Riding to School in Style

With the birth of David, it fell to me to be the kids' chauffeur to school each morning.  They enjoy the mornings when we get to put the top down (68 degrees is about their limit, and anything below the mid-70s gets them to stick their arms inside their shirts), and stroll through the drop-off line in style.  Emily's friends ooh and aah with fun envy, and beg her for a chance to get a ride home.  Alas for Emily, the afternoon pickup is handled by Julie & the Suburban.

Most mornings, i am entertained by their banter.  Sometimes, it almost seems like a scripted comedy routine.  I probably can't transcribe the moments well enough to entertain you, but i'll share some nonetheless...

This morning...
Jackson: David is a worm in my womb [that's what i heard anyway]
Dad:  What?
J: David is a worm in my womb
[pause]
D: Oh, he's alone in your room
Emily: What did you think he said?
D: He's a worm

A couple of days ago...
J:  [whispering to Emily]  Julia is first
E: Who's second?
J:  [???], and [???] is third
E: Oh, does she have dark hair?
J:  It's like yours, except round

Chief Justice Roberts

It looks all but certain now that John Roberts will be confirmed as the next Chief Justice of the United States (side note: the title is NOT Chief Justice of the Supreme Court).  That's a good thing.  I think.

My good friend Matt is right -- this guy is a cipher.  Or like a Gump Box of Chocolates (where you never know...).  You can't help but be impressed by the guy; even the Senatorial opponents speak glowingly of his intellect and demeanor (though they also cannot help but take the potshots required by future-fundraising-concerns).

Sure, i'd rather have a confirmed Roe/Casey opponent.  After all, the GOP has held the White House for 24 of the 32 years since the Roe debacle (as you can see, i'm not angling for a future seat on SCOTUS), and all but 2 (Ginsberg/Breyer) of the current justices were appointed by Republican presidents.  So why can't we get this heinous decision overturned?  Go nuclear if you have to.

But i'll take my chances with Roberts.  I think he is very close philosophically to Reinquist.  And i think he is very well suited to lead the Judicial branch.  I especially liked his analogy to baseball umpires...

Judges and justices are servants of the law, not the other way around. Judges are like umpires. Umpires don't make the rules; they apply them.

The role of an umpire and a judge is critical. They make sure everybody plays by the rules.

But it is a limited role. Nobody ever went to a ball game to see the umpire.

Judges have to have the humility to recognize that they operate within a system of precedent, shaped by other judges equally striving to live up to the judicial oath.

School Photos: Emily & Jackson

Here are the school photos for Emily (2nd grade) and Jackson (kindergarten).