Our little 5-year-old daughter is gone.  She’s off to Ohio to spend a few days with her aunt and uncle…I’m having mixed feelings.  On the one hand, it’s cool to finally have a chance to be with my wife and have a “date” or two without a little one running around.  We had a nice dinner at Scholars Inn last night, for instance.  On the other hand, the house feels strangely empty and lonely.  There’s definitely something missing.  It’s gonna be sorta weird – tonight is “meet the teacher” night at my daughter’s school (she starts kindergarten on Monday), and right now, I feel like I don’t have any kids, since she’s out of town! 

By the way, why does school start so early?  August 10th!!  We NEVER went back before Labor Day when I was little.  What’s the point of even having a State Fair if school is gonna start almost before the Fair even opens?