"Well, so that is that."

If the muscle can feel repugnance, there is still a false move to be made;
If the mind can imagine to-morrow, there is still a defeat to remember;
As long as the self can say "I", it is impossible not to rebel;
As long as there is an accidental virtue, there is a necessary vice:
And the garden cannot exist, the miracle cannot occur.

For the garden is the only place there is, but you will not find it
Until you have looked for it everywhere and found nowhere that is not a desert;
The miracle is the only thing that happens, but to you it will not be apparent,
Until all events have been studied and nothing happens that you cannot explain;
And life is the destiny you are bound to refuse until you have consented to die.

(W. H. Auden, 1944)

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The Christmas decorations got packed up today, put back in their boxes.  Too bad it's cold outside, 'cause we could really afford to send the two urchins outside to play.  They have been bouncing off the walls all day long.  One thing I have observed a lot over the past month:  Little Red is now into imitating the Big Brother as closely as he's able--body language, phrases, etc.  The elder just threw himself on the floor in anguish over somethingoranother, and Little Red followed right after.  Laughter ensued.

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The picture above is from our post-Christmas trip to the Georgia Aquarium, which was really amazing.  Today, though, Big Brother told me that he didn't want to go again, because someone might throw him in the water.

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Tomorrow, work starts for the upcoming semester.  There will be plenty.