For the record

The pants do look gooooood. And if the lady finds me sexy when I'm brave, I'll be brave more often.

On another matter, I don't see anything wrong with telling the child to speak, rather than point, to the things he wants. "Use your words" is just another way of saying, 'You ain't the boss of me,' or, 'Forgive my ignorance, my liege, but I did not understand your request. Please repeat in a language my poor, slow, sleepy serf brain can understand.'

MY mother, whose mannerisms and tones I began unconciously adopting at birth, worries about the weather in Portland, but today it was 60-some degrees and stunning. I had an appointment on the 18th floor of a place downtown, and Mount Hood looked like it was across the street. Stu-freaking-pendous. Plus, I got to the bus stop this evening, and my #9 was pulling away, and I ran, but didn't catch it. And then, 5 minutes later, another #9 pulled up, even though they usually run every 15 to 20 minutes. Somebody was running way behind or somebody was running way ahead: Either way, it's further proof that we're supposed to be here. At least in my world.