The secondary, or is it primary, punishment when your kids are grounded; plea for "pee"

Ok, so being that the kids are grounded, I'm realizing that basically I am too. I am not amused. With just a few hours of camp each day, no TV, no electronics for the love, and a real unwillingness to play independently for long, this momma is irritated and wiped. Seriously, I cannot believe we must still plow our way through a holiday weekend. I'm sorry, my tap has runneth dry. And I know I speak for many parents out there when I say that in no way do I find the prospect of this Labor Day "holiday" exciting. Holiday my ass. You know what else drives me batty? When people tell their kids to "make pee-pee." For starters, "pee-pee" grosses me out to the max. Say pee or tee-tee for goodness sakes. And please let the action be the verb. You're not making a g-damn cake; you're peeing. Your body has already made it. Just go already. PEE!

My twenty pounds of tomatoes are staring at me. They want to be canned so badly I think they might start weeping silent, red, seedy tears. Or is that me? If I don't get to them soon, I'm gonna throw a tantrum. I really think I will. My primary success on this rainy day, beyond maintaining a wonderful maternal calm I in no way feel has been keeping my hair, which I spent two hours getting manicured this morning, dry.

Sometimes it's the little things.

The March on Washington, 50 years later: The Fierce Urgency of Now

Fifty years ago tomorrow will mark a half-century since the historic 1963 March on Washington. One of the largest rallies of its kind, civil rights leaders and supporters, Blacks, Whites, women, men and children joined forces to demand equal civil rights and the end of Jim Crow. It was at this storied event, 100 years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, that Dr. King gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. If you've never listened to it, click this link and take some time to: you will be moved. And you'll be smarter. ;) What a voice! What a speech! "all men... would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked insufficient funds. But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt."

And the Washington Post has put together a great slide show from '63 as well as a space for memories from those who were there. Look at and read some of those if you can. They're remarkable and inspiring.

Fab-o new jam; 18 collard hand-pies; ricotta; scene

The Circle Yoga Arts Market is less than two weeks ago, and so now is my crunch time for final preps. I made 18 beautiful collard green-chorizo hand-pies and popped them into the deep freeze; will bake them fresh morning of. I also made some fresh ricotta as it'd been a while, and lastly, used half our farmers market peaches (best of the season, I swear) in a new jam: peach-ginger-rhubarb. Mostly peaches, a hint of rhubarb, and some crystallized ginger to wrap things up. It is SO divine!

Now I am pooped, and though the children and I had a lovely day, I started shutting down from being talked to about an hour and a half ago. Have mercy! School starts one week from tomorrow!