"Comparing" is generally not a good thing, at least for me. When I allow myself to get into it, I and/or my circumstances almost always come up short, and the internal whining begins.
"She's hipper/richer/thinner/smarter than me" or even more insidious:
"Those kids are more well-behaved than mine, and therefore I am a terrible mother" and
"Look at that couple staring at each other googly-eyed. We don't have time to do that" etc.
The same voice that I make my son stand in the corner for using blares in my head and deafens that other voice called "common sense" or perhaps even "Jesus". That's the one that has grace for me and sees me for just who I am and who I am meant to be, as if I alone were under some kind of divine spotlight, not the light cast by another fragile and failed human being.
What I was getting to before I suddenly started soliloquizing is that it's been pretty hot around here though I think the heat is breaking at this moment under the thunderstorm that I hear. But it's not nearly as bad as Tokyo, and we have a lot more air conditioning.
This is an example of the comparing that is permissible; it helps me and even builds me up, when I put my circumstances in perspective. When you do the same, what do you see?
Koji was ready for his first day back to school. It's always hard to get a report out of him later; in fact, when I ask him how school was, he usually says, "I don't know"...
but the first day obviously didn't use up all of his energy. He had plenty to spare for "getting bad guys" with Rich this evening. They were serious! I'm glad I'm not a bad guy.
For now, I'll just show you the cakes I got at Rolf's Patisserie to eat with my son, Ashleigh and Kristen today. It took until today to satisfy my birthday cake craving, but the reason is fodder for another post, which I'll put up before this one since I'm all about chronology. Next time you visit this space, scroll down to make sure you've seen it all!
Koji was fortunate to be the only three-year-old FON (Friend of Noah) invited to Noah's spectacular Star Wars birthday bash. His good fortune increased when Cheryl Lynn came out dressed as Queen Amidala and took on the project of transforming all the lads present into Jedi warriors.
Noah receives his Jedi medal, as fellow Jedi-elect look on and wait to be elevated to Jedi-ness.
In a final triumphant moment, Noah the Jedi conquers his five candles. 
