The Onion pretty much sums it up: Documents Reveal Gaps in Bush's Service As President

Meanwhile, had a tree maintenance company come by to give us an estimate. We have several large, beautiful trees around our property, but most look like they haven't been pruned in years, there are dead branches throughout, and the cicadas wreaked some havoc as well. And there's one tree in particular that's leaning precariously toward our back yard and needs to be removed entirely. The bottom line: $2,500. Yoinks! Maybe that's why the previous owners didn't have any work done ...

Couldn't take the natural haircolor any longer. Now I'm Clairol Natural Instincts Egyptian Plum #32.

You'd think we're too far north to have been affected by Hurricane Ivan. But there I was Friday night, listening to the radio, when the DJ started taking calls from listeners on cell phones, reporting funnel clouds touching down all over the area. The last remains of Ivan were wreaking a final round of havoc. When we then found out that Montgomery County was one of the localities under a tornado watch, we decided maybe we should go down into the basement until the watch was over. So we hung out, listening to the radio, snacking on chips and homemade salsa, and entertaining both baby and cats. Luckily for us, the tornados hit farther away.

Saturday, Ken's birthday, was still windy and stormy but less dangerously so. We gathered here with his dad and brother for a takeout luncheon feast.

Sunday was absolutely gorgeous — sunny, clear, dry and 70. Perfect day for yard work. I was finally able to clear the front yard and path of the various debris that had accumulated over the summer. Five lawn trim bags later, I was sore and tired, but the house looks much neater.

September always has some of the best weather of the year in DC. On the days I'm home with Julia, we go for a walk to Sligo Creek Park in the mornings and enjoy the sun and blue skies. Soon we'll be able to watch the leaves change, and then we'll have to start bundling up. I'll have to stop ignoring my gardening duties and mulch the flower beds and do battle with the encroaching weeds.

What is it like being a mom, anyway? Nobody wants to admit that it's anything less than all joy, all the time. But every parent knows better. Laura Mullane does a good job of capturing some of the shades of grey.

And so summer ends in September, with an extended weekend. I had an enjoyable outing yesterday with Lisa Goldberg and our two babies, walking from her house to downtown Silver Spring for lunch. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. Today was furiously productive as we get ready for our first official gig as hosts in the new house, with a BBQ for friends. Ken, who has entered into chef mode of late, is making limeade, fresh salsa, roasted corn on the cob, and his famous savory turkey burgers. Mmm!

Meanwhile, we seem to have a menagerie on our side porch, due to the proximity of Sligo Creek Park and the presence of Tigger's cat food. On various evenings, we have discovered an opossum and a raccoon rummaging through his dish, and our trash can has been overturned more than once. We finally withdrew the food today and just now the raccoon returned, looking rather disappointed to find his free buffet has disappeared.