So the Omegas had sent in their registration for the FCC Chinese New Year celebration down in Big City. We were all revved up...drive down to OmegaGranny's house, spend the night, then all of us load up in the Little Green Car and drive down to Big City for the festivities. Alas, OmegaMom came down with this bug, and by Friday afternoon was still feeling like a limp noodle. No fun, thought she, at a shingdig. So she gave OmegaDad the hairy eyeball, said, "You are taking OmegaDotter down to Grandma Julie's, and the three of you are going to Chinese New Year." Surely, being with daddy and the-most-wonderful-person-in-the-world OmegaGranny would keep OmegaDotter happy and ready to rumble. Ever agreeable, he said yes. He broke down the kiddy tent (which had taken up residence in the living room), rolled up the kiddy sleeping bag, packed up the kiddy flashlight and beener (with attached compass), loaded the dotter into the car, and drove off. They made it down to the next street before OmegaDotter remembered, in a panic, that she had left her beloved stuffed horsie at home. They came back, grabbed the horsie, and exited. OmegaMom moped around the house. It was dark. It was cold (oops, reset that thermostat). It was quiet. Strange, that. Very, very strange. Then the phone rang; dad and dotter had made it down the hill. OmegaMom moped around the house some more. Then the phone rang. A sad and weepy dotter was on the other end of the line. "Mommy?" came the little voice. OmegaMom had to verbally snuggle the little one. Dad got on the line: dotter was very upset at not having mommy around. It occurred to OmegaMom that she had not been away from dotter--and vice versa--for more than nine months. Oops. OmegaMom snuggled into bed with a book and the itty-bitty book light, hoping all was well now. An hour later, the phone rang again. It was OmegaGranny. "I have a very weepy little girl here to talk to you." Oh, man. Mommy guilt. So OmegaMom sits here today, still limp and noodly, hoping that all went well after the last phone call, and that OmegaDad and OmegaGranny and OmegaDotter are all having a grand old time at the festival, watching the lion dance (very good last year!), eating good food, and getting kultur.