Fail Better

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.

As you may have noticed, that posting every day thing? Total bust. I must confess, the novel-writing is scarcely going better. What does it say about me, that I could keep it up through ferG-d'ssake pneumonia, but my kid gets a cold, and I go all to pieces? To be fair, it's been a pretty bad cold: he was so congested he was gagging and vomiting. Ew. Kids are gross. But I guess that's why they're cute, huh?

And then there was the holiday, and the travelling, and the visiting, and the eating, and, quite frankly, you people just fell to the bottom of the list. Now, don't be like that. I love you. Really, I do. And I think we're all better people for this time apart. There is such a thing as too much togetherness, after all. I think it would be a very good thing if you learned to snark all on your own, without relying on me.

But I'm back! Absence makes the heart etc.

We went down to Portland for the whirlwind tour of parents over Thanksgiving: two days with my dad, two days out on the farm, and a stop at Blogless Zach's parents' on the way home. If you know me, you'll understand the tangled familial obligations there. If you don't know me, you probably won't stay interested long enough to sort it all out, so just call them all parents and move along.

Adam learned all about cats at my father's house, where he tormented Jack, the world's most tolerant individual, who deserves turkey giblets for the rest of his life after putting up with my kid. I won't be so optimistic as to say that he learned how to be gentle with the kitty, but he definitely made a start. At least he's not still running away as soon as the beasties look at him. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, I haven't yet decided.

Out on the farm he was wary of the ponies, and afraid of the tractor (wait 'til he figures out the electric fence!). By far, the biggest hit there was Sadie, the Welsh Terrier. She's about the same size as Adam, and has enough energy for three of him. They had to be separated because of her habit of jumping on people and licking them until they beg for mercy, which was a great disappointment to both parties. I think the most fun Adam had the whole weekend was playing with Sadie through the French doors - she would jump up on one, then switch tot he other and wait for him to follow. Repeat ad nauseum.

I was also going to talk about snow days and knitting progress, but I think that's enough for now. Adam just woke up and can't decide what's pissing him off most, so I should go be a patient and consoling mother.