Colin Powell will be leaving his post as Secretary of State. Can't say I'm terribly sorry to see him go, especially since Richard Armitage is going with him. With Powell, you were never quite sure if, when he was talking to semi-friendly nations or even hostile nations, he didn't lean over and whisper in their ears "Ya know, Dubya is completely loony. There are lots of us sophisticated Americans who don't agree with this policy." We can't afford that kind of thing when we're at war. We need a Secretary who can strike some fear into the hearts of opposing diplomats. I don't know yet if Condi Rice can do that, but at least President Bush will have someone at his back who won't be whispering sweet nothings to Bob Woodward whenever she doesn't get her way.

On Thursday John has some kind of soup lunch at his school, so I'll head up there for that on my lunchtime. Kids have swimming lessons tonights. We're wondering if we should pay to have John some private lessons. He's coming along so nicely, not sure if he learns all that much in his group. There are six kids or so, and the teacher has to work with all of them, and when she's with one, the other kids kinda splash around. Hanna is getting bolder in the water too. She likes to do full layout belly dives in the very shallow end.

When we were swimming last Saturday, John did something he hadn't done before with me. I took him down to the deeper end, and he jumped off the side into the water without me catching him. Sniff. My baby boy is growing up. I was there to make sure he got back up above the water, but he could paddle around pretty good on his own.