EVERYONE has a role to play in our family. We have our halo polisher (the perpetually well-behaved). We have our pin-up boy for middle child syndrome. We have the hubby, a man so eternally calm and unhurried that one occasionally considers poking him with a sharp stick to provoke a reaction.

And then there's me the designated fun killer and the utterer of phrases like ``Not before dinner,'' ``Not at this time of night'' and the ever popular ``Because I said so that's why.''

Whether it's cold pizza for breakfast or a stellar plan involving a wet trampoline and some dishwashing liquid, I can be counted on to kill the moment.

So when did my ``The answer is no, what is the question?'' approach to family life begin?

Perhaps the metamorphosis began about the time I discovered that an old electric toothbrush and some BAM will clean the tile grout in the bathroom.

Perhaps it was when I decided hair removal is strictly necessary only on visible body parts, and that the more body parts you keep covered up the better.

Apart from all which, someone has to be the voice of reason around here.