The free circus became the forty or fifty dollar circus after the popcorn, cotton candy, drinks, snow cones, light-up gadgets, and the unicorn balloon that The Dickens threw a fit about wanting and subsequently bit and popped were purchased. Oh well, if it hadn't been free to get in, it would have run us nearly a hundred dollars.
The boys were amazed at the contortionist, and even more amazed at the crazy guys on motorcycles who sped around inside something that looked like a huge, steel hamster ball. The tightrope guy was pretty cool too.

Willow was interested for awhile, and clapped whenever everybody else clapped, but soon decided it was too hot and not so interesting. The Dickens was even less interested, even though the show featured a number of "princesses." Jen took Willow outside for awhile, and later I took The Dickens out. She promptly threw a fit on the lawn. I paid two dollars for a tiny train ride. She sat proudly on it while it clacked around the small track, and then promptly threw another fit when it was over and another turn wasn't forthcoming. Soon, her boots and socks were off and her princess outfit was in a disarray. At this point, I caved in and bought her the aforementioned balloon. Minutes later, in a flurry of acrobats falling into nets, the circus was over.

We gathered up the sweaty kids and went into the museum, which is always free. We hung around the Magic Schoolbus exhibit for awhile before gravitating upstairs towards the free pizza. Nearly a whole pizza later, we went home. Then, rarity of rarities, Jen got a night out at a previously arranged swap meet at K's house. I stayed home with the kids, who will go to great lengths to resist sleep when Jen isn't here. The Dickens was first to succumb, drifting into dreamland to the flickering images of The Lorax. I had to sing Willow to sleep again, which is kind of fun to do. The boys made it all the way through 'til midnight, when Jen came home.

Today we did little chores around the house. I pulled about five pounds of paper out of my wallet and recycled it. There was even a coupon in there that had expired back in 2002. No wonder my butt hurts when I sit on my wallet.

Only 23 more delivery days.

cds I listened to while sitting a little lower in the seat: Kristin Hersh "The Grotto", Sigur Ros "Recycle Bin", and Electric Sun "Earthquake", Firewind", and "Beyond the Astral Skies"