Unloading my random thoughts so they don't cloud my sweet dreams ...

Sara is in bed, Steve is at his flag-football game, and TLC is featuring a show about women who give birth without ever knowing they were pregnant. Sorry, I'm not buying it.

My summer is winding down. I go back to work on Monday. We have meetings next week, and then we'll have a couple weeks of tending to any loose-ends -- hiring for remaining vacancies, finalizing schedules, inspecting our new lockers (this is especially exciting), etc. -- before the students return. I'm glad to be going into this year with more confidence than I had last year, and with some idea of what to expect. As a result of knowing what to expect, though, I can already feel the stress creeping in. I won't type further on this topic right now in hopes that changing my thoughts will also interrupt the infestation of said stress.

Steve and I have come to the conclusion that Higgins is depressed. Has anyone had a depressed dog before? He's happy when we're playing in the backyard or out on a walk (we took two today to make him feel loved), but besides that, he just mopes around, plodding from one place to the next, falling asleep at each stop. I feel bad for the guy. Speaking of dogs, did you all hear that the Taco Bell Chihuahua died? Yep, she was 15. I so don't miss those commercials.

I was thrilled to read this article today because, well, I love carbs. I eat them at every meal, and sometimes in between meals. While I'd like to be really slim and trim, I refuse to get there by eliminating my favorite food group. Sorry. For me, carbs just don't fit into the "everything in moderation" approach to eating. Back when bagels became the big, trendy thing and we thought they were healthy (you know, when Bruegger's and Einstein's were popping up on every corner), I lived on them for the better part of a year or more (I so didn't appreciate my metabolism back then). I'm not quite as extreme these days, but I might be if I thought for one second that my frame could handle it. Oprah says to skip the bread basket. I say bring two baskets. Or maybe three.

Sara's hair is starting to get a little longer on top, so I bought her some barrettes. I happen to think they are adorable. And unlike with her bows, she doesn't know they are there. So unless she's doing some extreme rolling, they tend to stay in place.

Well, my throat is starting to hurt. Ugh. And now TLC is showing Toddlers & Tiaras. Gag -- do these people really exist? And I thought my carb obsession might be a little sick. It's so nice when a TV show has the ability to make me feel like a good person.