About the Steve Irwin in Arizona thing: I did not see it but was told by a co-worker back in Az, that he'd crawled into a hole to see if there were snakes, and found two rattlesnakes that had been mating until interrupted by him, and subsequently bit him. A quick Google reveals neither confirmation nor refutation of this story.

a guy I know is in hospital with burns and a broken leg after his family's house burned to the ground on the 25th - from a menorah candle.

Yeah, really really sucky. He's going to need sugery on his hand because of the burns, and I'm sure the recovery will suck. But at least the injuries are healable, and the rest is just stuff. Though I think they lost some pets, which just makes me weep and hug my girl.

I wouldn't be the slightest bit surprised - that sounds very Steve Irwin indeed. But you know, I'd bet the contents of my bank account that if he did do this, he immediately told the camera that it was TOTALLY his fault, and that the snake was just "grumpy 'cos he's with a really beautiful sheila", and that did he mention the part where it was TOTALLY his fault, and snakes are still fantastic, and we mustn't blame the snake for even a moment, because he did a stupid thing, and snakes really are absolutely fantastic, and just doing what they're supposed to do.

...Which does, of course, make Jo Viewer demand "well why the bloody hell didn't you leave the poor critter alone then, you crazy person?", but it's still quite sweet. I remember when the poor carpet shark bit him, after he tried to pull it bodily out of the coral in which it was hiding, and he bobbed up to the surface of the ocean bleeding and looking distinctly crestfallen, but babbling away about how it wasn't the shark's fault at all, and we absolutely mustn't blame the shark - just like a schoolboy trying to make sure that the pal he'd talked into doing something stupid didn't get in trouble when everything went pear shaped.

Bless.

edited for clarity.

Though I think they lost some pets

Noooo!!! That seals it; I can't tell my DH about this or he'll be miserable for days.

Fay, you provide me with all my favorite expressions. "Mad as a bag of frogs" was winning, but "when everything went pear shaped" is a strong contender.

I used to love, love, love watching Steve Irwin. He is so enthusiastic, and so informative, it is great to watch him. What really turned me off to his style of showmanship, was watching his show about spitting cobras. Yeah, it was quite educational to see how he was prepared - wearing wrap-around sunglasses and having plenty of bottled water to rinse venom off his face. It was brave of him to hold that cobra up where it could spit right at him so we could see both how the cobra would defend itself and how good preparation would protect us, should we ever want to experience a spitting cobra safari. Then I thought, Irwin really should have let the cobra go after it spat upon him five or six times. His points - about the cobra's capabilities and behavior and about first aid - were well and truly made. But he did not let the thing go. It (or perhaps, they - he may have rustled up more than one) kept spitting at him. I quit counting at eleven shots of venom. There was so much venom running down his face that the wrap-around shades ceased to be helpful. Still he hung on to the cobra, still the cobra spat. He ran out of bottled water, and had to be driven to a nearby village to beg for their meagre water supply to wash his face with, or risk blindness.

Overkill, thy name is Steve Irwin.

But he redeemed himself by picking up the bottle of champagne and glasses into the kitchen and bringing me a pillow. I moved to the other couch, 3.0 and I assured him that there was still an unopened bottle of White Star, and we went right back to sleep.

Oh, he is just the best ex-boyfriend EVAH.

Just had brunch with Hil and her sister (who is very like Hil and very NOT like Hil at the same time). And by "just" I mean we ate and then talked for several hours and now I'm hungry again.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Happy New Year!

A new year snippet from our favorite raptor girl. Scene: Dinner table. Once again, Kara and Nick are sitting beside one another.

Kara: You look yummmmy Nick.
Nick: Uh...
Greg and I: Uh? Wha?
Kara: You do. You look yummy.
Nick: Heh. heh. Thanks. I guess.
Greg and I: Um....
Kara: Mmmmmmmmm.
Nick: Heh. Stop that.
Kara: Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Nick: Mom, make her stop.
Greg and I::::laughing:::
Kara: I'm a pigeon and I eat people. See my pigeon feet?
Nick: jumping up and running. Uh....thanks for dinner!
Kara: Mmmmmmmmmmmm
Greg: That's my girl! Profoundly disturb all the adults in the room with just four words.

Happy New Year.

I am hungover.

There is ginger gelato and homemade chocolate sauce downstairs.

I think I must eat it.

BEEEEEP.

Happy New Year!!!

I had a wonderful New Year's Eve at thessaly and Victor's place. Lots of yummy food and good friends. Best way to ring in the new year, imho.

No way am I answering the phone now because they both seem to be getting more obnoxious as the evening goes on.

Nicole, I'm sorry that I added to the obnoxiousness. Dave and I called to wish you a happy new year.

{{{Cass}}} Easy passing~ma to your grandmother. I'm so very sorry. Call me if you need to talk.