What is this? The rumblings of summer, the hot, dry weather, the high-energy of school kids, the impatience with homework. The weather has warmed enough here in the Los Angeles area to break out the plastic blue pool and let my three-year-old little girl play with her toys, splash about, and soak the grass. Today, she did just that. Once she got dressed again, as I cleaned up around the house, I saw her march outside wearing her tall, suede boots, a fancy skirt, a fancy top...and then with a very serious expression on her face, she marched straight into the still-filled pool. She sat down...and waved to me, showing me her soakin' wet boots.

"That's good honey..."

I'm so glad I paid the hundred dollars for those boots. Clearly, they're very versatile.