Message 323

Yesterday was Caroline's birthday, and I was planning to drive down and take her the envelope I have had ready for her for the past week, but when I called Jason was home taking care of Susan who was sick, and Caroline was home from school with head lice. Jason persuaded me I should wait for a better day. I had lunch at Starbucks with Vanessa, Maureen, and the kids. Beech did not want to go to school yesterday because his main friend there for the afternoon session was out sick, so I took him to the McDonalds in Redwood City with the playground. He did not want to go in the playground, nor did he want to eat his meal, but he was glad to get the toy that came with The Happy Meal. I took the meal home with him so he and Annie could eat it for dinner. He fell asleep on the drive home, so I drove slowly so Vanessa would have a little more respite before he arrived.

I continued reading The Economist and I watched The News Hour etc. on PBS. In the evening, Joshua came over and watched 24 with me. He brought Pat and Natalie with him too, because Pat has been staying with him while he sorts out a squabble he is having with his sister and her husband who are also staying with his mother. I was glad to finally meet Natalie.