Oh Betsy, that just cracked me up.

I love that story of the zombies attending the American Idol audition!

"Zombies, I need you back here!" Lynn shouted. "All you zombies, I need to get a group shot!" The undead complied, waving their bloodied limbs about for the TV cameras.

Even flesh-eating ghouls, it seems, want to be on TV.

it's exactly a year since you were here, I realize

Allyson got her agent for her book on the date I boarded the plane. I nearly jumped when I read her good news that day, because it looked too well-timed to be the coincidence that it is.

we were hanging out around my orientation stuff, which is happening again this week

Oh, I was so lucky last year with your schedule.

Now I want to sit and wait for you on Barnes & Nobles, making myself take only one book with me to the table so that I wouldn't be tempted to buy more than just the one. Only, this year, the library - where I'd go when you have to be at your orientation - would be open, I wouldn't have to just look at the lions outside.

How is your next year going to be, schedule-wise?

[Edited because "your year" can't be shortened to just the one word, "yoar"]

Nilly! I was going through my baby book on my birthday and found the neatest thing that made me think of you! My uncle and aunt were on a kibutz outside Tel-Aviv when I turned 1 and they sent me a post card! It has the neatest Isreali stamps on it.

Aimée, what was the picture on the postcard?

Also, any new Emma pictures? I haven't seen any in too long a while.

Aimée, what was the picture on the postcard?

I can't remember. I'll look at it again when I get home today.

I have pictures I need to upload, but here are some from the 4th of July at the Hollywood Bowl and also from Michigan, including the 5 generation pictures.

[link]

Okay, so maybe we're a teensy smidgen evil:

Are there bb users who say "RIM me"?!?

t /boggle

This is nice news. I am not sure where the public schools of Houston will put these kids, but the offer is a nice one:

11:49 A.M. - (AP) AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas is opening its doors to hurricane refugees from neighboring Louisiana.

Texas Governor Rick Perry says he expects evacuees to start arriving within the next 24 hours at the Houston Astrodome. He says Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco asked him this morning if the Astrodome could house the 23-thousand people currently being sheltered at the Superdome in Louisiana, and he quickly agreed. He says even before the request, Texas officials had been talking about using the Astrodome as a long-term shelter for people already stranded in Texas because of the storm.

Perry says the hurricane survivors are welcome in Texas for "as long as they want to stay." Children who are sheltered at the Astrodome will be able to attend public schools in Houston. Perry says the Astrodome schedule has been cleared through December.

Perry says the Astrodome schedule has been cleared through December.

I'm trying to imagine living in a sports arena for 4 months.

How is your next year going to be, schedule-wise?

Really good, actually. I'm taking four classes, all at night, and one only meets every other week. So it's some Tuesdays 6-10, all Weds 6-10, all Thurs 6-8. And now I remember that I was supposed to be getting a DVR today.