So today, I got up at 6:15 with the kids, took them downstairs to watch Sesame Street, and showered in the downstairs bathroom while Ann got a few extra minutes of sleep.

Ann had a doctor's appointment early, so I shuffled the kids off to their new daycare center. Reason one why this is right: the new daycare costs almost 1/3 what we were paying, provides them lunhc and has a wonderful resident dog (a certified therapy dog, no less) with whom the kids are already in llove.

Ann and I met for breakfast at Panera after her appointment. I asked her what she missed, and we talked bout these things for a bit--you have heard it before from me, of course. By 9:30, I was on my way to campus.

By ten, I was in my office, working on revising an article that I sent off today (Woohoo!), and prepping for class tomorrow. I ran into town to get lunch, but otherwise spent five straight hours working on a day I wasn't teaching. Reason two: this job is going be one where I can do my job, meaning teaching, research and service, not commuting over an hour each way, or doing enough service for three people. Also not planning another job search is awfully nice.

At three I got in touch with Ann who was going to pick up the kids. She was going to take them to get some frozen yogurt and then to a local community playgroundwhere I would meet them. So after I arrived, and they toddled around the very cool space they have there, we walked over to the little pavilion that overlooks the Monongahela River, and the public boat launch. We watched some boats cruise up and down this gorgeous river (I remembered how much I love fresh water), and went over to the little picnic area and fed some ducks (including the ugliest duck I have ever seen--I cannot identify it in any of the online guides). As we returned to our cars, Lilah held my hand all the way up the walkway.

It was a beautiful, sunny, late summer day in the river valley, where we could feed the ducks and watch the boats, and play with the kids before going home. I had worked well, left the kids in competent and affordable daycare, and had a lovely place to enjoy with my family before we went home to dinner. That why this is good.