Before I get started I'd like to say that I was not aware of those ads there on the right, much less am I getting any money from them. It's yet another strike against LJ as I weigh whether to go indie. If anybody wants to suggest a better host service or domain registry, hook a sister up ( Read more... )

I had been in Austin about an hour, sitting at the dining room table and chatting with Gilbert while wolfing down my Which Wich, when my cell phone rang. It was Jennifer calling from Kuwait.

"How do you feel about being an aunt?"

I had my suspicions in August, when I asked her about kids and she sort of waffled, saying they weren't trying but they ( Read more... )

Well, everybody think happy thoughts -- for the poor bastards in Houston who are going to get the snot beat out of them, for me flying into Austin (hopefully) just ahead of the hurricane. We're mentally and physically prepared for power outages, and I think things will be fine. I'm just hoping it doesn't rain too much, so we can get out and ( Read more... )

The thing most on my mind lately has been the eye surgery. I've decided to go through with it, despite the cost and the risks and everybody asking me, "What's so bad about glasses ( Read more... )

Well, children. With both the Crack Doctor and the Co-worker (whom Mason and I have nicknamed Captain Hooter, though not at all for the reasons you're thinking) turning out to be duds on the "into me" front, desperate measures must be taken ( Read more... )

Finally emerging from the convention tempest. It was a lot like being back at the newspaper, all that buildup to two hours of frantic work ( Read more... )

The Summer Shade Festival and Corks 'n Forks were good. It would have been nice if it were a little cooler, but otherwise a good time was had by all ( Read more... )

I had a dream the other night that I was on a cruise ship with a bunch of athletes from all over the world, like the Olympics but not. We were going around the globe for some kind of championship competition. Then one of those zombie viruses broke out, and I had to run around the ship to escape from all of them. I had just broken a window and ( Read more... )

This week and next are convention hell, in which I am forced to actually work -- egad! -- to earn my peanuts. But the operation is still smoother and less stressful than at any newspaper I ever worked for, so I can't complain too much. Plus there is free food every night and, ahem, cute boys ( Read more... )

Have you seen this commercial for a microwave s'more maker? Michelle sent me the link today, and I was rendered speechless with horror.

Look, I love As-Seen-on-TV stuff as much as the next guy. That shelf at the CVS is one of my favorites, because I've lived 31 years without a sonic knife or a cat de-shedder, but suddenly I can't go another day ( Read more... )