I can't hear you

Let's say someone makes a comitment. And it involves someone else. And let's say the first person, X, is sticking through sun and snow to the comitment. And so does the other one, Y. And they are both honest, hard working people, the kind that radiates good energy, shine and laughter.

Only Y is sometimes taking a break. Nothing that would set X free of the contract, just breaks where Y acts as there are only singing birds in the clear blue sky. And in doing so, Y loses something, let's say money.

And, just to continue the plot, let us imagine it happens two to six times a year, for ten or more years. In this time, some good fortune is lost. And, to add some spice, imagine X and Y are taking care of some people all this time. And these people, the third party, are those who lose the most out of the breaks Y takes.

If anyone is reading, and if out of those imaginary readers there are some who have been through something similar or just have enough imagination to keep all the parties involved in mind, what would this/those people say to X, to Y, to the third party? What did/would they do?

Of course this is just an imaginary situation.

Teenage?

I have too many things boiling on the stove. I'm going to spill one by one.



Let's start with a good one.

At the beginning I wanted a child. So much so, I was bursting with love to be given. I was at the right age. For the first time, I was in the right place to fulfill a dream; the dream concluded with the perfect boy. Luscious lips, blond hair, green eyes (well, later), hold his head from birth (he was breech). Because of breech, overgestation and estimated weight I had a cesarean section, but, anyway, by week 36 I was so terified by pain, I didn't care. Only recently, like, in the last 5-6 years, the epidural appeared in these places. So, all right.



Nutrition was good for him, he was putting on 3 pounds and two inches every month for the first six months. Colics, yes, terrible, but that passed. First tooth at three months. He sit at 4 months, took his first step at 8 and a half months. Brilliant, brilliant boy. Bilingual by birth, he's sitting his Cambridge English paper in two weeks. Fluent in German also. He had national evaluation in the winter, and he came first in his class, first in his school, first in every French school abroad, and first in every french scool, inboard or abroad.



He's carrying groceries for me, babysits his sister, eases conflicts in the household. Yes, he's real.



He's tossing phrases by Voltaire in common conversations. He has perfect legs. Yeah, he's running like a girl, but in the run for Haiti, a month ago, he came second. He's been hopelessly in love with the same girl for the last four years.



He's brushing difficult times. "Nobody, never, ever understands me!"



He's, so commonly said, a beam of light.


He's eleven today.

Youngest son. Upper left corner. Please, help!

(photo removed)

GENETIC NERD

I must have done something weird. K. is away until tomorrow, so S. is taking full advantage of favours. Which translates into him spending every single minute searching the web for information about aircraft.

And this is more like a tweet than a post. But I'll post, and I'll be back soon!

midterm break

Tomorrow, at 8 am, S. is leaving for three full days at ski. In one week's time, K. will do the same thing. This brings me invaluable peace and tranquility, and also makes me think about the rabi and the goat. Does anyone know it?

A poor Jew is going to see the rabi: Rabi, rabi, I can't do it anymore. I live with my wife, my five children and my mother-in-law in one room.

Ahem, the rabi answers. I see. You have to take the goat inside also.

But, rabi..

Take the goat inside and come see me in one week.

So the poor Jew takes the goat inside and, a week later, comes to see the rabi.

Oy, rabi, what did you tell me to do!!! I cannot live like this anymore, not even a day.

And the rabi answers: Now take the goat out and come see me tomorrow.

And so he does. The next day he comes to the rabi.

So?

Oh, rabi, it's so nice at my place now... We all have plenty of room!

No, my boys are not goats.

far and away

It's been three days since it's snowing. But apparently our camera has been stolen.

Every night I drive the Nanny to the tramway, and I always take I. with me for the short drive.

Tonight, after bringing the little one inside, I have returned outside to lift the swipes, so they don't freeze on the screen until tomorrow morning. I have also needed to check the mailbox; I'm waiting the gas bill.

It was there. Damp, and in the dark I didn't understand what it was. And then I did.

limited time offer

I'm humming some spring tune ever since!

Mean

Today, tomorrow and Friday I'm examining. And today I had to say "fail" twice. The failed people are pretty young, with big responsibilities, and they failed in no mistaking way.

I feel drained.

What does anyone do when assessing their coworkers' proficiency?