Lisa n Tom (n James n Joseph)

Lisa writes: My 5-year-old niece Ava, in full swing.

Lisa writes: In Brazil, Tom was often told he looked like this guy. This only ever happened in Brazil. Those brasileiros are a wild and louco bunch. I sometimes think he looks like this guy (Hugh Laurie, pre-"House"): And it's simply an objective fact that he looks (and acts and dresses and wants to be) like this guy: Need proof?

Lisa writes: One of the fun things about the people I train at MegaCompany is that they watch a lot of television. So when I'm training them, and they're watching me, they're probably really thinking about the television they'd rather be watching. And sometimes, out of the blue, they'll say, "Do you know who you remind me of?" And I'll say, "No. Who?" And invariabley -- delightfully -- it's always somebody way better-looking than I actually am. So that's why it's fun: I can't promise they're learning anything, but I get lots of compliments. For instance, one guy thought I looked like her: And a girl thought I looked like her: And somebody else told me I looked like her. (Why, yes, I did choose the most flattering picture of her that I could find. Wouldn't you?) And Tom once said that I remind him a little of her. 'Cept maybe smiley-er.

Tom writes: Lisa was telling some friends of ours the other day about how strange it is that wherever you go, people are still the same. For example, when she was in the Dominican Republic, there was a woman there who, but for slightly darker skin, could have been her mother. Or how Elison, a good friend of mine in Brazil, might as well be my long-lost twin: we kind of look alike, talk alike, and even think alike. Yet, it was kind of a surprise to hear from him today that he is thinking about trying to get into his country's diplomatic corp. Many years ago (or at least so it seems), I had similar career aspirations. In retrospect, nothing came of them for me (luckily, because I probably would not have met Lisa if I had been stationed in Chile). Maybe Elison will have different luck and I can live vicariously through him...

Lisa writes: Susan and Cisco came by to join us for a walk on Sunday. Susan's private claim to neighborhood fame is her early morning covert tactical guerrilla pruning activity. "Sidewalks are for walking," she declares, and then demonstrates the strength of her convictions by powerwalking with pruning shears at 6 a.m. Heaven help the overgrown hosta on Susan's route that day.

Lisa writes: Christi's gang went camping last week. They're nearly as frugal as we are! Her note that accompanied this picture: "Who needs jet skis & motor boats?...they were perfectly content having dad pull them around by a stick."

Lisa writes: I just wrote a letter to Santa and told him that this is what I want for Christmas. It's called the SkeeterVac Mosquito Exterminator and, reportedly, it does what it says it does. And if it does what it says it does, I need one! According to the website, it "uses carbon dioxide, water vapor, heat, LED motion lighting, contrasting colors and octenol to attract mosquitoes and either vacuum into wave trap or trap them on the sticky paper." I like a mosquito exterminator that hedges its bets like that. SheeterVac, thinking to itself: Hmm, the CO2 doesn't seem to be working well enough. Let's throw in some water vapor. Okay, that's good. What if we flash some lights? Oooh, they like that. Okay you little buggers, how 'bout some octenol. Come and get it. Closer ... closer ... [sucking sound of the vacuum] HA! Gotcha! It is possible that I'm projecting a little of my own mosquito frustration onto this machine. Possible. But, look, here's my ...

Lisa writes: Happy Birthday, Lori. Keep it up -- you're almost as old as I am! Love, Number One Sibling

Lisa writes: After four months of sliding across the bare hardwood floors in our socks and underwear, we decided the novelty had worn off and we were ready to buy something to sit on. Two zillion Craigslist searches later, we found, bought, and transported the following all in the space of four hours. Naturally, it was 100 degrees and 90% humidity last night as we hefted these honking things into the house -- is there ever any other time to move? But we are thrilled with our find and now, if you come over to visit us, you can sit on something. Don't worry, though. We did leave some sock-sliding room, so if you visit us, you can do that, too.

Lisa writes: Mom got a framed copy of this picture of the grandkids for her birthday last month. She said, "They were dressed in outfits from about a hundred years ago. Christi had a hard time convincing Christian to take off his T-shirt and his shark tooth necklace. She would say, 'They didn't have those things in the olden days.' When the photographer put a hat on Christian that Christi thought made his ears poke out, she said, 'Put his ears under the hat.' Christian replied, 'Mom! They had ears back then, you know!'"