Wayne and Rebecca Madsen

Aderyn stood up and put her hands on the hot stove.

We had cooked breakfast in the oven and after she was finished eating her mush, we let her down to roam. But when we heard her screeching at the tops of her lungs, we looked over and saw that she couldn't let go because she was leaning against the front panel. We doused her hands in water full of ice cubes as she screamed more bloody murder. After five minutes of this, it dawned on us that she normally LIKES to play in water. So we sat her down with a bowl of water on the kitchen floor and let her try to grab the slippery ice cubes out. Lucky for all of us, there was no burn damage.

But she still went to the doctor's office that afternoon for a checkup on her ear. She's had a prolonged cold and after several hours of yanking on her ear the day before, we decided to have a quick check for infection. There wasn't anything and we got sent home with a clean bill of health. She still has the cold -- it has been almost two weeks now -- but we're almost through it.

Labor day was this week, but we spent most of it at home, trying to feel better from the aforementioned colds. We took a trip to a mini-golf course. Paela didn't understand the entire premise of the game, but understood putting the ball down and knocking it into a hole, so we let her do just that.

Classes started. Software wasn't installed. Things were chaotic, not to mention that I only have 7 students in my class. The required minimum is 15, but they're forcing this class through because it's required for these students. Which means I'm going to work them hard to make sure the high price the college is paying will be worth it. I'm not sure what else to do. How does one fill out classes? It seems that all students who used to take the courses I teach have moved on to wanting to learn how to make video games. Ah, video games: the new Hollywood. It's just as seductive and just as terrible (mostly) a place to work.