It has been an expensive weekend full of new things. Meredith and I have both been in need of new cell phones. Hers has gotten the Meredith treatment (sitting on it, dropping it, dropping it in water) and shows signs of age. Mine has been flaking out a bit. So it was time for new phones.

After careful consideration, we got crackberries, I mean Blackberries. Yes, that's right. We have joined the ranks of those email-checking, mini-typing, this-party-is-boring-so-I-will-check-my-Blackberry jerks. Well, I hope that we don't go quite that far.

Then on a different note, Meredith and I had to fulfill the need for companionship that Patty, our hairless rat, has. We got two more rats--the more furry kind. While Patty is 5-6 months old, the new ones are maybe 2 months. We thought Patty was cute; these little things have this sort of adorable cute-as-a-button thing going on.

Patty is not so happy though and does not get along with them. She is playing the part of the alpha female, and the new ones are squeaking in fear as Patty asserts herself. I sure hope that they get along. Meanwhile, the two little girls aren't as potty trained as Patty and mess up the cage. We have a little work to do. The personality of these friends makes it worth it.

-Brent