We used to call our dog "Hoover". None of you met Honey, she was the sweetest Australian Shephard/Collie mix. I posted a pic of K-Bug, as a baby, pulling on a dog's tail. That was Honey. She let the kids climb on her, pull her fur, and would play tug at a very low level with them while when she played with me if felt like she was trying to pull my arm out of the socket.

K-Bug is 20 years old today. I am back to having just one teenager. I feel like such a lucky mom to have two wonderful kids. Not being with her for her birthday is tough though. She is coming out here Tuesday night and I can't wait to spoil her rotten.

And unloading is done. My back is gonna hurt tomorrow fo sho. Now to get the car back.

Suzi, you are such an awesome mom.

Sounds like a great party, Kat! Happy birthday to Noah and Grace.

I buy whole milk and pretty much just drink it in coffee and tea.

Ended up getting a nasty headache and eventually going back to bed. Finally need to get up and dressed to have dinner with a friend I haven't seen in a long time.

I'm not sure that its a mutation (unless you're counting all of evolution as a mutation), frankly.

[link]

Mutations that keep the lactase gene permanently switched on are common among modern Europeans — but not among their ancestors. In March 2007, a team of German and British researchers announced that they went looking for that mutation in the 7000-year-old fossils of ancient Europeans and came up empty-handed. The researchers managed to extract the length of DNA corresponding to the lactose tolerance mutation from eight Neolithic human fossils and one Mesolithic fossil, but those DNA sequences did not carry the telltale mutation. The results suggest that as late as 5000 BC most ancient Europeans could not have digested milk as adults — and that they only later evolved into milk-drinking societies.

[link]

However, certain human populations have a mutation on chromosome 2 which eliminates the shutdown in lactase production, making it possible for members of these populations to continue consumption of fresh milk and other dairy products throughout their lives without difficulty. This appears to be an evolutionarily recent adaptation to dairy consumption, and has occurred independently in both northern Europe and east Africa in populations with a historically pastoral lifestyle.[10] Lactase persistence, allowing lactose digestion to continue into adulthood, is a dominant allele, making lactose intolerance a recessive genetic trait.

... wait, aren't you at con this weekend?

Pacificon? It's not for a few weeks.

I should probably write down the exact date, huh.

Happy Birthday to Grace and Noah and to K-Bug!

ION, I sauteed scallops for dinner, with just garlic and lemon, and then served them over Trader Joe's Thai Lime Rice (which comes in a bag that you heat in the microwave). Oh god, so good. And because the rice is microwavey and scallops sautee quickly, it was the fastest "nice" dinner I've ever made. Full tummy. Nice.

THREE! And mango mousse!

I'm pretty sure Grace wouldn't like my spinach and tomato salad, but I like it.

The lactase information is very interesting. I never gave it much thought other than being amused with my parents opposed views on the subject. Dad believing that milk was for infants only and Mom still drinking milk every day of her life.

I could probably give up milk pretty easily, but not butter or cheese. Hmmm, cheese.