Another bullet post because I am nothing if not repetitive concise:

• The Aporkalypse (or Hamthrax as I hear some of my Canadian friends are calling it) has hit our school district. One child in our school district has a confirmed case of H1N1 and although everyone is putting on a calm and sensible demeanor, I have this feeling that there is PANIC lurking behind the facade.  The four phone calls we’ve received from the superintendent of our district seems to be evidence of the barely concealed alarm. Each one was nearly exactly the same: ”There is no reason to be concerned. We are following the directions of the state health board in regards to dealing with this tiny little problem that’s really not even a problem. Also, if your child has a fever they must be kept out of a school for seven days, regardless of whether they test positive or negative for Hamthrax. But really! We’re not panicking!  If more cases show up in our district – although we’re positive they won’t – but IF they did, we will follow state directives on whether or not our schools need to be closed.  Please do not worry! Everything is under control!!!! PS- If your child shows symptoms like fever, runny nose, coughing, purple spots, melting flesh, or barking like a dog, please see your family physician. Thank you.”
   
• I am becoming a true Bostonian. You can tell because when I drive I now honk at the slightest hesitation at a green light or at people who cut me off or people who drives cars I don’t like. Pretty much anything. Call it cultural acclimation.
   
• After almost three long years I no longer have to isolate my son from peanut products! I have two children without peanut allergies! Huzzah! We celebrated by eating a chocolate-chip-peanut-m&m cookie. Peanuts and peanut butter are found in all the most fattening delicious foods. However, my days of eating all of Kieran’s peanut-laden Halloween candy are finished. Sigh. All silver linings have a cloud.
   
• Another reason I now feel like a Bostonian: tourists are driving me crazy! We have spent so much time in Boston, going all through the fall and winter. But now that tourist season is here I am so annoyed with all the tourists invading MY space. Wait, that’s not entirely true. I’m annoyed with tourists who dawdle and who are completely unaware of what’s going on around them. People who are walking along at a good pace and then just stop in the middle of the sidewalk, right in my path. I was raised to be aware of people around me and to step out of the way if I need to stop. So this rude behaviour is frustrating to me. 
   
• I believe my washing machine has some kind of vendetta against my children’s clothes. We have now lost five shirts to the washer because they came out with black/brown streaks on them that I couldn’t get out. All signs (ok google) point to ball bearings wearing out which may or may not be covered under the warranty. It’s not technically our responsibility as our landlord owns our appliances. But I don’t want to be afraid to wash clothes! How to appease the washing machine gods???