Minor freak out: I am meeting Teacup Guy's brother and sister-in-law tomorrow for the first time. Is it possible for me to become an interesting person before then?

What become? You're already there.

Coloring books are an awesome idea. They might also like blank doodling pads and a couple of packets of stickers. Also little plastic dinosaurs, if they're just big enough for the 3yo not to choke on. At that age, you can rarely go wrong with dinosaurs.

At that age, you can rarely go wrong with dinosaurs.

Ooooh, brilliant idea.

What become? You're already there.

Thanks. Part of the worry is because when I said to Dave, "Did you mention I am handicapped?" his response was "why?". Now don't get me wrong, I love him for this, because it truly doesn't matter to him, but it could be awkward.

sj, I can't imagine anyone not finding you smart and entertaining. Meeting relatives is always a little scary. Meeting my relatives is really scary, but that's a different problem.

Thanks, Ginger.

Good lord, Brenda--tell your sister to get to a Swedish doctor stat--if nothing else, having an infection for a month doesn't sound good!!

I am mildly disconcerted that today's kids are so much cooler than I was

Hee. I agree, but I suspect there were a lot of kids cooler than me even when I was that age, sadly.

But I'm also pretty sur the reason he was single was that his first wife, who was 90 years old had died.

Freaky deaky Mennonites indeed, Aimee...

I just went to a free lunch that local caterers put on to pimp their food

GUH. This sounds SO good.

And the American School seems lovely. Honestly, the people are so much better organised and more welcoming than Evil Former Boss

YAY Fay!!

if I can find an alternative to the $129-a-night hotel in Alexandria, VA for my ex's wedding, and

Stay with me!

I'm very NOT looking forward to when my company moves farther out of the city in January, and my commute goes up--the time will be about the same, but the mileage and gas will be higher, I think.

You guys are not going to believe how amazing this cookbook is going to be. I was just looking over some of the new graphics and wow. Just wow.

Whoot! VW, did you guys get my cookie recipes?

Rice in a Tube A La Sean, and Other College Boy Anti-Starvation Tactics

Bwhwaha! That would be awesome!

Juliana, are you ALLOWED to live in Minnesota and not like hot dish?

Is that strange, to be happy that one has no meatspace friends?

I'm amused by all the Buffistas who are shunning the meatspace. Me, I'd go CRAZY without having people to hang out with--the fact that I live alone means that teh internets only partially fills my craving for being around people.

Iron Chef White Trash party, theme ingredient cream of mushroom soup or maybe velveeta

Considering I know there's a recipe for Velveeta Fudge, this could be a many-course meal!

Good luck meeting the relatives, sj!

Considering I know there's a recipe for Velveeta Fudge, this could be a many-course meal!

I've made it. It tastes better than you'd think.

I just got an email back from a daycare nearish to our house that has an immediate opening in the toddler room! I don't know their prices or anything yet, but if I were to get the job, that'd be so well-timed I'd have to call it providential.

Have all the buffistas who were in the path of Katrina checked in?

I think they have, sj.

Dana, Heather, t, and their famalies are all accounted for.

Do we have anyone else?

Have all the buffistas who were in the path of Katrina checked in?

And relatives too, mostly.

I'm earwormed...so I wrote up this tribute to New Orleans.

New Orleans
Apologies to Donovan

Let us rejoice and let us sing and dance and celebrate the city.

Hail New Orleans!

Way down below the ocean where I wanna be she may be,
Way down below the ocean where I wanna be she may be...