As you may have surmised, I returned home from the beach mostly unscathed.

We had a lovely time, though we all agree it's been hard to wean ourselves down to 3 meals a day.

I've also come rather rudely face to face with "Back" at home and at work.

As in, "Oh, I'll worry about that when I get Back."

Seems that no one broke into my office while I was gone to do the tasks I've been putting off, nor did they deal with the years old stacks of things screaming to be dealt with around the house.

Hmmph.

I guess I'll need a few more weeks to really ponder those tasks, don't want to rush into anything, ya know.

In other news, this time of year sure is full of people wanting money for future events.

Like way in the future.

The first round was in October when we had to register for Spring soccer (the fall season was still going on), basketball and summer camp.

What ever happened to the good old days where you registered for something a couple of weeks before it happened?

I know, I know, these places can be dealing with huge numbers of people, I get it, but it's really getting obnoxious to have money for summer stuff due at Christmas.

Now we're into the school registration fees, summer sports camps and summer vacation, plus various volleyball fees (14 hotel room nights this season. Four-Teen) and miscellaneous Confirmation, First Communion and Graduation expenses.

We should get bonus points somewhere for having an 8th grader and a 2nd grader this year who are receiving 3 Sacraments between them.

Translated: 3 separate parent meetings and 2 new suits.

But, at least this time our 8th grader is a boy, so we don't have to launch what I called "Dress Season", when Busy Girl was in 8th grade and had to have a different dress for each of 4 back to back events.

Oh, by the way, if you are going to wail on me for having gone on a beach trip when I have all this money due, the trip is free (only required expenditures are share of gas and food).

Next week, we register Busy Boy for high school (and they want...go ahead...guess...Money!).

High. School.

That's wild.

His path through the next 4 years will be totally different from Busy Girl's, so in a way, it will be new for us, too.

In case you're wondering I've got my fingers in my ears about Busy Girl being nearly halfway through high school.

Lalalalalala.

I can't hear you.

I'm deliriously tired from (get this...) exercising (I know!) and I have no idea how to end this.

Oh, remember the Shiba Inu Puppy Cam craze about a year ago?

Kika had a new litter of pups last week, so there's a brand new Shiba Inu Puppy Cam to suck your productivity dry.

Oh, maybe that's just me.