I've only one baby buzzing around me. I'm batting his ball around the kitchen when it comes my way and listening to a shuffled Beck, New Pollution as we (I) speak. Now it's Jurassic 5...

Coffee is delicious this morning. Strong enough, it has a deep taste of dark chocolate, which is one of life's pleasantries for me because chocolate is out at least until I trust myself; and even then it's just a chip from a chopped up candy bar for the kids.

Work last night was actually busy. Thank goodness because it started out slow and dull. My husband called and pretended he was a customer asking about wings--how many were in a dozen, why do we sell them 5 or 10. He repeated the same question four different ways before laughing. I was about to ask the caller if he was joking, and then the laugh made me hang up pissed until Chris and Joe laughed about it and lightened it up for me.

Then, flustered, I had to make change for a customer. He was a trooper amused at my scribbling subtraction. I gave him an evil slash embarrassed eye as I drew my work away so he couldn't watch me. Catholic school math, I told him, keeps me humble. He appreciated the bit.

Another kid came up, someone had already rang him up and he needed change for his $40, his bill being $30.81. I had had enough math and confessing my work brain does not include waves of subtraction, to my dismay, so I walked away. I figured out the change in my head about two minutes later. That's too long :( I use other types of math regularly and prefer my head to a calculator, but am severely untrained to subtract on the spot. Pathetic. I should not let this go on another day.

During this post I peeked up at the stove clock at 9:14. I do this constantly; it's so weird. 9/14 is my birthday too. The other day I bought a combination of items at the drugstore for $9.14. It happens. In my 20s I used to see the number 34 everywhere, but for the past few years it's been 914. One pizza shop family member said he plays and often wins 419 in the lottery. It's the day his mom died ... also 914 boxed.

What's your favorite shape? Mine is a circle, and my artwork always contains them. (I might ask questions like this to drum up comments and my self esteem. It's a game I play with my daughter.)

Maybe I'll make a dent in that paper due tomorrow evening. It certainly won't write itself when I'm at work tomorrow night.