Weekend Update
So, had a great long weekend, but still playing catch-up at work. Oddly enough, work still goes on around the world while the US is taking a holiday! Still have YET to take any pictures, but I'm sure I'll get to it one day.
We got my daughter a loft bed this weekend, so she now has room for a full sized desk under her bed. First thing she said when she climbed up into her bed was "Oh, mommy, it's perfect. Just perfect!" So, I guess she likes it! When she gets home from school now, she runs right up to her desk to do her homework (any excuse to keep away from her little brother). She has so much more room now... and of course since she has cathedral ceilings in her room, she doesn't even feel squished when up in the loft. I want to trade rooms with her now :)

Generation Gap?
Background Info: In addition to an Apple iPod Nano and Shuffle, I have a big "old and clunky" Apple iPod (first gen 60GB video iPod - aka50lbs of music). It's fine for the car or at the office, but when I throw it in my purse to transport from place to place, it REALLY weighs down my purse.
The Story: My sister in-law is about 17 years older than I am. We went to a family gathering this past weekend in DC, and we drove down together. When packing up our stuff to go, she lifted up her purse and said "Gee, this thing is really heavy." Then, she peered down inside her purse to see what was making it so heavy. She then said "Oh, it's my Apple." I immediately thought "She must have big clunky Apple iPod like me." She then pulled out... an apple. Apparently "apple" is also a name for a fruit. Hmmm, wonder if they named the fruit after those little MP3
players....

Gripe of the Day
I have a very strong (perhaps unnatural) dislike for those cheap looking black plastic "solar lights" that people stick all over their front yards, under the illusion that they provide illumination. The light these things put out is barely visible, just an eerie faint blue light that screams "I got eight of these at Home Depot for only 30 bucks!"
These lights have no redeeming value, and actually detract from any surrounding landscaping. Plus any "energy savings" realized by using solar power is FAR OFFSET by the energy and resources it must take to make these cheapo pieces of non-biodegradable plastic and ship them over to the US. They will just end up in a land fill within a year of purchase (after the Fed Ex guy backs over them). If you REALLY need to illuminate your yard, consider spending a little more on something that will last a longer, looks nicer, improves your homes value, and will stay out of the land fill.