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.

shouldn't I be vaguely tired by now? Since when did I become the energizer bunny? I swear the sloth used to be my totem animal. ( did dishes and with matt we made the bed and put away the clothes. now dancin to van morrison )

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 am totally Vortex. Including the same follow-up question for the same reason. Dude, I am so cool.

I am caught up on grading and homework! Woot! (I shouldn't say that too loudly because I just know it will end up biting me in the butt.)

No fair stealing all of the energy, beth.

Why didn't I try to finish my schoolwork before my ADD meds wore off for the day? Because that would have made some sort of sense.

sj, it's Faithful, co-written by Stephen King and Stewart O'Nan -- a fannish following-the-team-for-a-year book they'd been planning for a while, that just happened freakishly to occur the same year the Red Sox won it all. Extremely fun book.

Though (looking around shiftily) I've been told that if I liked Faithful, I'd love going back and reading all of Nutty's baseball posts from that magical year.

I think we need a picture of Em with her devilbunny, please.

Also, dancing to Van Morrison: never the wrong thing to do, no matter how late at night.