Sweating like a pig is NOT ladylike.

But its what I'm doing nonetheless.

The weather here in New York is unbearable. Hot, humid and nasty. Yesterday I'd just settled the girls down to watch "Sesame Street" and I'd perched on my couch with my laptop when - POP! Everything went out. After a call to Con Edison (they were their usual helpful selves), I realized I had to get the hell out of dodge. I called my uncle who lives about thirty minutes away and he said it was ok to take the girls over there. I packed them up, and left. Our lights were out for about SIX HOURS. I was actually ready to come back to my house and get the girls Pack n Plays so that we could sleep at my uncle's house if necessary. S. refused to nap all day yesterday and by dinnertime she was an absolute mess. She refused to let anyone near her but me. I ate my dinner with my child on my lap -- it was the only way to keep her quiet.

So here we are again today, the girls are watching "Dora", I'm on the couch with my laptop, and I fired up the A/C around noon, and said a silent prayer.

I was up last night until about 2am, trying to get shit done that I wasn't able to do yesterday due to our little road trip. I finally finished the thank you cards for the babies' birthday - YES, I hand-made the cards, with my stamps, my cardstock, etc. I figure if you're selling card-making products, it just doesn't look good if you're buying cards at Hallmark. The final thing on the list for this week is to start planning Father's Day scrapbooks - I'm doing three - one for my dad, one for DH and one for my uncle (who is more like a second grandfather to my girls). Yes, its an ambitious undertaking, and by next week I'll be cursing and screaming, but I think it will be worth it.

I'm off to my sales unit meeting tomorrow - that will take up most of my day. Sunday I have lots of exciting errands to run - Linens & things, food shopping, need some extras for that dress I'm wearing to my cousin's wedding at the end of the month (which reminds me that I should be on crackers and lemon-water for the next two weeks), and a visit to Babies R Profit ("big ups" to Carrie for coming up with that one!) -- I lead such an exciting life I tell ya.

The girls are doing well - D. is now cruising around. She's like an old typewriter -- she cruises to the end of the couch, and then can't get back where she came from. You have to manually "carriage return" her back to the beginning. I've now dropped D.'s crib as far as it will go, and finally dropped S's crib a notch as well. S. keeps trying to stand on her own. She gets up on her knees, and tries to raise herself to a standing position, but she gets "stuck". I don't think she's going to crawl or cruise, I think she'll go right to standing.

Here's the Friday Fiver to keep you off the streets - have a great weekend, y'all!

From your vantage point in front of the computer, you spy, with your little eye...
1. Something that is red: Elmo
2. Something that is shiny:a mirror
3: Something that is ugly: Dora the Explorer
4. Something that is made of wood: My armoire where the TV is housed
5. Something that is sharp: Besides my wit? DH's ornamental knives