Mentionables

1. HUGE - Lydia peed in her Elmo training potty last night. This after only a few days of practice, i.e. sitting on it, naked, and laughing. Mom and Dad applauded, Lydia beamed, and Elmo said congratulations in four different languages. This is all true. Also true - she has not done it since, thereby ensuring that we don't get ahead of ourselves. Also also true, the requirement to manually clean out said potty after each use already has Mom and Dad excited for the day when Little Miss can use a real toilet.

2. The new Halifax modern rock radio station is alternately good and awful. During drive time(s) they seem to play more "classic" alternative rock - I've heard Iggy Pop, Pixies, Joy Division, Sloan, plus Arcade Fire and Black Keys get plenty of airtime... but so does Linkin Park, Finger Eleven, and tons of other random, screaming, overproduced crud. And don't get me started on the awful, "extreme", almost-misogynistic hosts. But 30% of the music is pretty good, which is better than we had before. Right? ... right?

3. Local contractors - they must be doing okay, what with not having to call back eager, willing customers to earn a decent living. Witness: we have two renos outstanding, and no less than four solicited contractors have not shown up, not returned our calls, and/or feigned interest but not bothered to order the materials or actually proceed with the work. That we were willing to pay for. Actual money. Really. So - if anyone is capable of installing, wiring and venting a bathroom exhaust fan, by all means drop us a line.

4. This is awesome: