Haven’t seen a Bush or Republican Party sign or bumper sticker in six months. (Nursing their wounds and plotting. They’ll be back.) Hopefully they won’t start something with Iran in what time they’ve left–probably a forlorn hope. Oh, and in case you missed it, Mr. Bush says there’s no civil war in Iraq. Should be a great comfort to the Iraqis.

Thanks to your continent from ours for sending us all that Saharan dust during hurricane season. It did the trick: we had no hurricanes this year.

That’s a precious photo your husband took of you and Adam. Might want to store a few copies in a safe place for posterity.

Oh. I now have a Pakistani kid in my high school class. (This would make he and his family probably the only Muslims within about a 15 kilometer radius of the school.) He comes to our special school from a mainstream high school, having responded to some rather vile bigoted taunts by slamming the other kid with a desk. Several times.

Though I was expecting some trouble from a few of my more sociopathic lads, there was none, our new student’s reputation having preceded him. (My students have keen survival skills.) It helps that he is very, very large (a Pathan), speaks better English than some of our natives, and plays a great game of basketball. (Now if he’d just do his writing assignments… )

Cheers.