Message left on my phone at 12:58 a.m.: Hello Jennifer. I have learned that Japanese players are just as stupid as American ones. (This is in reference to FFXI.)

Yes, Darrett. Despite the language barrier and cultural differences, stupidity is universal.

Well, I've done it. I got Darrett hooked on FFXI. Which is quite amusing since he was the one person giving me the most grief about it. The dark side is strong, my friend.

Even though it has been months since the great laptop plague of 2005, I'm still pulling my hair out trying to recover things. Downloading or installing things again is no problem, but I can't seem to find my registration info for a program that I found myself needing to use again in recent days. (Even worse I don't even remember the name of the program, so can't even send them a request.) Back to searching...

My brother's kids and I all survived Saturday. Other than my paranoia of some freak accident happening, my biggest worry was Sarah's jealousy. After her brother was born, her family became divided into hers and his. Mommy became his because she had to be with him so often, breastfeeding and such. Daddy was hers. And myself and Uncle Matt were also claimed by her in the way she would say to me, you're MY Auntie Jenny.

Just picking up her baby brother would result in a glare. When my mother has to watch both of them, Sarah will sometimes throw a fit even if all my mother is doing is changing her brother's diaper or feeding him instead of paying attention to her. On Friday, my mother told me, with a bit of an evil tone, "Good luck." Misery does love company.

For the short time I had them, they both were fine. While I was feeding her baby brother lunch and he was laughing up a storm, Sarah paused from her own lunch to turn and say to me, "Katsumi loves you Aunty Jenny." She said it in such a bland matter-of-fact way, I wasn't sure how to react. I asked her if she loves me too and she got happy with the subject turning back to her and said "yes." I told her, "I love you both." She's used to hearing me say, "I love you too, Sarah," so she tilted her head and took in my answer and then smiled and went back to eating.

I hope one day she'll realize that although her family's time and attention is limited and has to be shared among many things including her brother, that our love for both of them has no limits.

Side note:

Comments are back up now, much in thanks to my generous Hawaiistories web host and to Darrett, the robot who has gone awry, who would not leave me alone about it (over the phone and in person). Are you happy now Darrett?

- figure out where I went wrong with my Betty Crocker Bake N' Fill, when even though I followed the instructions I ended up with a cake-plosion in my oven.

- get Darrett started on and eventually addicted to FFXI.

- survive a saturday morning & early afternoon with just my niece, nephew, and me. Since my nephew came out fine after two seperate baby-sitting days with me, my brother is pressing his luck with both his kids in my care.

- somehow convince my niece, Sarah, to draw more pictures of me or at least even out the 5 to 1 ratio that Matt has on me as Sarah's drawing subject. I went through her pile of pictures one afternoon and said "Wow, you draw Uncle Matt a lot." She said, "yes." I asked why and she was quiet for a bit and then said, "Because he's special." You can tell which ones are of Uncle Matt because she draws his short spikey hair and him smiling an enormous smile. Huge. Reminds me of a whale about to suck up krill, except toothy. He won't admit to it, but Uncle Matt is quite pleased.