Well, it's very possible that the web pages I'm reading are wrongish, and I could find Orthodox churches / Rabbies that would convert me without forcing me to dress in a suit or avoid looking at bikini-clad women. There are books, and I plan to read them.

David, here's your first step, if you just want to pass. Stop calling them "Orthodox churches." I mean, there are Orthodox Churches, but they're Christian. Use Orthodox Synagogue, Orthodox Community, or Orthodox school of Judaism.

Honestly, I'm not sure if the girl herself would see me as marriagably Jewish if I did a Conservative conversion. She was raised Orthodox, and she agrees with a lot of their interpretations of specific laws. This is the type of thing she might very well back their views on. I'd ask, but, seriously, the fact that I'm thinking about this so hard at this point is totally weird.

Man, I don't envy your position. I hope that if/when the two of you get to the point where marriage is an unavoidable issue, you two will find your way to the right decisions.

Skipping 100+ posts to say

Stephanie, wasn't Ellie about to outgrow her first batch of Fuzzibunz?

Thanks, Plei. Yes, she is about to outgrow them anyday now and I haven't found a replacement. My old source dried up and I've been avoiding finding a new one. Thanks for the tip. I think I will order one and see how I like it. Do they work well at night?

Since I am talking about Ellie, she was 4 months old yesterday. I took some pictures. [link]

Cash, I love the name Olivia. I see what you mean about Olivia and Owen, but they don't sound very similar (to me). If the second name rhymed, or was an Ow---, then I might avoid it. Olivia is beautiful.

Gris, I have no answers for you, but if it was me, I would not be able to "say" or "convert" to something I didn't truly believe. I'd ask GF if she really wants to force someone she cares about deeply to take on a religious position/oath/faith/whatever that he doesn't truly believe and that she might not follow. It would have been harder for me to have this position when I was younger, and it involves a certain amount of going against the grain in her case, but it puts you in the really awkward position of having to be dishonest about something very important to her. Just my two cents.

My porn star name with pets name & street would be Fiddlesticks Spotswood. Although I could go with a later cat and street and be Frisky Hickory Ridge...or maybe just Frisky Ridge, which sounds more like a guy porn name.

Fuzzy St. Lawrence. Or, if "growing up" includes teen years, Fuzzy Sunset.

Let's do the porn star names thingy again! (first pet + street you grew up on)

Star Beech.

Maybe Trace Beech or Peppy Beech.

Bambi Ashland.

Argh. At work at 7:30 on a the first "late-start" morning we've had all semester because I have to sit in on one IEP meeting. Bleargh.

But, hey, howdy. And I curled my hair.

If I went with the teenage years I could be Baby Pine.

People are stealing food out of the fridge at work. This had stopped and I felt confident enough to leave my leftovers from yesterday in there, annoying co worker left two containers of juice. This morning my taco is gone, one container of juice is gone, and the unopened container is almost empty.

I want to leave a sign on the fridge that says "Stealing food makes the Baby Jesus cry."

Food stealing is ... it's even more annoying than slowing down in the fast lane, since these are people who, although you mightn't knowknow them, are where you are. It's rude, dishonest, and deserving of a slap across the face.

It's rude, dishonest, and deserving of a slap across the face.

That happens in the common refrigerators in the break lounges where I work. Fortunately, my department has its own little mini-fridge, so my lunches never disappear on me. It really is a nasty trick to play on someone.

IOmemeN, I've called in sick today. I started developing a rash on vacation, I thought it was an allergic reaction to a wool blanket, but it's gotten worse. My face is all puffy and my eyes are only half open from it. I'm waiting for my regular clinic to open so I can make an appointment to see a doctor/nurse practitioner. Bleargh.

Smoke pot. It cures the nausea. May not be the practical solution, but studies say it works.

Tom suggested I do this last night, but I was going to be taking some flexeril and I didn't want to mix.

I have nothing to add about Christianity, Orthodox Judaism, or baby names. They by and large don't affect me. Although I like Olivia quite a lot, Cashmere. And the new Ellie pictures are tres cute.

My back is still hurty but hopefully it will get better. The killer is stting down at work all day. I have to remember to get up and stretch every 20 minutes or so.

Today Tom and I have been married for one year.