(Actually, Respectable science only hypothesizes NOM. I will need to perform empirical experiements!)

I have spent hours and hours playing with new doll and having her try on all of her outfits and wigs, and am now making tiny accessories. (A recent comment from me to Pete: "Oooh! My miniature glow-in-the-dark crow skull fits perfectly in her hands!")

I don't think Pete realized the depths of crazy this would unleash in me.

I ... that's the best thing anyone has said about my book, I think.

Yay! Wee Goth Cousin also said that about half the copies she's pimped have been to other Goths, and half to people with gross misconceptions about it (in the Sacramento area, that's mostly people saying, "Uh, so you're a bunch of Satanists, right?"), and that everyone has tracked her down later to thank her for the recommendation.

JZ' that's so great I wish we could use it as ad copy! Any way you can re-jigger that and add it as a review of the book on Amazon?

I think I can manage that.

And I'm totally envious of ND and Kristin for the awesomeness of their landlady.

Just had latkes. Yum. (Our Chanukah celebration stuff is on several days that aren't Chanukah this year -- it's pretty much whenever during December the family is together and whoever needs to do stuff feels like doing it. We kind of missed the "family is together" part, though, because my mom started cooking based on the time when my sister said that she'd be home, and she's now more than an hour and a half late and we've finished eating. I'm not sure who's going to be more annoyed once she does get home -- my mom because my sister was late and missed traditional family dinner, or my sister because we didn't wait for her and she's got to eat blue latkes.)

Hmmm. I under-potatoed my scalloped potatoes. It is now a particularly rich and cheesy potato soup. This could still be a win...

I love those! Hec, my mom wants short haircut advice...nobody here will cut enough.

Kristin & ND's landlord for the win! That's an amazing gift!

Hec, my brother in law never married his son's mother and they split when he was 3. They, too, worked out a 50/50 split. He put A LOT of work into it--including keeping his job prospects well within the area, and bending over backwards in giving his ex their house (he paid for it, she didn't work) and the better vehicle. He paid her more than an official custody arrangement would have required for support payments and carried all insurance and medical costs. I think the generous financial arrangements helped smooth the way but my nephew is nearly 7 and is EXTREMELY well adjusted, having spent more than half his life shuttling between households.

Hec, my mom wants short haircut advice...nobody here will cut enough.

Send her to me.

What part of "pixie cut" don't the stylists understand?

I went out and bought new bras for the first time today. It's soooo weird. I still can't shoot for the fancy ones just yet because I'm pretty sensitive--seams are painful yet. But I can wear CAMIS. SPAGHETTI STRAP CAMIS! And I found some awesome v-neck tops that look great, too. It's a Christmas miracle.

Suddenly picturing Mom asking for "a pixie cut, goddamnit."(I'm laughing...) Sometimes I think we are the lost tribe of goyische Emanuels. I don't think we've ever said "pixie".