it's true.

On Monday I had my braces adjusted. So did several teenagers, but it didn't bother me because I have no pride. (I got rid of that mess a couple weeks ago.) However, in the hour and a half at the orthodontist, I discovered something: the month of September has left me with exactly zero tolerance for pain. After tearing, grinding, and sanding my teeth into submission I left the office foggy-headed and grumpy. As in, intensely grumpy. It took the thirty minute drive home to work through the bad mood... and it only went away after a warm bowl of soup. At my parent's house. Whilst my pirates were playing happily downstairs. Calm conquers everything...

Yesterday we kept the pirates past their bedtime. Squish got grumpy, Erikboy got grumpy- and they both wanted the same toy at the same time. The situation went colorful rather quickly: Squish was screaming, Erikboy had this determined look... And after a full day my thoughts were a little slow-coming: "Who had it first? Should I let Squish have the toy? Should I give it to Erikboy?" But then logic and reason stepped in and I realized the problem was not so much the toy, but the time of day. I tried to separate my squabbling pirates but it didn't work. So Steve picked up Erikboy, I picked up Squish and we left the toy right where it was. "Calm" I thought, "Calm conquers everything."

And it does. 

(And so do Squishes.)