I've never tried to build a connection with a stranger, just let friends become friends with benefits. Which is probably laziness on my behalf.

That's how I've been for the most part. All of my...romantic encounters have been friends.

I highly recommend getting set up by a friend that knows you well and just sort of falling into a ltr with that person without really trying. That's what worked for me.

Ha. Last night, someone on my flist sent me the e-mail of a geeky Desi girl in New York.

For some reason, I got sucked into watching Britain's Got Talent clips on YouTube. These kids are just ridiculously fun: [link]

Coincidentally, I am looking up recipes for beef stew right now.

These kids are just ridiculously fun: [link]

Ded. Ded, I say. The. Cutest. Kid. Act. Evar. I am utterly slain by their lethal cuteness.

P-C's story is making me laugh, in a nice, happy way.

I'm making a sort of cantonese beef stew right now for dinner.

Joe and I went for a ride on our borrowed-from-my-parents tandem today, pulling the kids behind us in a little trailer. It was sort of comical. We checked that brakes and tires and stuff before we left, but didn't actually ride it because we live on a mountain. So, I hope on and the seat was about two inches too low. Joe's handle bars were way too close to him. And the last riders had taken off the toe-clips, which drove me crazy. Despite being sort of uncomfortable, we had a nice ride.

We went to the Air Force Academy, which is beautiful, but there was tons of traffic due to a football game. Trying to get back to our car, the road guards told us that we had to go *around* the stadium, which is up the side of the mountain. We ended up schelpping the bike and trailer (full of kids) up to the very top. While taking a rest, Joe talked the guard at the gate into letting him in just to get us all hotdogs (I swear, he would be a good fit on Leverage; he can talk his way into anything) and then there was a 5-person parachute jump into the stadium and a fighter jet flyover, which the kids loved. And from there, it was an easy downhill ride back to the car.

Totally fun day.

Thanks, o-a, you rock. (And I am awful with mail, so I am just thrilled I get a prezzie.)

People who have done weddings: What do you when you can't invite all the family members in the world (not least because you can't afford it, but also because you haven't seen them for years)

I had people stop speaking to me for a while, but since we didn't actually talk to each other before this happened, it wasn't the biggest loss. Then they died. So I am hopeful their grudge is over. I? Never had one.

A kid on Wife Swap reacts to his bacon being taken away. Reacts very badly. [link] (My jaw seriously dropped at some of the stuff this kid can get away with saying. He's what, eight? Nine?)

"She acts like she's the queen and we're the sorry people."

Now that's funny, I don't care who y'are. t /Larry the Cable Guy

She's dropped it for now, but I think she's going to make a fuss again soon. Gah. Family.

have your mother talk to her. After all, she's the reason why you're not inviting him right?

Now that's funny, I don't care who y'are.

If you watch the longer version in related videos, they say that he went to his grandmother's house for a few hours, ate some chicken nuggets, and then came back to inform the "new mother" that he's the boss.