I can’t listen to NPR anymore. It’s too damn depressing, right down to the story about that kid on the no-cussing crusade. (Don’t get me started.)

The house is a disaster inside, painters are attacking the outside, something smells in the kitchen AND the laundry room. We are so not ready for a puppy. The journalism industry continues to crumble around my knees. Ray’s too. I have crow’s feet the size of eagle claws, and at this rate the science fair projects will never get done. I have got to stay off of Facebook, or nothing else will get done, either.

It was about time for a dance party, and I knew just who (the correct word here is whom but it sounds weird) to invite. Annabelle was watching Noggin, Ray was blogging. Sophie, however, had 5 minutes before the physical therapist was to arrive.

Bad Mom put on “I’m Too Sexy for My Shirt” (part of a marathon warm-up kindly and snarkily compiled by Mr. M., including the themes to both “Chariots of Fire” and “Rocky”, as well as some obscene song about someone’s “top”) and Sophie bought that for a while (see above) but she wasn’t really into shaking her tush on the catwalk. I guess you had to be around in the early 90s to really appreciate that one.

In the end, I put on Sarah McLaughlan (sp, damnit) singing “The Rainbow Connection,” picked Sophie up, and we slow danced. If you haven’t tried it in a while, you should, particularly on a busy morning when you have no business doing it.

OK, let’s get really gushy for a minute. Rainbows are just one of those things. I happened to be in the classroom the day Ms. X announced to Sophie’s class that she’d seen one that morning. Finally, after months of school, they were able to put one on the weather chart, insetad of a sun or cloud or the rare rain. Seeing how excited that got Ms. X — let alone the kids — was most certainly as good as my own personal rainbow sighting.

Here. Read the lyrics and try not to tear up. 

The Rainbow Connection

Why are there so many songs about rainbows
And what’s on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,
And rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we’ve been told and some choose to believe it
I know they’re wrong, wait and see.
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

Who said that every wish would be heard and answered
when wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that
and someone believed it,
and look what it’s done so far.
What’s so amazing that keeps us stargazing?
And what do we think we might see?
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection,
the lovers, the dreamers and me.

All of us under its spell,
we know that it’s probably magic….

Have you been half asleep
and have you heard voices?
I’ve heard them calling my name.
Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?
The voice might be one and the same.
I’ve heard it too many times to ignore it.
It’s something that I’m supposed to be.
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection,
the lovers, the dreamers and me.
La, la la, La, la la la, La Laa, la la, La, La la laaaaaaa