Virginia Tech spokesman Larry Hincker was happy to hear the bill [to allow weapons on campus] was defeated. "I'm sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembly's actions because this will help parents, students, faculty and visitors feel safe on our campus." ---News story last year. Uh-huh. How's that working for you?

Roni and R.J. arrived before 6. I was up, watching Fox news about the Virginia Tech shooting. Rich got up, we discussed a few things, then waited for the kids to wake up, told them goodbye and left. I miss them already! I'd dreaded the whole thing, but it was good overall. Teddy has about had it, though.

When Alex woke up, the first thing she said after "Daddy!" was about the caterpillar, which is not looking all that well, though its parasites seem to be thriving. We decided to leave this mess for Roni to clean up. It's just sad. Roni informs me, though, that it's still alive. (Ick.)

We stopped to see how the killdeer nest was, and it's gone. Sulk. At least it isn't my doing.

At home, not much. I'm getting dinged for inactivity on my mutual funds. It seems I won't have to pay capital gains tax on this account any time soon!! It's still $100 under what I put in (that was before 9/11, things were going south with the Clinton Recession.)

I called Roni. Her computer is fried. Rich didn't hear her exact instructions on what to do, and tried other stuff, and it was really on its last legs anyway.

Mostly I sat here and vegged. Our power went out, probably Wednesday when the storm went through, so all my VCR plans were foiled. I'll have to catch up on line.

ObGoe is, of course, the Hokie massacre. Mary Katherine says the Republicans dropped the ball. The New York Times, to no one's surprise, gets it wrong again. Anklebiting Pundit asks

if we are going to have the debate about stricter gun control laws, shouldn’t we also have the conversation about whether or not the legislature’s refusal to allow students to arm themselves,, choosing instead to make Virginia Tech a “gun free zone” (well, for everyone except, you know - the killer) might have helped stop the shooter before he killed so many people.