All you need are lawn chairs and deviled eggs.

Heh. The sign of a true SBC family. ;-) But I don't like gravy on my deviled eggs. No. uh-uh. 18-24 months???? Good grief!

Hmm..see, I'm kind of ok with the 18-24 months idea because for our next reunion? I want to go on an Alaska cruise. Then there's interesting stuff to do and, oh yea, the family's around (instead of - ok we're all here - forced socialization!) But maybe my version of reunion is different from the norm (if I got out more, I would know conclusively, I'm sure.)

Jennifer's list makes me tired. And I will state for the record that my house gets vaccumed once every two weeks - when my cleaning lady comes. I can't fathom vaccuming twice (or was it 3 times?) a week...I'd love it, mind you, but I can't imagine doing it. She just got bumped up to "super woman" on my list.

I was wondering about the hair thing too. Glad it's not just me.

And I'm no Britney fan, but agree completely with her on this...heck, we weren't even made to wear seat-belts, remember? My brother and I played hide-and-seek in the back of our big old station wagon (that smelled like cat urine, I might add...I'll never forget that smell)! ;-)

Beth, that sounds like a fun reunion! And I agree it would take a little more planning time.

I want to go on an Alaska cruise.

Beth!! Isn't this amazing!!!! I'm your long lost cousin, twice removed, on your sister-in-law's (or brother-in-law, whichever works better) side. Where do we sign up? ;-)

...we weren't even made to wear seat-belts, remember?

It's even harder when the cars don't have seat belts, which is my earliest recollection.

Well, unless there's something about my sister I haven't heard, we'll have to go with brother-in-law's side. I'll let you know as soon as I know the date. :)

I've actually, ahem, floated this idea for the next one. We'll see how it pans out, just sounds like way more fun to me than sitting in the blazing California sun (where most of them are - and not a fun part of CA that has, oh, a beach or mountains or something, no, we're talking Fresno area) siting around a pool. I really diislike pools.

I can see the sympathy vote thing with Brit, except for one thing - I fear (and here comes Ms. Cynical) that she's using this to engender publicity for herself so she stays in the public eye and mind. She's working on a new album, etc. etc. So why not make sure people remember who she is - no press is bad press, right? Except that this press shows potential harm to her kid - despite the fact that we all lived through it.

Well, I think you're giving Ms. Spears far too much credit with regard to manipulation of the press. In any event, the woman was in compliance with state law. If the press is going to slam every parent in the world for not being perfect (according to the "safety police's" definitions, of course) then it better order a bunch more newsprint (or pixels) because the current supply is going to be inadequate.

Well, you have a point there - honestly this last one didn't bug me as much as the in the lap thing. But you're right, I've not seen a perfect parent yet, so...I guess she deserves a little break this time ;)

Eric, while banana-flavored coffee does not appeal to me, either, I DID have a cup of coffee (House Blend) alongside a piece of their new banana cream bar ... and THAT was very good ...

My older boy had a banana cream frappucino ... a non-coffee drink they've added to their menu - and liked it very much ...

Your point about car seats is well taken. I'll have to link to it later in my post mocking Britney.

...in my post mocking Britney.

Don't bite off too much of a challenge there, David. ;-)

We *do* vacuum a lot. Two large, long haired dogs will do that. During shedding season (like now) I really could do the family room every day.

I hate it when my socks get furry :-}

And, Eric, you were the last person I would have expected to link to my housekeeping list. One never knows what one will get when one posts something on the internet!

And, Eric, you were the last person I would have expected to link to my housekeeping list.

Believe me, Jennifer, if you'd told me a few years ago that I'd be interested in housekeeping lists, I'd have thought you were crazy. As I said, I have a new appreciation for and interest in the "science of keeping house"! ;-)

I know what you mean about furry socks, too. My wife washes Abbye every Sunday evening. My black socks from church that morning are in the washer every Sunday night...and in goes the big towel she uses to dry Abbye. You can see where this leads, can't you? When I do the laundry on Monday, my socks resemble bedraggled lint rollers. All the dog hair that's supposed to go out the dryer's lint trap gets sucked onto my socks instead.

I may have to start reserving another load of laundry for those socks.

Alternatively, I could start wearing white socks to church! ;-)

But Black Socks Never Get Dirty - it's a song, it must be true!

2 longish haired dogs is why we could benefit from more vaccuming around here. As it is, I just go barefoot. :)

Oh, Jeff, I almost missed your comment. I'm one of those strange persons who just doesn't like banana flavoring in anything except bananas. Starbucks must have entered into some humongous banana contracts because their putting that stuff into more and more of their confections as well as their drinks. Ick.

Mmm, banana frappucino! I didn't know!! C'mon, Eric. You know you love Banana Twin Pops!

What part of "ick" did you not understand? 8>)

Wait, Britney has a baby?

Jim, I'm usually the last to know these things. Even I knew that Britney had a baby!

On the subject of house keeping, I know someone who can fold fitted sheets beautifully! I am so impressed!