<--chondrules

Yesterday I took the kids to see, inter alia, dinosaur bones. We saw a ferocious T. Rex, and what was called brontosaurus when I was a wee second grader. That's the last time I learned about dinosaurs, so my knowledge of paleontology topped out at age 7. I still think dimetrodons are purple with red claws.

Probably my favorite exhibit was the hall of gems and minerals -- beautiful jewels in every color imaginable. We saw meteors, or as Scotty calls them: space wocks fwum outer space! They're metal dude. I totally didn't know that. Iron to be precise. They contain particles called chondrules that predate the known universe. Plus they're pretty colors. Science is fun.

First of all, holy crap. I didn't flunk out of law school. I managed a respectable 3.56GPA this semester and thereby avoided turning to a life of crime, which might not have been so bad now that I know how to navigate the legal system. The bad news is that I had to unpack my car when I got back to Brooklyn. I was planning on just leaving it and putting the rest of my stuff in a u-haul if my grades sucked. I'm not too proud to tuck tail and run. Not bragging, but I'm great at it, truth be told.

So 2006 started a bit shaky for me, but I guess that's just about right. The universe is really good about letting me know who's boss. Thanks universe (you prick). Since my triumphant return to the Big York City, I've been looking at things a bit more optimistically. I'm looking forward to toiling the winter away and dancing when spring comes. Every night.

This year, I will turn 30. I for one, cannot wait. For all of the hard stuff I've been through in life, and I've been through a few people's shares of hard stuff, I feel like I deserve to be 30. Really it's not fair that I still have to tell people I'm 29. "I am 16, going on 17 ..." Poor Leisel.

Gracie Grace is brilliant. I'm not biased because she's my child. That's just the way it is. Today she dressed her Barbie all FABULOUS and stomped into my room to proclaim "now that's what I call fashion!" She then proceeded to her dresser where she dressed as closely to her Barbie as possible, stomped back in my room and said "now THAT's what I call fashion TOO!" referring to herself.

Also, she keeps bugging me to let her have a yard sale for her "old toys" so she can "sell them away." Knowing she will be in Oregon in the summertime, I say "In the summertime." That suffices right up to the point where she tries to convince me that January IS summer because the snow has melted and the sun is out. Touche.

Her brother, on the other hand, keeps licking my ear and trying to grab my boobs. He also started doing this weird, rehearsed laugh. It's hysterically funny, but I have no idea what prompted its creation. Of course, that's true for most things.