BUT WILL THEY MAKE MY ANKLES LOOK CHUBBY?

Posted for no other reason than to irk Uncle Richie...

DiFrancos Invade DC!

So I was lucky enough that not one but TWO siblings

came to visit Capital City recently.

Here's Richie and Tiny Danger, two chick magnets enjoying

the DC Bocce Finals.

This is later at the Season Afterparty. Once the Jaeger was busted out,

it wasn't long before the Sumo wrestling began again in earnest.

Then Estela and little baby Cora came to visit for a day or so.

Henry REALLY LOVES Cora. So much so that everytime the

poor thing fell asleep, he would break into her room, shake her crib

and yell "Cora! Cora!" The picture above shows maximum density

cheekage, genetic courtesy of Nonno.

Ron Price, who is like family, came to visit for a whole week!

He came to see us and to help out with the store.

All three of us were very sorry to see him go.

We didn't take any pictures of him while he was here, but

here's a reasonable fascimile.

Visiting The Butterfly Garden

Three little monkeys standing on a ledge.

Henry with his buds Porter and Miles Orvetti.

Hard to see here, but there were hundreds of gi-normous butterflies fluttering all around us, and sometimes landing on us. Here they've set out a plate of melons and tomatoes to attract the butterflies. Henry was thinking he'd discovered a tasty snack.

This will go down in history as the first (but certainly not last) fountain Henry jumps in. He went all the way under too. Got sopping wet. By some miracle of the parenting gods, I was carrying a FULL CHANGE OF CLOTHES for the child, and (believe it or not) a towel. Now normally I carry silly putty, stale crackers, and some Mentos covered in dryer lint. So it was quite a Mama-bear coup.

Henry in his new outfit, and me with my new and ever expanding belly. We had an Ultrasound last week, so we know Humphrey is healthy and thriving. Although we don't technically know if he's a Humphrey or Humphreyetta.

The Shaggies Get Shorn!

Hippy and Hippy, Jr.

Snip, snip

Snippity-snip...

Ten-hut!

Man, all that grooming can really take it out of a guy.

Tommy Comes Home!

...and there is much rejoicing.

MOVIE TO SEE

So like, y'know...mostly I leave the soap box rants to Todd. He's got enough of them, god knows. But tonight I saw a movie that made me want to evangelize to everyone I know. If you haven't seen it already, I highly recommend you rent/buy/shoplift Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price.

It's 4:49 am, and I'm still thinking about it.

If you're in the habit of shopping at Wal-Mart or Sam's Club, or even if you aren't, I think you owe it to yourself as a responsible citizen to watch it.

I remember when I read Fast Food Nation, and I thought...why doesn't Oprah or Bill Gates or somebody buy 52 million copies of this book and drop it from airplanes so that everyone can read it? I am having the same reaction to this movie.

'Nuff said. Here's the movie's Web site to learn more. http://www.walmartmovie.com/