Just like a real teacher...
I'm returning to school before the students. I must use today to evict all the toys and dreck that have invaded the school table over vacation and prepare our lessons so we can hit the ground running on Monday.

Frances has some sort of devious plan to redecorate the family room - to make it look more normal. (She wants to buy real desks, ship out the school table and re-do the book shelves. I'm OK with her offer of a slipcover for the couch. It was pretty nice when we bought it for $35 at Lambs' Farm resale shop 4 years ago, but now it's a little (OK, a lot) worse for the wear.) So I am planning on sitting here all week-end to prevent anything funky from happening. Now that we have a normal TV, Franny feels we need a normal looking room to go with it. We've already explained that we are totally happy with the way things are and if she really wants to live in a 'normal' place, she is welcome to find her own. Just to reinforce the point, I told her I'm willing to plant myself on the couch (Em is leaving tomorrow) and live there, 'Brian Wilson' style, until she finds a different mission. Tomorrow night is our work Christmas party - I hope Fran doesn't use that as her time for a coup. Don't want to miss the party - it should be fun. Last year I brought a 'normal' gift for the gift exchange. This year I'm a little more relaxed and I found something really funny. But not so funny that I want to stay home and keep it for myself.