I'm trying to figure out...

...why my motivation to communicate has taken a leave of absence. It couldn't possibly be that I need more time to marinate and for intake -- that's all I've done for the past several decades. How does one develop regularity, discipline, balance? I've let many things slip by without comment -- the anniversary of Madeleine's death, my own first blogiversary, the start of a new school year, my wonderful new students and their quirks and stories, POM's sister and her health saga, the missed opportunity for a blogger meet-up (hard when you're not being much of a blogger), the reappearance of some old friends (circa high school), this crazy-daisy election, progress on these adorable kittens. Guess I won't want for topics in the year to come.

I've missed it. I've missed you all.

Madame X and LittleKitty (who hates the kittens, btw), grading, of course

The whole gang

Looking for escape (and being cruelly outsmarted by the basket!)

Hey! We're hungry in here! Mamahhhhhhhhhhh!