Here is a tip:
If you go out on a what is supposed to be a short walk and for a lark, decide to see exactly where this trail ends, and are wearing no sunscreen and only a pair of Orange Popsicle Converse low-tops and it is July in North Carolina - don't do it. Because it will be 95 degrees and the path is 14 miles round trip. I am simultaneously applying aloe vera and ice packs to my knee today. 14 miles doesn't sound very far but we were pushing the babe and it was hot and unfunny jokes about the Trail of Tears were made several times near the end.

It is the baby's 6 month birthday today? Can you believe it? I can sense the kind of mother I am/will be in that I thought very hard about making her a half-birthday cake today but it was hot and I was icing my knee so I thought but did not do. Poor kid, I hope you don't hold this tendency against me in future therapy sessions. She is practically crawling, sitting bolt upright and hap-hap-happy and cute as a button. Another tip: if you have a baby and aren't sure you're happy about your endeavour, wait 6 months. Either they get better or your expectations get lower, but it's a lot better. Also, tomorrow she will endure her first day of daycare as I endure my first day of work in 6 months. Naturally my biggest worry is my outfit. Oh, here's another tip: you know how on make-over shows they always say "hey put some light coloured eye shadow under your brow and in the corner of your eye and it's like a brow lift or something and while you're there, line your eyes with darker eye shadow for a softer eyeliner"? and maybe like me you roll your eyes and say "tell me something new Carmody". But it's true! My Mom and sister actually spend money on cosmetics and as such it is a make-up wonderland for me when I visit, experimenting and playing with their products. Thus I can pronounce that the Revlon Colorstay 12 hour eyeshadow quad in Moss, an angled brush and Smashbox mascara in Brown have changed my life - no kidding. I can't believe I just started doing the under brow highlighter. Speaking of make-up, Librianista is awesome and she knows why. I seriously need all the help in the world making me look presentable tomorrow and uh, for the rest of the year.

I have been watching a Nature documentary on PBS this evening about octopi and squid. I never ever eat calamari/squid/octopus and ruminating about this aloud to AH as I watched this bloody fascinating doc, I mused aloud that it is partially because of this Sesame Street film of a purple octopus that I was so creeped out by as a kid. A quick Google and voila - maybe you remember this film too? (I am feverishly watching the rest of this guy's vintage SS clips as they are some of my most vivid memories.)