Mom gave Charlie a drum set of sorts for Christmas. I have never found ecstasy with the insufferable throb of a drum. Miles is somewhat of a percussionist, and that's something that he's learned to stifle, fortunately.

Charlie was producing a cacophony yesterday afternoon while I was trying to find my creative genius to perform some graphics work. The two activities did not mesh.

Charlie's racket music remained unaffected while my design suffered. I guess the ol' creative genius is a bit of a drama queen. I imagine an airy voice, dainty limbs, and deceptively limpid eyes. She sways unsteadily and throws the back of her hand to her forehead as she whimpers prettily, "I just CAN'T work in these conditions!"

I soothe her, trying to fill my head with Moonlight Sonata, Für Elise or...Tiny Dancer. Her lips roll inward, one small fist pressing against them. She tries to hold back the desperate emotion. She fails her task as she creates offering after offering of absolute graphical crap.

Dad arrived home, caught sight of my vexed visage, and exclaimed sarcastically, "Isn't it a shame that your mother can't be home to hear how much her son likes his present?"

That pretty much sums it up.

Today was Mom's first day back at work after a week of vacation. She felt frenzied and off-schedule, and so did not consume her half of the morning brew. I, being the thoughtful daughter that I am, picked up the slack and finished the pot.

Likewise, I might return to bed to make up for the sleep that she missed. Perhaps I'll have to expand my meals as well, shop twice as much, and behave doubly kind-natured.

Boy, this sounds tiring. I better get a start on that sleep thing...

"I just don't like red meat, Dad."
"Well, I'll cook it all the way through for you!"

[Let's observe my response visually:]

Or, as my mother says, slightly disgusted, "Ho, ho...no."

Today commences a three-day tour of seasonal gluttony. During the morning workout, I armed myself to deploy defense against the caloric devilry to come...and don't I look just so happy too?