WOOT! I have finally put together the toy kitchen for Noah that looks like this. [link] Lots of folks said it would take 4+ hours. But it took us about 90+ minutes. HA! Ikea has trained me well.

(The directions were so much easier than Ikea -- things were numbered and then the holes were color coded with dots. Even the hardware was numbered.... brilliant!)

Aw, cute kitchen!

My parents would tell you to never attempt to set up a swingset in the yard in the dark, but you are IKEA trained, so...

I wouldn't attempt it. I mean, granted, we bought this for him for christmas, so it only took us 7 months and 90 minutes to put together.

Speaking of Ikea, I should go buy pots and pans for him there.

Aw, I got email from Taylor, so excited to hear I was back. Will hopefully have her over soon!

I needed that. Just needed to feel a bit a part of the world. I'm still (STILL!) transitioning back & it is stupid sometimes.

Listed 4 more items on ebay. out out out of my house stuff!

also called the exterminator, but they had gone for the day, so I left a message. Hopefully they will get back to me tomorrow and they can come on Wednesday or Thursday. I really think I can have my closet emptied/bagged tonight.

Hugo Award winners and statsporn!

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form: Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog Joss Whedon, & Zack Whedon, & Jed Whedon, & Maurissa Tancharoen, writers; Joss Whedon, director (Mutant Enemy)

Cool beans!

Heat lightning YAY! Something that suits my mood.

And now for something completely different: Penguin porn! Real life penguin adultery!

Penguins Defy Arranged Couplings at the California Academy of Sciences

"Look at that!" a woman cried. Back inside the exhibit, a male penguin with a white and green-striped band had climbed on a female, whose band was not in view. "They're doin' it! They're doin' it!" a young man said, as the male began to gyrate atop the female, slapping her side with his wing. Seemingly unconcerned with the laughing, gawking crowd, the penguin continued his business for a while, then backed off the female and took a celebratory crap.

The female remained on her stomach for several awkward minutes, then finally stood up to stretch, sending a crackle of disbelief through crowd. The band on her left wing wasn't white with a green stripe. It was unmistakeably scarlet.

The questions seemed endless. Where were the jilted partner penguins? Did they mind that they had been cuckolded? Was this a rare case of penguin infidelity, or was everything we've always believed about true love and penguins a giant lie?

Andrew Ng, communications manager at the California Academy of Sciences, had some answers. Apparently, this young, illicit couple -- Howard and Safara -- had been caught "practicing" on each other before. They were essentially exploring their options, Ng said. But chances are, their young love won't last.

This migraine is going on a week and a half now, and now my tummy's upset. Too many painkillers? Food poisoning? Bleeding of the stomach?! ... My doctor's number is in one of these boxes or bags that I still haven't ... unpacked ... am dying ...

Poor Julie.

Thunderstorm is ON. I guess I shouldn't stand out on the end of my deck under the wires leading to my house? I'm not in the world of above ground lines, will be interesting to see how the power holds.