(yawn)

Had an enjoyable evening tonight with the bright and slightly quirky zahl, wandering around bookstores and restaurants in the Mission. I bought a 1966 NASA report on advanced space power systems -- surprising how little has changed since then. Broadly ranging conversational topics, and two neat indie bookstores...

Off to bed now, I have to be up in 4 hours...

parent-trudging

Some days, all one can do with one's children is muddle-through.

patgreene's off at a weekend retreat, so I get a turn at playing single-parent. And at church this morning, David misbehaved badly... first by repeatedly running away during the liturgy, then during the organized activities for kids that replaced Sunday School this week (most teachers were also on the retreat). The understaffed class couldn't handle his tantrums, rolling and screaming on the floor, and refusal to participate in organized games. They took him on a walk -- it didn't work -- then had to grab me out of the adult homily audience to remove him. I took David and Kevin home early... David screaming and refusing to let go of the doorknob there... making an exit scene that probably disturbed the adult service. James had gone offsite with the teens, and got a separate ride home.

(shakes head) I'm embarrassed, stressed, and still have to get a pot roast into the crockpot and the house cleaned before Pat gets home. And all I really want is a nap...