Hubby gave me a hand-and-a-half longsword for Christmas many years ago. Everyone said, "Oh, it's one of those 'give your wife the present you want' things, huh?" To which he replied, "Not hardly, she won't let me touch it."

It's called Present. It's heavy and slices snowmen in two very sweetly. I got Sting for Christmas two years ago, and that's a lovely sword in the hand. It's fast and light and does a nice job on snowmen, too. And, no, my neighborhood does not suffer rampages of butchered snowmen every winter. Because Hubby won't let me and there seems to be a law against going into other people's front yards swinging a sword.

How many swords do I, personally, have? Present, Sting, Red ... that doesn't count the daggers. Hubby generally contents himself with Fang, a short sword on the Roman glaudius model. In my house, there's never a sword or dagger more than three steps away from any place in the house. Yes, that includes the bathroom.

I nearly severed my thumb with a paring knife once. So swords, for me, really not an option.

Backsent, juliana.

I'm debating whether or not to call in sick today. I was violently ill last night but am feeling much better this morning. My tummy is still tender enough that I'm worried about how long the 'feeling much better' is going to last.

Oh, I'm so sympathetic, Anne. (I had food poisoning this weekend.)

Aimee's house is beautifully well kept and she has an excellent design sense. It was so fun getting to see her and MM in their natural habitat and meet Emeline, who is wee - oh she is the tiniest little pretty sprite in the world. She fussed with me, so I mostly got to talk to Ollie the Dog, and JZ bounced Emma to sleep (after some mother's milk).

Ollie, I have decided, is not actually stupid since the Miracleborns have trained him to do a number of tricks which he does with alacrity. My theory is that he's autistic and gets overstimulated. He doesn't get calm unless you physically press him down, and then he needs a lot of ear-rubs to maintain his zazen.

From the site PostSecret, where people send in anonymous postcards that tell secrets [link]

One that throws me just a bit

[link]

t blushes

It was so good to see you guys!!

And to be fair, the cleanliness of the house yesterday was Joe's effort. He cleaned while I kravved. Or rather, got lost driving home from krav.

Research, Cass. Not just cause his name makes me want to snicker, which I didn't.

Krav Maga St. Louis. I can't recommend Sam highly enough.

Squee! Thanks, ita! Is it okay if I name-drop?

My stomach is feeling much better, but still iffy. The queasiness is still there, but not the pukiness, so yay! I have a feeling that I must have had a run-in with chicken juice when I was cooking yesterday.

Is it okay if I name-drop?

Hell yes! In fact, tell him I said hi.

Ugh, Anne. Feel better. Practical Homicide Investigation is now on its way to my house, thanks to my mom and a healthy dose of "Will you shut up about that damn book already?!" So I guess I have to finish the novel, now. On the plus side, Bayliss swore by it.