Another rainy weekend. Another weekend within the oppressive constraints of our newly tightened budget. Googling "free NJ weekend events." Came up with a WBGO family jazz concert at our local middle school. My son was not too pleased, but since he's ten, short enough to push out the door, he went. It was the Steven Bernstein Band, perhaps you saw us there, my son mostly sulking as they improvised "The wheels on the bus." I loved it.

I used to write about the lack of playdates available for my son when he was six or seven, but now that he's ten, it's actually worse. His best friend across the street recently got into this chokingly competitive private school and studies each afternoon, he's basically MIA. Weekends are no better, the kid never calls, ever.