Our beloved, gigantic cat, Thumper, First Emperor of the Galaxy, died about two hours ago. He was nineteen years old.


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Never, in the course of my life to date, has the top of my head been cold.  I cannot, therefore, understand hats.  Do other people really lead a life crippled by a frosty skullcap?  My nose, face, lips, fingers, toes, thighs, ass, and Man Parts have all been uncomfortably cold.  My ears, too - I fully comprehend earmuffs and their allied ( Read more... )

I wanted to post this link ages ago, but
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When I got back from my trip on Friday Zoe invented a new game on the spot. She would "hep Daddy pack" (stick a bunch of plastic food in a bag) and then say "Bye bye Daddy."  I would wave goodbye and walk into the next room and she would shout "I miss Daddy!" Then I would come back in the room and she would squeal in delight. Repeat.  I may never ( Read more... )

The press for my book has sent me a "Marketing Questionnaire" with many detailed questions that they will allegedly use to promote my book (as though any normal people will be buying it).  I thought most of it was pretty mundane - until I got to the section where they ask me to write the copy for the back of the book.  You know, that paragraph or ( Read more... )

This morning J and I were sitting on the couch when Zoe ran over and said "one, two, hee, fo, fai, siz, seven, eight, nine, teh!"  Once we picked our jaws up off the floor we asked her to do it again. She did.  Then Maya did it.  When I came home this afternoon they counted while jumping.  Then they insisted that I jump and they count.  Sometimes ( Read more... )

I had a really good class at karate last night. Just challenging and painful enough to help me get centered. It was a helpful reminder that there are things I'm good at, and that if I focus I can do very well indeed. Useful as I panic over my make-or-break interview.  Driving home was some of the calmest time I've had in quite a while.  It was very ( Read more... )

Yesterday the Ladies put all their dolls in a big plastic bin and then tossed in their "computers" ("poo-poos", actually big cheap calculators).  They picked up the bin and started shaking it.  I pointed this out to J, who thought about it for a minute and said "Maybe they're trying to make Cylons."

The word "scientist" was coined by William Whewell.  It was, however, his second choice - he had originally proposed "nature poker."  He couldn't understand why his colleagues didn't like it.

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