When I was in 9th grade, my algebra teacher for some reason lent me a book on the life of Richard Bong. After class, he showed me the book and asked me what the two planes on the cover were (a P-38 and a Betty, IIRC). Once I had correctly identified them, he gave me the book. I'm not sure why - maybe he thought I was too quiet....

my times visiting Chicago gave me a much different feeling -- that lake is HYUUUUUUGE, and it isn't even the largest of them.

Growing up next to a Great Lake gives one the usual "familiarity breeds contempt" feeling of "big whoop." But it's always fun to witness a person's first viewing--they're always so impressed and almost always say that they had no clue that a lake could be so much like the ocean.

My favorite time to watch Lake Michigan is during winter storms, when the waves blow onto Lake Shore Drive and can shut down the lanes on the east side. I also think that one of the more interesting trivia items about the lake is that there have been rogue waves called "seiches," one of which (ten feet high!) killed eight men fishing on a dock back in 1954.

And my favorite season is fall, with winter a close second.

Who's gonna write the Kumho/Michelin Man slash?

I'm going to a very unfortunate Cayce Pollard-esque place.

a P-38 and a Betty, IIRC

P-38 has to be right, he was a P-38 ace.

BTW, I think that the Buffistas are infecting my grandmother. I was telling her that Joe and I have been catching CSI reruns on SpikeTV and that we've become hooked. She asked if we watched "House". I told her no, we didn't. She paused for a minute, and then said, "Well, you are our of your mind. He is WONDERFUL."

I purchased two sheets of DC Comics stamps at the Post Office, yesterday.

I used that bitch the Green Lantern to mail my rent check.

Also, I feel UNBELIEVABLY stupid, today.

me me me me me

P-38 has to be right, he was a P-38 ace.

Yeah - actually, I was sure about the P-38. The other I remember was Japanese, but I'm not positive it was a Betty.

Of course, now when I think of "Betty" I think of that Aliens movie.... (Aliens IV, whatever it was called.)

I still have my Muppet stamps, and I'm not going to mail them to anybody!

I used that bitch the Green Lantern to mail my rent check.

You will love this.

Em loves to color. Usually, Joe and I get down at the table with her and draw, too. Joe always draws superheros and their emblem. He drew Green Lantern's.

Which Emeline then attacked with a yellow crayon, almost completely covering. After I finished laughing until I cried, I thought, "Allyson would love that story."

How do you make little curls?

My hair is fairly short right now and I'm thinking something retro with little curls in the back and squished down bangs for my sister's wedding. I guess I should curl it all and then squish appropriately... but how do you make the wee ones?