Actually, that's what I told the kids I'd do. Except I don't have a gingham dress. Can you believe that?

Okay, no wings. But still:

Should you buy a monkey?

Like so many of us, Stewart at My Family's Money has always wanted to own a monkey. His reasoning is sound: "They are ridiculously awesome and having one as a pet would be even more awesome."

Except I don't have a gingham dress.

An apron? Red shoes?

An apron? Red shoes?

Oh, I have like 80 aprons. None blue gingham, though. And, no, actually no red shoes. I have such a boring life.

Every seminar I attended today referenced D&D, and I don't think any of the presenters knew Gygax had died. It's just that D&D is the forefather of computer gaming, which is the engine of emergent technologies.

I have my problems with Gygax's system, but damn, huge cultural impact.

It's still sinking in, Gary's death. But I've been thinking about this. I've been staring at my multiple feet of bookshelf dedicated to RPGs through teary eyes, and thinking about the staggering number of other people doing exactly the same thing right now, and...

That man profoundly, indelibly and fundamentally altered the shape of the world in ways that even many heads of state can only ever aspire to. With so many people so often trying to destroy worlds, Gary gave people tools to create them.

It's really kind of breaking my brain to think about just how far reaching the effects of Gary's creation have been.

Actually, that's what I told the kids I'd do. Except I don't have a gingham dress. Can you believe that?

Shocking! JZ and Matilda went to church wearing matching gingham dresses last Sunday. People were slain with the cutefulness. JZ had worried that matched dressing would be Too Much but apparently nobody does it anymore (at least around the Bay Area) so it was merely extra cute.

JZ and Matilda went to church wearing matching gingham dresses last Sunday. People were slain with the cutefulness. JZ had worried that matched dressing would be Too Much but apparently nobody does it anymore (at least around the Bay Area) so it was merely extra cute.

Oh, please tell me there are pictures of this somewhere! Sounds priceless.

And I know it's shocking I don't have the makings of a Dorothy costume. It really is a shame.

Oh, please tell me there are pictures of this somewhere! Sounds priceless.

Her dad took pictures so I expect we'll get them eventually.

And I know it's shocking I don't have the makings of a Dorothy costume. It really is a shame.

You know when you name your dog Toto you have certain responsibilities to fulfill. #1: have Dorothy costume at hand.

Do you at least have a basket and clip-on braids?

You know when you name your dog Toto you have certain responsibilities to fulfill. #1: have Dorothy costume at hand.

I think you're forgetting that I didn't actually name Toto. He was named by his first owner, and I didn't have the heart to change it. I did give him his middle name, though--George.

Do you at least have a basket and clip-on braids?

No. I suck.

ETA: And I can't wait to see those picture!

With the inheiritance of a dog named Toto comes great responsibility.

The next phase of Gygax jokes will have to do with Resurrection spells, and Hasbro's alteration of D&D into Diablo.