January 11th, 2025

Feeling a little train-hit in the morning, flattened out across lumpy couch cushions on the kids' floor again... slept in late, but not long enough to feel revived

Patience doesn't have to be at the studio till mid-morning so I collect a simple breakfast for the boys before we leave and heat up the house again (it's actually scheduled to get above freezing that afternoon)

Driving east, blue under bright sun, hard-packed snow, listening to Haydn's Symphony No. 55 in E flat... fits well

While I'm gone, Oxbear (because he's Oxbear and no stomach bug is going to stop him for more than 24 hours) shovels out around the mailbox, to hopefully induce a delivery of the mail after a week without

Yali's feeling a little “off-blue” from the weird week... he's been saving for the JAWS LEGO set for months and months... it's time... LEGO Store at West County Mall and a happy meal for the ride home... happy happy kid

As I drive back to the studio to grab Patience from three hours of practice, including prep for the St. Patrick's Day performance schedule ahead, Puck calls... “Uh... I could really use a burger” (I'll bet)

Yali and Patience hit the snow – hard – mid-afternoon with the finally-arrived orange saucer sled (only a week late!)... Yali runs back in to announce his excitement over the super-speed it creates down the back sloping hill

Just after four o'clock Patience leaves for the first birthday party of the year carrying two shiny-wrapped gifts she prepared herself for Yellow Bird friend, L.W., excited to rollerskate for a couple of hours after practicing rollerblading around the house for a month or more

Evening... Oxbear brings me Dierbergs spicy roll sushi and crab rangoon (yum) while he watches “JAWS” with Yali, already piecing together the JAWS LEGO ship (very excited).

At six o'clock, drive Puck out to J's for an overnight (and to collect his stranded car)... asks me about growing up in the old days (thoughtful fella)... as we approach the house, J's phone inexplicably connects to my car, on a call with his girlfriend in Indiana, makes us laugh... “What – how?”

Back home, Patience returns from the party full of hot dogs, cake, and cotton candy, with a headache... got knocked over while roller skating... “And they didn't apologize” she informs me a little indignantly, resting her head on me for comfort... but she still had fun

After the kids are in bed, return to “Elementary” again after a 48-hour break as Elmer and I chat over text about the LA fires, just 11% contained