If pro and con are opposites, wouldn't the opposite of progress be congress?

Arachnophobics, be warned - there are spiders in this here bloggy thing I have going on. And I cannot promise there will not be more. We decided to go with the moniker of Madison for our new a. versicolor. OH MY, she is SO beautiful. I had no expectations that she would be so brightly colored this early. After all, she currently just the size of a quarter - I cannot wait to see what she looks like as she continues to grow.

And X's reaction? Um, let us just say that "not enthusastic" is a genteel way to describe the situation. For better or for worse? Right? That's my story and I am sticking to it.

As a truce, I have offered up gratuitous snaps of the kids. Arun finally, finally!, will deign to actually pose for pictures. And Anjali? Is beginning to piece together her own wardrobe, which is actually quite frightening. More so than a wee spiderling, I believe.

Enough spiderage. Now, I want to talk portable DVD players..........

January 9th, 1976, we brought my newborn sister home. My mom held her while riding in the front seat of our mustard-hued Nova (sidenote: Am I the only one who remembers Novas back when they were rust-free and not totally uncool?? Am old, I know.) I rode in the back, but constantly leaned over the front seat to get a gander at my new baby sister. The point? None of us were wearing seat belts. In fact, throughout my childhood, we never wore seatbelts. As kids, we had free will to roam all over whatever car, truck, station wagon we happened to be riding in. During one roadtrip to from Leavenworth, KS to Taos, NM, my cousin slept in a sleeping bag in the bed of the truck for a good part of the trip OH MY GOD NOT JOKING. Again, the point? In short, we were not tightly strapped in and expected to sit stockstill for hours upon hours. I am not saying this was a good thing, I am saying that it was a different time, different standard.

Back in my days of Armchair Parenting, I absolutly decried the portable DVD player, openly mocked it and randomly judged. Of course, now I am eating my crow (topped with a nice raspberry confit and served with a side of garlic mashed potatoes). And here's the thing - my kids like being in the car! We talk, we sing, we have particular games where snakes and dragons are chasing us (hence, the reason why my 18 month old declares incessantly "Oh no, snakes coming, mama! SNAKES COMING!) But. BUT. At night? All bets are off, get your hands away from the chips, ma'am. When I am on long, dark, lonely highways coming back from my parents' or my sister's homes, the wailing is hideous. Even Arun used to cry as a baby on K-10 and that was pretty much the only highway that would send him over the edge. He does fine now, but Anjali does not, DOES NOT, do fine on any highways that are long, dark and lonely.

About 2 months ago, I bought a portable DVD player and I Have Not Looked BACK. And the rules for using it are simple: It has to be nighttime and we only get to watch it coming back from Lawrence or Tonganoxie (or Surrender, Dorothy's crib). Unofficial Rule: The DVD itself has to be something non-irritating that will not make Mama drive off the road (Curious George is the ticket.)

Yeah, color me Hypocrite, folks. 'Tis a pretty shade on me anyways - it brings out the blue in my eyes.

World, Meet Madison.

Madison, our a. versicolor (common name: Antilles Pink Toe Tarantula)

Finally, He Has Become a Poser.

Lolita Meets High Fashion