Picket Fence Post

Item #1: Late Night Sox

I, along with many members of Red Sox Nation, am bleary-eyed today after staying up (or trying) to watch last night’s Red Sox playoff game in California that ended in the wee hours of the morning. While the Sox were triumphant, I must admit that there were about a half-dozen times when I nodded off for extended chunks of the game. (I should’ve had that iced coffee I was talking about drinking at 7.)

And with the pressure to be remain wide awake tonight in order to watch the historic vice presidential debate – when debates are boring, they often require caffeine in order to make it through and actually understand what’s being said — I’m going to keep the good coffee grower folks in business.

Item #2: The Duggar Family of 19 Makes Me Tired

Some call it a reality show. I call it a horror show. Just the very concept of a household teeming with 17, soon to be 18 children, is enough to send me back to the warm, cozy confines of my bed, and pull the covers over my head (and after late night Sox games, retiring to bed is even more alluring).

But in a world where I’m fatigued just trying to work and take care of three kids, I know I’m not the only American who is fascinated with just how a large family – a super-sized one in this case – actually makes it through the days without murder, mayhem and graffiti.

Enter: 17 Kids and Counting. On The Learning Channel. The premiere episode of the reality show this week featured a trip by the collection of “J” first-named kids and their parents to New York City where they were announcing — to the kids and the public — on the Today Show  that Michelle Duggar was pregnant with baby number 18. Just watching the kids pack (My Lord the closets! The clothing! Looked like Filene’s Basement!) was enough to make me want to cry . . . or maybe that was my own personal sleep deprivation.

And this woman home schools the kids. Oy! At least they have one grandmother around to help out.

Item #3: HSM 3 Trailer

The Girl yesterday inquired about the exact date of the theatrical release of High School Musical 3. (October 24 for those of you keeping track at home.) When I Googled it and happened upon the movie’s trailer, she was enthralled. Parents of tweens, prepare for the promotional onslaught.