Sorry Kris--I'm with Betsy on the child-rearing issues. Elliot and Maggie look just fine to me! As long as my kids are clothed and not bleeding from any obvious wounds, I think my job is pretty well done. Blow drying? I don't think so!

BTW--Joey and Alex miss hanging out with Elliot. Move to Temecula--we're a little short on good Unitarians out here!

I with Betsy too on the kid issue -- I have three and God help my husband if he told me that I didnt keep them clean enough. If you have an issue with something I am doing than take over that task or shut up about it.

Betsy - those people were puffcuffs and screw em. And I am not even a Unitarian and I figured that out.

Ok, the iPod thing:
Kris: Totally WRONG! People can't get take back the broken ipods in a different box because the serial numbers don't match.

What people are doing is using them for parts. When my husband broke his replacing the battery, all he needed to do was replace the dock connector. If you are handy with the soldering, you can't replace it the damn thing.

Actually, you needed to find a scientist with a vacuum dessicator. They work wonders for washed phones.

a dessicator sounds painful!

i understand on the kids front also, but it is just one of my hang ups.

i was hoping another daddy or mommy might chime in on this but i guess i went to one of those places where i just can't win. thanks daddies for coming to the rescue of a brother ;-).

I know about Naperville because I had some college friends from there. All I can say is, why do you live there? I think you should move somewhere else a little less pretentious.You guys are too fun for a place like that!!
I agree with Betsy too about Elliots clothing. I say a dirty child is a happy child! I dont think that had to do with the teasing though, maybe you should lose the Crocs?? Those are GROSS!! My son is large for his age and like most boys, immature. I remember having the same issues..People thought my son was a lot older than he was because he was so tall. The kids picked on him a lot. The problem Betsy is if you dont let him fight his own battles he will have problems later on. My son is 13 and he is still struggling with being bullied. I wish we hadnt coddled him so much! Keep up the great podcasts!

thanks margot! i'm with you on losing the crocs and size issue.

on the naperville side of things 1/3 for hospital that elliot's doc is/was at, 1/3 for the schools with awesome special needs ed and 1/3 for the lifestyle (parks, riverwalk, events and sadly pretension).

without the last part i'd still be working at the community college (job was cool, boss sucked and pay was horrible) struggling to pay bills, telling betsy that i was glad to be close to elliot's doc and school.

if you have some time listen to some of our early podcasts from late 2004 and early 2005 to hear that part of our lives.

betsy and i seem to be drawn a bit to pretentiousness, though i think she would be reluctant to admit it.

after looking at how long this reply is, i realize that i made need more sleep. i hope some of this makes sense to someone! i've never quite spent time introspecting living in naperville.