Best quote in a newspaper article EVAH.

This week's NY Times had an article about growing up with a strange name. It's worth a read, if only for this quote:

“I can’t tell you,” Mr. Sherrod said, “how often I’ve heard guys who wanted their kid to be able to say truthfully, ‘Danger is my middle name.’ But their wives absolutely refused.”

It's all the more funny to me because we know one wife who actually acquiesced to that particular husbandly request and now gets the eye every time she registers Thomas Danger _________ for any activity.

How you know that too many soldiers are being bad boys.

This morning, after a series of phone calls about all manner of soldier related fuck-ups (if you didn't know, whenever a guy gets arrested, gets drunk and disorderly or just generally fucks up, both the company First Sergeant, aka Top, and Commander get calls -- no matter the time), my speech-delayed son picked up my husband's cellular telephone. He likes to play telephone and just babble on but we were amazed this morning when we heard the following:

"Hello, Top. WHAT?! NO! (insert stern random babble)...You're kidding me. ...(more angry babble)...No way. See you later. Bye, Top."

A devastating loss.

No, no, CPT Dick is just fine. Even though I think I might have to kill him for accidentally washing and drying my new cashmere sweater after I told him ten times TO NOT PUT THE BLUE SWEATER ON TOP OF THE HAMPER IN THE WASH. But apparently, I'm not supposed to be mad because he was helping out. If I don't like the way he does it, then don't ask for help.

(I need to pass on that logic to some of his soldiers, me thinks).

Anyway, I suffered a devastating and crushing loss last weekend. Not the sweater either (though it was expensive and made my boobs look great). My laptop died.

I took it straightaway to the computer fix-it guy. And when he booted it and said, "this is odd," in a strained voice I knew that everything was gone. I'd have to rely on my back-up drive.

But when I took it down off the shelf to keep handy for later use, Munchkin decided it would make a great hockey puck. By the time I found the main piece under the couch and the USB bit broken off and behind the TV, I had a mild panic attack. So, bye-bye back-up.

I'm not ashamed to say I cried a little. Okay, maybe I sobbed like a grade school girl who has learned that her new kitten has to be put to sleep.

I've spent the last week going through my sent box, trying to retrieve what I can from attachments. But it's been slow going and more than a little depressing. I had three years of work on that laptop. God knows how many half-finished essays that might have one day been finished and sold. A lot of photos. And all the new Lost episodes I haven't gotten a chance to watch yet.

Technology should not merit so much heartache.

An interesting read.

I just finished Judith Warner's book, "Perfect Madness: Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety," and I have to say, a lot of resonated.

I think it's a must-read for some of us Moms who always wonder if we are short changing our child. If anything else, it will make you feel better (and yes, a bit worse, too) to know that you are not alone in that feeling.