We are talking about it now. He may show his whole family, I am going to show him how to diagram all 3 mommies. I guess I'll be doing some online research.

America is safe--I've finished my eval. Of course, the country might have some issues, since I did a rather half-assed job on it, but considering there's a very good chance we'll all be laid off before next year's eval, I really don't care much right now.

Now I just have to submit my PTO for the week and I can run over to Michaels for some more DMC floss for Xmas cross-stitch project #2 (Mom's present), which won't be done on time but that's her fault for wanting to exchange presents in mid-November instead of December 25th.

How strange--I just called my sister and left a message with her voicemail, and for some reason I decided to review it before sending. I hadn't listened to myself on a personal message recently (just work ones), and boy, do I sound like a cross between my mom and my sister!! It's strange hearing the similarities in my own voice to theirs. I've always known I sound a lot like Sis, but hearing Mom in there too threw me off.

A triple post--a very cool one-take video from France.

Ah, poor bewildered and sad mac. I swear, in this day an age, you'd think they'd know what a minefield this topic can be and approach it accordingly.

msbelle- I had a traumatic family tree experience when I was little, too, and I am OK. But they seriously should be avoided. I am so glad they "let" you diagram all his mommies. Our project was to draw ourselves and our families in houses that the teacher cut out of construction paper. Mom and Dad went in the door, and the students and our siblings went in the windows. I was an only child who lived with my mom, her parents, my uncle, and a dog, and the teacher wouldn't let me draw anyone except my mom and I. I was upset enough that I lost all the crayons except the purple one, and had to draw my mom and I in purple. I hated that sad lonely house that wasn't my house at all. That was one of the first times I felt like my family wasn't right because I didn't have a dad. I think nowadays, it is so much more accepted, and that is great!

Also, telling that story just made me realize that one of the reasons why I feel so strongly about allowing gay marriage, and gay families is because I so strongly remember dealing with people for whom it just did not compute that "family" wasn't always mom + dad + children.

Kathy, that video was cool!

I want to thwap your teacher from the future, Sophia.

At first I thought this thing was made-up: Piglet Squid is Cute

Scientists at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium found a cute deep-water squid that looks like a fat little cartoon piggie:

Piglet Squid, Helicocranchia pfefferi: This funny looking squid is about the size of a small avocado and can be found most commonly in the deepwater (greater than 100 m or 320 ft) of virtually all oceans. Its habit of filling up with water and the funny location of its siphone with a wild-looking 'tuft' of eight arms and two tentacles had prompted scientists to name it the piglet squid.

Sophia, you're younger than I am, and I know that divorce was a common-enough issue for teachers when I was in junior high in the late '70s, so I don't know why she was so stubborn about your family!! Grrr.

IOcutevideoN, climbing kittens who love to play with toilet paper. They're the same kittens who love to run under doors.