My desk.

The desk at my office.

Yuck. Right now it is covered with about 30 research papers (all waiting to be carefully read, commented on, and assigned a grade), about a zillion laboratory assignments (why did I have them write so danged much?), and a bunch of books and paperwork that needs attention.

But. More interestingly, I have some really weird random stuff inside my desk. Including:

• chewing gum
• a plastic baggie full of prenatal vitamins (no longer needed)
• a plastic baggie full of advil (greatly needed)
• sudafed and claritin
• playdough
• dice
• playing cards
• magic markers
• a plastic turtle
• plastic frogs
• about 30 inter-office envelopes
• some candy wrappers
• single-serving tunafish containers
• some single-serving fig newtons
• calcium/vitamin D pills
• dozens of old CD-ROMs that go with text books
• backup data in formats I can no longer open
• insect pins
• photographs of my first year teaching
• spare socks
• feminine products

and about a dozen pairs of forceps (left over from a lab, but really - WTF?)

One

Today is the day of the brain fog. Trying to find a story that would magically tell itself did not happen.

You.Can.Only.Type.One.Word.

Not as easy as you might think.Remember: one word answers.
1.Where is your mobile phone? bag
2.Your significant other? bed
3.Your hair? flat
4.Your mother? gone

5.Your father? dear
6.Your favorite thing? one?
7.Your dream last night? stressful
8.Your favorite drink? beer
9.Your dream/goal? moving
10.The room you’re in? bright
11.Your ex? Pennsylvania
12.Your fear? loss
13.Where do you want to be in 6 years? here
14.Where were you last night? bed
15.What you’re not? perky
16.Muffins? uh-uh
17.One of your wish list items? fitness
18.Where you grew up? Connecticut
19.The last thing you did? grade
20.What are you wearing? crocs
21.Your TV? flat
22.Your pets? unruly
23.Your computer? slow
24.Your life? satisfied
25.Your mood? sleepy
26.Missing someone? Mom
27.Your car? minivan
28.Something you’re not wearing? socks
29.Favorite Store? grocery
30.Your summer? travelling
31.Like someone? lots
32.Your favorite color? blue
33.When is the last time you laughed? earlier
34.Last time you cried? heartfelt

Wolf cubs.

We went to Great Wolf Lodge this past weekend. This is because, as a college professor, there is no easier time than a week or so before the end of semester to really kick back and relax. Good things there aren't any papers to grade or theses to read... oh, yeah, nevermind.

Anyway, despite the mound of papers that I've been successfully ignoring for eons... we had a fabulous time.

What always strikes me, though, is how darned different our three boys are.

J took the two big boys around first, while I played with the little guy.

T, the little guy, wanted to be with his daddy... but, he was ok to hang out with second best. He loved playing in the splashing areas, getting wet, and adored pushing a tube around in the wave pool (even if he did get a bit irate when the waves started).

B (who is otherwise rugged and unstoppable) showed his colors, he is boisterous but not overly adventurous. He was tentative about new experiences there and wanted to hold hands and not be surprised. Of course, it didn't help that the first thing he did at the park with J was... go down the Howlin Tornado (eeep).

Z would try anything. He didn't ask to do the Howlin Tornado a second time, but he jumped onto the surfboard without reservation (and knocked out and swallowed a tooth on it - it was ok, we'd been waiting for it to fall). His only problem - we couldn't keep up with him. He was off like an arrow in every direction. He also went through one of the tunnels that you are supposed to ride a tube - without the tube. What a wild man.