I consider those perfectly normal and harmless questions.

I pretty much ask anyone those types of questions - as a place to start conversations.

We just watched "big Brother". I like the fact that sensai was responsible for the intruders appearance

Hmm. What my sister and I both said is that we would wait for something like that to come up in conversation, maybe somewhere around the second date -- asking upfront seems too much like asking "how much do you make?" and we don't want to give the impression that we consider that too important. My mother thought we were nuts, and was very puzzled that my sister and I gave practically the same answer separately without ever discussing it with each other.

I hate being asked those questions by anyone, mainly because I hate trying to come up with the answers for them, but I think they're considered fairly harmless first date questions.

a Radio Flyer tricycle

Em got one for Christmas! One of the reproduction vintage metal ones.

It would depend on how we met, I think. 'What do you do?" and "Where'd you go to school?" are pretty standard getting to know you questions at parties and such, but they're easy to bypass in other settings and once you're passed that I-don't-know-you-at-all stage waiting for them to come up in conversation seems more natural.

This [link] is Em's favorite bedtime book. Sometimes, she has it read three times. She keeps "reading" it along with Joe and it's the cutest thing EVER EVER EVER.

An Open Letter to Clovis the Devilbunny

Dear Clovis,

A child asking for her baby and then her crying "NO!" when both of the dolls previously named "Baby" have been produced, can be quite frustrating for a mother trying to get said child tucked into bed. However, it is frightfully adorable (look at that! a phrase that encompasses both Gothy Girl and husband!) when she finally stops crying for "Baby" once the fanged bunny has been given and snuggles down with a cheerful "G'night!" and gives said bunny a kiss on the forehead.

Next time though, I'd appreciate a head's up on the brainwashing.

Ta ever so,
Empress

This JUST happened, hand to Goddess.

Somewhat strange question, sparked by a recent conversation with my mother: is it polite/appropriate to ask someone you just met (and might consider dating) what they do for a living? Or what college they went to? (My sister and I had the same response to this question. My mother thought our response was very weird.)

I don't think so. Hell, it's practically a standard question around here. I usually follow up with "and do you like it?" because that tells you as much, if not more, about the person that the job that they do. I once met a great guy at a party who stacked boxes for a living. I followed up with the "like it" thing, and then asked what he wanted to do. Turns out that he was an artist. He invited me to a show, and I saw some cool stuff that I wouldn't have seen and met some interesting people. Wonder what happened to him, hmm.