Happy birthday, Jilli! On the odd chance you haven't seen it, here's some bat-and-Venus flytrap wallpaper for you. [link]

Congratulations, Amy! Let us know when it's coming out.

I'm so sorry, Matt.

Once again, cancer does indeed suck, Shir. If your friend wants my "how to get through chemo" tips, let me know.

Maria!

Ha! Go to the Whitehouse site and watch the video tour of the Oval Office: [link] It's W doing the tour, and apparently he thought they would do some editing. He would do a line delivery he didn't like, and in true loop fashion, just do it again as if the first never happened. Alas, they just kept the same single shot rolling, no cuts. Kinda funny.

Happy Birthday, Jilli!

And way to go, Amy!

Maria! How have you been?

That is a pretty amusing W vid. I like hearing him talk about A Charge to Keep with no idea what the painting is really about.

edit: that's not even the painting's title. More info here.

Oh, man, Laga, that's just exactly the kind of obscure art history/old pop culture stuff I love (and, man, I have such a weakness for the old, old, old-school Harper's with its thrilling, lavishly and cheesily illustrated serials of rugged pioneers and romance amongst the trout fisheries--the actual title of that painting just fills me with glee). Thank you so, so much for that link! Seriously, it made my night!

Before I disappear again to make dinner, congratulations Amy! Excellent news!

I love the internet -- someone suggested a magic eraser for removing the haze from my tile. It works better than anything else. Now I have to go get a bunch

{{{{Beverly & family}}}}

{{{{Matt & family}}}}

Congratulations, Amy!

Happy Birthday, Jilli! May the coming year be full of swirly bats and all things cupcake pink, and may the Haunted Mansion finally recognize you as the true 'mistress of the manor' and let you move in.