guinea pig communicator

So I went over to my sister's for dinner last night while Jeff was out gaming with the guys. Annie and Sara were delighted to see me; they hadn't been expecting me until tonight, when Jeff and I usually come to Sunday dinner. I watched a bit of "The Weekenders" with them, a cartoon I like almost as much as they do. My dad records it on his VCR since they don't get the channel the show's on.

Annie immediately sat in my lap as soon as I settled on the floor, cross-legged. I love that. She does as if it's most natural thing, then leans back against me, or cuddles against my chest, pulling her knees up. It's all I can do to keep from wrapping my arms around her and kissing the top of her head over and over. Sometimes if she's distracted by the tv, I'll do it anyway. :-)

Just before dinner, Sara showed me some crafts she had made on her own, including a very cool-looking "guinea pig communicator" made out of cardboard and string and coloured construction paper. Annie just started piano lessons, and proudly played me the first piece she's learned, as well as a piece that she composed herself. Ok, so the piece was only about six notes long, but hey, she WROTE IT HERSELF! Not bad for a five-year-old. I was bursting with aunt-like pride. Holy cow, do I ever love those girls.





After dinner, Ruth and I drove downtown. We walked and talked, then settled in some big comfy armchairs in a coffee shop at Chapters (I had a nonfat Tazo Chai, she had water), went back to my place to hang out and talk some more. Neither of us remember me having a Raggedy Ann doll when I was little, by the way (see yesterday's photo), but Ruth had one. We concluded that I must have grabbed the doll away from her before the photo was shot, hence the smug look on my face. :-)

Looking at houses all day today with our real estate agent. I suspect the houses will all start to blur after the first few, so I'm bringing a notebook and my digital camera. Wish us luck.





Links/News:

One year ago, I was thinking about what it meant to be Japanese.

Two years ago, I bought comics.

Three years ago, I had no chocolate in my apartment.

Four years ago, Allison, Jodi, Rand & I visited Adam at Darien Lake.

Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" is in the theatres! Can't wait to see this. Here's a review from Nando Times, for those interested.

Glad to hear that the plagiarism suit against J.K. Rowling was dropped. Apparently another children's author, Nancy Stouffer, accused Rowling of stealing her ideas. The court ruled that Stouffer "perpetuated a fraud" through her false testimony and submission of falsified evidence.

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Today's Blatherpics:

	I took this photo of Ruth when she was still in high school, I think. Part of my Family Photo Archiving project (gradually scanning favourite photos into digital format).
	An interesting-looking car that Jeff and I passed on Front Street a few days ago. Anyone know what kind it is?
	Annie playing the first piece she's learned in her piano lessons for me.