut short. According to the highly reliable Internet, a healthy and well kept plecostomus may live up to 10-15 years, and rarely even 20 in captivity! They can also grow to be 24" long and are in fact a type of catfish.

Sorry old boy, apparently you were not "well kept" and your tank (ours is 29 gallons) fell sadly short of the minimum 55 gallon requirement. How insensitive we were, how irresponsible of PetSmart to sell you to such uneducated cretins.

One final note for this obit, Plecostomus was around before Hermes and even Jedi, that is a seriously old fish. Bill plans to bury him with distinction. We agree the new septic tank doesn't need that challenge. Had I the guts to scoop him from his watery grave, he'd have been flung over the fence.

Jacob Marley couldn't be any deader

8 inches long, 7 years old, never named

"Mommy, why is it dead?" Um...

Cryogenically frozen until burial. Next to the waffles. Lets have cereal today kids.

The Last Mom on Earth

Reina began preschool yesterday.

I feel as though I may be the last mom on Earth to send her child to some form of school. Or maybe that makes Reina the oldest child to stay home. Or something. So many of her cohort and even younger have been in school for at least weeks if not months or even a year. In any case, she's totally ready. She ran right into her classroom with barely a kiss and certainly no backwards glance for her poor mom or lonely brother.

It's cool. She is so excited for school, she gets her clothes out the night before and is up and dressed before me in the morning (that part isn't difficult to achieve). Since school is after lunch, mornings are going to be filled with anticipation. Today marks day #2 of school. Yesterday she was all smiles at pickup as she told me about how she got to be a snack helper and how she played house with her new friend, Summer. Summer, I might mention, out girly girls Reina by just enough that instead of BFFs we could end up with frenemies. Or not, they're three.

In any case, I'm happy that she's so eager for this new phase, it makes me look at both her and Liam in a new light. It may have been coincidental but yesterday as we were driving away from dropping Reina off, Liam seemed MUCH more chatty in the car. Perhaps a little time on his own is a good thing, especially since his vocabulary is limited to mostly "hi," "Daddy," "kitty," and "Ball!"

On the drive home yesterday when she was tired and hungry and more than a little whiny she started to wish out loud about going back to school. When I pointed out that she'd be going again today she look of surprise and joy was priceless...like I'd given her a puppy. Woo hoo. Yay school! How long will that last?

Below, photo ops galore, both on "Meet the Teacher" day and actual first day.

Y?

Can't quite put my finger on what it is about boys...

time for a haircut