Because I am obsessed, I am off to Tulsa tomorrow evening to see 1964: the Tribute once again.

My favorite Beatles tribute band, I had seen them twice before this year. In February I saw them, once again, on their annual visit to OU. Then I saw them a second time in May, at Abbey Road on the River, and I enjoyed them so much I was bummed at the thought of having to wait until '06 to see them again (they always visit OU in late winter).

It occurred to me to check their website for show dates, though, and I discovered this Tulsa show was upcoming. I bought a ticket as soon as they went on sale. I'll be enjoying the show from the third row. I always have so much fun at their concerts and I'm really looking forward to this -- not to mention the fact that I will be going to dinner beforehand, and will be borrowing my father-in-law's cushy Lincoln to drive up, which doesn't suck.

I just checked my June stats for the first time. Do you know what the top search string was to bring people here?

Linus Van Pig.

What, in the name of Sam Donaldson's undershorts, would possibly cause someone to do a search for that name? Who would even think of that? It is not a common pet name; it's not like Spot or Rover or Blackie. It's not the name of some celebrity or politician or fictional character. It's something I made up when Linus joined our family just before Peanuts ended. Since he is a guinea pig I tweaked the name Linus Van Pelt to get Linus Van Pig. Am I missing something, here? Is there another Linus Van Pig out there of whom I am not aware?

Weird. Just plain weird.

My favorite search string that has brought someone to this blog in the past month?

"how to make a bottle into a crackpipe"

Golly, I'm sorry I couldn't help them out more.

(This entry is the reason I turned up on that search.)

Would that I could write a well-planned and cohesive review like Zoot's -- but, alas, I cannot.

I was in the midst of chapter 19 when I had a conversation with my mom in which she told me I should not read chapter 28 while out in public. She said I'd want to be home when I read it.

Well, being how I am, I had to look ahead. I get very emotionally involved in my books and I can't concentrate on the story if I know something awful is looming on the horizon. I'd known someone was going to die but I had managed to keep myself from searching for the answer as to whom. When I heard the exact chapter, though, it was all over. If I hadn't looked ahead I'd have ended up skimming, not really reading and understanding, till I got to 28, anyway.

So I looked, and I saw who it was, and (some of) what happened. And I have not been able to read it again since. I am frozen at chapter 19, knowing what happens at the end but not anything between those two points. And, to tell the truth, I am not really sure when I will feel like picking it up again. I just don't have the heart to go on right now.

I had every hope that book 7 would solve all the wizarding world's problems and tie everything up with a nice little bow, with the characters tripping happily off into the sunset. Now I'm not so sure. Now I'm not sure I even want to read it. If this can happen then I can see the series ending on a sadder note, with things left unresolved. And I don't know that I will be able to deal with that.

May I take another moment to point out that there are now only three months until the first of the Paul concerts?

Thanks (again).

May I just take a moment to say how much I adore the "Band on the Run" album?

Thanks. I feel better now.

Well, not really, but my bananas have been tallied so it's time for me to skedaddle, nonetheless.

We're off to see the Wizard tomorrow. Our Yellow Brick Road takes us south on 101 then to the 405 and LAX. (3.5 hours if there's no traffic, so, in other words, on those days when hell is frozen over.) We will be rolling out of here no later than 8:30 a.m. The car is gassed and I'm going to dash out before bed and get cash from the ATM so we don't need to stop for anything on the way out of town. I am crossing my fingers that we'll make it at least halfway before the first potty break but that's equally likely to happen as not.

On the plus side, once we get to the airport it is pretty straightforward. We have one, 2.5-hour flight and then we're in Dallas, to be picked up by Robert -- who will drive the 2.5 hours home. The kids will sleep most of the way and dh and I will have a chance to chitchat so it should be pretty painless. (And a side note -- now that Robert has his breathing machine and gets an actual good night's sleep every night, I won't be fretting all the way home about whether he's dozing off at the wheel or not!)

So, there we go. I'm not exactly thrilled about going home, but it has to be done, I guess.

Think of us tomorrow!

It's Harry Potter day!! I'm off to Borders tonight to pick up my copy. It's a 15-minute drive back to my parents' house from there. I am going to try really hard to limit myself to only a couple of chapters after I get back so I can be in bed by 1....but I'm not making any promises!

I also want to pace myself so I have some left to read on the plane on Wednesday when we head for home. (Insert loud sobbing here)

As much as I'd love to say that my lack of updating is a result of a packed social calendar brimming with parties and events, the truth of the matter is more along the lines of me not being able to drag my sandwich-saturated mass to the computer, and, when I do manage it, I have a hard time gripping the mouse with my mayo-coated fingers.

We are having a lovely time here in California. It hasn't been unbearably hot. It's just 88 right now, at 2:20 p.m. And, of course, it cools way down overnight.

We've done loads of shopping, been to the beach once, and eaten at Denny's more times than I care to admit. The three of us went to see "Madagascar" with friends and then, last night, I took Madalyn to a late showing of "Herbie: Fully Loaded" (a.k.a. the Lindsay Lohan Skankfest. Obviously this was not my choice.)

Robert left to head out here yesterday. As of about an hour ago he was in Flagstaff, AZ, which will put him here tonight. We don't really have many specific plans for while he is here but we will certainly be glad to see him. The kids ask about him every day.

The kids are enjoying themselves. John-Zachary has finally warmed up to Grandma. Up till now he tolerated her, at best, and screamed bloody murder when she touched him, at worst. Finally he has come to the realization that she is not an axe-murderer in disguise and is playing with her and interacting with her by choice. This has enabled me to duck out on various occasions to go to the store, get a bite to eat, get my hair cut, etc. This has made for a happier household, in general.

Thus summarizes our exploits, so far. Now, as promised, here are two of the shots from the kids' photo session the other day. Not a bad-looking pair, if I do say so.

Pairs of shoes purchased today: 5 (counting the slippers)

Purses purchased so far: 1

You see....I am pacing myself!

Tomorrow is our requisite shopping trip to the outlets and Mervyn's. I imagine my purse count will rise by tomorrow afternoon.

Yeah...I'm having a good time.

P.S. -- We're having the kids' pictures taken tomorrow at Sears, so check back tomorrow evening or Wed. morning if you're interested in seeing the little crumbsnatchers.