I have a confession. I have been salivating over the new form factor of the phone I use, the Treo series, for quite awhile now. It's a simple hardware modification, and one that I'm ashamed to say I'm so excited over... they finally got rid of the darn antenna nub! Hallelujah! For someone like me who carries the phone in their pocket, I can't go into enough detail how frequently irksome it is for the phone to turn sideways and have that stupid nub jam your pocket. Pretty silly eh?

Well, Palm released the Treo 755p (I currently have a 650) back in first quarter of this year, and only Sprint has carried it so far. Dang! I'm on Verizon Wireless, and I keep getting tantalized by all the forums and blogs of Treo fans out there guessing when Verizon will begin carrying it. I remain optimistically-pessimistic that Verizon will never carry the darn phone, and when/if they do, there will probably be a Windows Mobile phone that will kick the pants off of it... if they can ever make that OS stable enough.

So, without further ado, on the day before November, here's the latest rumor about when Verizon will carry 755p:

http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/8253/more-verizon-treo-755p-details/

Went to a dance performance tonight at Alex's Jr. High put on by his CPE (creative physical expression) class. The Jr. High Alex attends is a school that teaches the same curriculum required by the school district (and state), but in a different manner and focus. So instead of PE, they have CPE, which puts a bit of theatrical flair into getting the kids to exercise.

Anyway, the performance started with a warm-up that looked suspiciously like an aerobics class I once took with my best friend, Sarah, when I was at the UW. It brought back memories of having to wake up super early to hike across campus to the athletic building only to spend 45 minutes trying to figure out 'the routine'. For me, 'the routine' for the first three classes was to go left when everyone else went right, stretch up when everyone else stretched down and generally looking like a fish out of water flopping about hither and thither to the quick beat of techno-y 90's dance songs... (uh-1, 2, 3, 4, rhythm is a dancer, it's a soul companion, you can feel it every where...[yah baby!]) I saw a lot of that tonight, but I commend all of the students on stage for sticking to it, especially since they're all at the beginning of their teenage years.

Overall, the choreography of the performances was pretty good. The choreographers found a dance routine for students of all dance experience to fit, and I think the dancers felt exhilarated to perform. One particular portion that sticks out in my mind is a group of about 10 students hopping with feet together with only the backstage in green so the audience only saw 10 synchronized hoppers. It was simple, but to the point and pretty cool... and to my relief, no poor soul was hopping down, while the others were hopping up - if there were, it probably would've been me.

Heard Homer Simpson's voice (Dan Castellaneta) turns 50 today... heh, heh, heh, it's my boss's birthday too. I'll have to mention that.

... other interesting folks born today (from IMDB):

• Richard Dreyfuss
• Winona Ryder
• Kate Jackson (she was Mrs. King in Scarecrow and Mrs. King)

Heard on NPR today that Steve Martin and the cartoonist from The New Yorker released an alphabet book today which sounds absolutely crazy. Am kind of interested in how the book actually looks compared to the way I imagined it while driving to the hospital this morning.

[elated] Quinn came home with Lisa this evening! I'm really surprised - I figured that she'd be out for another evening like last year. It feels good to have everyone back in the house. She's still weazy, but I'm praying that she can kick this cold without further complication.

Earlier in the evening, I tried Tucker in training pants while watching Potty Time Elmo since only Tucker and Cleo were at home at the time. I was hopeful until I heard a drips on the kitchen floor... the frustrating thing is that I think he knows something is about to happen, because he'll go to a corner or another room for privacy (I assume). I have yet to catch him in time since I'm doing two billion other things in the house. It seems like we have so far to go between seeking privacy and actually having him understand to sit on the potty and knowing what to do.

[chillin] Quinn had to spend the night at the hospital - like last year all over again. Like me as a kid, she has weaker lungs and the cold season is just no fun. When I left the hospital last night after she finally went to sleep around 9pm, I felt so guilty leaving since I didn't feel any of the hospital staff would be there when she would wake up in a strange place. To make up for that feeling of culpability, I covered her with my sweater and then proceeded to get turned around trying to leave the labyrinth of hospital hallways. doh!

Around midnight I called the nurse station for an update, and it sounded like they had it all taken care of and were attending to Quinn to help her sleep after her *Albeterol treatments, which she hates. Thankfully they stopped the 'every 2 hour' treatments since they weren't being super effective so I think she got a relatively good night of sleep.

Today, I'm taking the morning shift with Quinn, while Lisa is at home with Cleo. She seems less pale and definitely more active now... that and she shuns anyone wearing the mask and yellow robe of the hospital staff. I wonder if she'll develop a hatred of yellow from this experience? Meanwhile, work is languishing. Man, I dread looking into my inbox.

Funny sidenote on the whole Facebook fascination I have at the moment. Microsoft announced an advertising deal with Facebook yesterday and has purchased a small percentage of the company (1.something ).

Taking care of the kids today, while Lisa is at the hospital with Quinn. All the little kiddos have the 'gunk.' Quinn took it pretty hard- she's congested, coughing, has an ear infection and is completely miserable. We decided to take her in because she was breathing in small short breaths, wouldn't drink or eat anything and completely 'lost' anything she did consume.

Cleo is still congested and coughing, but is on the mend. Tucker never got the cold, but was ill Sunday with a tummy flu.

Oh, I heard the most wonderful thing from Tucker this morning. Alex was getting ready for school in the kitchen when Tucker joined him after waking up. Alex said, 'Hi Tucker.' ... and Tucker independently responded and said, 'Hi Alex.' (note that he didn't respond by imitating Alex - so cool!)

A day we've waited for and never expected would arrive.  At 16 months, our tiniest (but not youngest) child, Quinn, has taken her first steps!  And true to form, when she achieves a milestone, she is not a mere tentative beginner.  No, she appears to have been secretly practicing so that walking looks nearly like second nature.  Ah well, it's a welcome sight for sore eyes.  Go, Quinnie!

After 10 years at Nintendo, on September 7 I said goodbye and made the choice to become a Household Manager and All-Around Super Mom (I think I like the new title!).  It was very difficult to say goodbye (even if it was only "so long" until next time I come in with the kids).  Ten years is a long time.  But it is only a day in the bucket when you work at a great place doing something you love surrounded by good people.   :o)

If you would like to email me, please use my home address (and your address book will need to be updated, too):  lisaannthompson@msn.com   I look forward to hearing from you, and hopefully getting together with you more!  In the meantime .... goodbye, Nintendo!  I'll miss you!

[ready for a nap] It must be autumn (que the new background), Tucker has thrown up two times this morning, and Cleo was up most of the night coughing. *yawn* I'm going to take a nap.

[shhh, kids are asleep] Been getting sucked into Facebook lately (www.facebook.com). I feel like I'm completely wasting my time, yet I'm having fun. Just wish I could get other things done though!

Tucker is now in a preschool suited to his needs, and he is doing awesome! Here's a quote from a note his teacher, Miss Sarah, sent home: "Tucker is doing GREAT this week. He independently hangs up his backpack and coat, checks his schedule without any problems, get his lunch box when I ask him (and puts it away), and ALWAYS makes us laugh. I was dancing the other day and I looked to the right and Tucker was dancing with me. We just love him!" Dang, that just brings a tear to my eye.