Happy Birthday Evan!

today we celebrate the birth and subsequent growth and aging of what has now become the lanky red-haired giant, formerly my "little" brother. some of his recent misfortunes will hopefully not continue down the family tree, but will perhaps go down in infamy. he is the first of the yerkes children to break a bone. but even better than that, he broke two, his wrist at the end of last year, and now one of his fingers. tsk tsk tsk... i'm just glad it isn't me. he's also the tallest of the yerkes, and not just the immediate family. i don't know of any other yerkes that are 6'4". he's doing well in the foot department at size 13, but i think that leaves him in 3rd place. :-D but seriously, nooooobody has his hair which, by the way, adds yet another couple of inches to his height. now that i've lauded his physical accomplishments, i shall... end this post and complete a theoretical analysis document. mhmm.

palliate \PAL-ee-ayt\, transitive verb:1. To reduce in violence (said of diseases, etc.); to lessen or abate.2. To cover by excuses and apologies; to extenuate.3. To reduce in severity; to make less intense.