Good point. Also, the speed of the follow-through is generally better IRL, as no one has to budget for airfare and hotels.

True. It remains a booty call, rather than a booty extradition.

Also, the speed of the follow-through is generally better IRL, as no one has to budget for airfare and hotels.

Well, damn. And here I was, all ready to put the pass into passport.

sighs.

Stop making me 'ship you two, Fay. *shaky fist*

Yesterday, Julia (first grade--six and seven year old children) came home with an assignment for Holidays around the world. She has to find customs, traditions, etc., for the holiday and culture of her choice.

Her choice? Christmas in Egypt.

When I explained that she'd find much more material if she either picked another holiday (that was RIGHT OUT--she wants Christmas) or another country, she cried her heart out. I almost sent you a big "EMERGENCY--CHILD IN TEARS" email, Fay.

If she were older, and reading more proficiently, I'd let her go for it with the Christmas in Egypt. The Coptic Christians may have some interesting customs. But a lot of this project, like most of the projects this year with this teacher, will end up being largetly researched by me.

This morning, thank goodness, she woke up determined to study Christmas in Spain, instead.

(Sail, there may be an "EMERGENCY--PLEASE FOR TO HELP ON PROJECT" email, in your future.)

G'morning.

Weatherbug gives a very precise -5.2˚F this morning.

ETA: Who set the outdoors to "January" this week?

Everybody suggest one book they love that was published before 1923.

Theodore Dreiser, Sister Carrie. Jennie Gerhardt, not because it's his best but because it's less well known. I'd also recommend (even more highly) An American Tragedy, but I think that was 1925 or so.

Anthony Trollope, just about anything. Maybe The Warden because it's (1) fairly short, and (2) the first of the Barsetshire novels. Or Can You Forgive Her?, less because it's one of his best than that it's the first of the Palliser novels, which I prefer as a series to the Barsetshire novels. (Mainly because I lean more toward the political than the religious.) Oh, also The Way We Live Now, because the Gilded Age representation echoes so well today.

Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son.

It's one of the Barsets rather than the Pallisers, but I've always loved Framley Parsonage; the heroine is such a lovely snarky little wiseass.

Yes yes yes to Dombey and Son, so very good, so underappreciated.

Also, George MacDonald's Phantastes and Lilith.

G'morning!

Favorite book published before 1923? North of Boston by Robert Frost.

Of the ones not mentioned(for I'm a big Twain fan so would consider most of his stuff to be essential...anyone here ever read "Letters from The Earth"...it shocked me when I did, but it might not make your cut-off.) But I'd have to say Wuthering Heights is still my favorite 19th century novel.

Sparky! Whale tail! SO COOL. How much did you end up seeing the whale, did you go watching or was it just there?

I have been physically unable to complain about cold weather since moving from Fairbanks, where I lived during their coldest month on record (January 1989).

60 below for 5 days straight, and they didn't even cancel school until the last day, when the buses finally gave up the ghost. Bastards.

Duuuuude. Alaska's State motto could be along the lines of: We're Not Nuts, Honest.

I'm just confused by people boycotting stores for not having Christmas stuff. They're arguing for a more commercialized Christmas?

I know, right! Oy.

Oh no, this won't be the last jab of pain. That one's going to come when she tells me she's pregnant. I'm not even going to pretend I'll be ready for that one. That will hurt big time.

Sighhhh.... oh, alRIGHT... knock me up if it'll make you feel better... t eyeroll

Everybody suggest one book they love that was published before 1923.

Tess of the D'ubervilles

North of Boston by Robert Frost.

I so need to read this. We read a bit for my creative writing class last Spring, and I just loved it. Forgot about it until now, though.