Oh, gosh.

It's the girls' recital. Every time I come within 50 feet of my mother or a phone, she's asking me what the plan is. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE PLAN IS. After the 20th time of repeating "I don't know, ask Jenn" she responded with "I just don't understand" and I freaking lost it on her. What's so hard to understand about "I have no idea who is traveling with whom, and I'm trying to juggle three tasks right now, so please, ask your other daughter, who is actually their mother?"

Then she finally called my sister... to complain about me.

I really do have to rush, but I want to get a few links posted before I run out because I won't be back until later (after the recital I need to get a can opener), so if it's all jumbled, forgive me.

****

The Surprising Downsides of Being Clever

10 things you want to know about human nature if you’re fighting climate change

Germany says Europe is losing patience with Greece

How Dinosaurs Shrank and Became Birds

Official: Pentagon may store heavy weapons in Baltics, Eastern Europe

Cleveland judge finds probable cause for murder charge in Tamir Rice shooting

Scholars have finally found a linguistic relative of schadenfreude, and it sounds like another German portmanteau: gluckschmerz. Except it isn't.

The work that has been published on this page is made from all balloon only. (Adhesive, magic pen, seal, etc. are not used at all)

Humans of Syria exposes life beyond the headlines and battle lines

Turkish border troops block Syrian masses fleeing IS

Military leaders believe US escalation in Iraq is inevitable. (Anybody else ever feel like we're all stumbling into war because we can't be bothered to turn around?)

A New Flu Drug Works Astoundingly Well—By Not Targeting the Flu at All

Britain pulls out spies as Russia, China crack Snowden files: report

Philae comet lander wakes up after 7 months, says European Space Agency

Italy threatens to 'hurt' Europe if no help with migrants

Are Limited Lifespans An Evolutionary Adaptation?

Rich Californians balk at limits: ‘We’re not all equal when it comes to water’

“It angers me because people aren’t looking at the overall picture,” Butler said. “What are we supposed to do, just have dirt around our house on four acres?”

Yes, lady, that's what you're supposed to do! For crying out loud!

The price of a happy ending can be bad decision-making

Here’s Why Americans Waste So Much Food

Why a growing number of U.S. mothers are turning to midwives, rather than physicians, for prenatal care, labor, and delivery

It was great!

The kids went on in roughly age order - and the dance school had the bright idea to split the performance into two shows rather than one long show with an intermission, so we weren't sitting on those seats too long!

The pre-ballet was appropriately adorable, and I was quite surprised by how much they expect of the babies! No tears or freakouts, though, and none of them got *too* far off cue.

The older kids were fairly impressive. The goal at this school is simply to showcase what the kids learned rather than to "do a show", so perhaps it isn't surprising that all the age groups had a prompter instead of just the babies.

And, of course, the girls. They got a special speech about how they were really beginners despite being older students, so I was braced for the worst - after all, I know the huge discrepancy between the amount of practicing they should have done and the amount they actually did! But no, they were nigh on perfect. It was great.

And they got report cards which stated that they were a "joy" and made "great progress" (yeah, we could see that) and they hoped to see them over the summer!

We really lucked into a good dance school. I worried so much, but my ultimate selection criteria was apparently inspired.

Afterwards the family went home and I bought my can opener. And then I went to The Strand. This is entirely because I wanted to and not even a little because I accidentally got on the wrong bus followed by the wrong train and figured that since I had to transfer at 14th and walk a bit anyway I might as well stop somewhere with a water fountain and a toilet in the process. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!