We are in mourning today. Although we tried to enjoy our last pre-back-to-school day as a family, we were all sad that this is the end of summer. It will be four nights a week that I do not see my kids and they do not see me. I will see my partner for anywhere from 30-minutes up to maybe 90-minutes before going to bed on those nights. We’ll both be too tired to really do much more than pack my lunch and dinner for the next day and catch a...

This past weekend we set up the tent and had a camping adventure right in our own backyard. While we did not manage to sleep outside as a family, we still had loads of fun! (Night #1: Boy Wonder could not sleep with the neighborhood noises still happening, so he and I went in while Partner and the Princess slept outside. Night #2: Neither child could calm down enough to sleep outside, but were out within minutes once we retreated to their own...

Despite the lack of sunshine, it is finally almost feeling like summer. The past school year is behind me, I can register for the last section of my classes for next year today, we’ve already had a mini-vacation to the beach, Boy Wonder is almost out of school, the garden is underway, the sandbox is built, we’ve been to our first garage sales, and the propane tank on the barbecue is full. (I know this because I had to fill it after...

This morning I clicked on the video link to my law school’s graduation, held this past weekend. The music was not recognizable, nor were most of the faces. Still, watching everyone march in, proudly wearing their caps and gowns, full of smiles and relief made me cry. I was struck by the huge significance of this event for all these people, many of whom were my day-student classmates (day program is three years, evening is four, but we...

So, I am feeling more relaxed, but finding it takes some time to come down from the internship/work/school/home to sleep mode. If only we had some extra cash and a week’s worth of vacation we could do some retail therapy – preferably in and near Disneyland!   Short of that, it will be gardening, barbecuing and playing in the sprinkler in the backyard. Not a bad way to spend a summer...

We’re coming into the home stretch of my third year.  (One more to go for us evening students!) My last real class was last night. I have a late class on Monday, but it is more of a just-for-fun deal with movie clips relating to our subject, plus popcorn, snacks and drinks. Should be interesting to see what she comes up with. I might consider not going, except this prof. is really nice and it would be sort of like planning a party and...