Spidra, I had no idea either! But it was very neat to see the sketch for the window in the Mucha Museum later that day! I was sad the giftshop at the museum wasn't as awesome as I'd hoped (I did end up buying a calendar). Sigh.

Lovely pictures, meara! You know the legend about that clock, that the person who made it was blinded after so he couldn't make another? Did you get to see it strike?

Made it to the grocery store. Put all my EOBs in order so I can do my flex reimbursement. Late going to bed because I got caught up polishing my tea kettle, and no that's not a euphemism.

ou know the legend about that clock, that the person who made it was blinded after so he couldn't make another? Did you get to see it strike?

Oooh! I don't think that part was in my guidebook! Though there was plenty of other ridiculousness (I think somewhere I snuck in a picture in a no-picture zone, of the site of one of many defenestrations. And did you know that practically everything in Budapest was built for the 1896 millenial celebration?) I did not see it strike--we were on a mission to see as much as we could in our one day there (or at least I was!) so it was on to the next thing...

So cool to see those pics, meara.

Wikipedia tells me that leftover Hopping John is called Skipping Jenney and it's even more lucky than eating Hopping John on New Year's Day to eat Skipping Jenney on January 2nd. I feel like someone is messing with Wikipedia (what else is new?) but then I can also see an exasperated cook, staring at a larder emptied out by the holidays, explaining to the family, "oh you have to eat leftovers today... for luck, yeah that's it."

Then I topped my Skipping Jenney with Pepper Jack and realized that if the (very tasty) dish had a name it would have to be Kinky Donkey Sex.

Some lovely pics, meara! Looking at your Budapest pics I realize I've been to some of those places too. I had a weird wave of deja vu.

apologies for being totally off topic... Is there a place for Friday Night Lights discussion?

Erin_O, I would go for it, if you can afford it. As mentioned, at that age, they will go, and if you can get favorable terms, it seems worth it. Plus it will help with your energy bills. From what I hear, an On-Demand water heater saves even more money, and lasts longer. It costs a bit more, but lasts longer. So might be worth it. Keep in mind, I am a non home owner, so take my advice with the grain of salt.

Meara, those pics are fab! Love that clock! Thanks for sharing.

Slept until noon, napped for two hours, took a pill containing caffeine and guess what? I`m awake!

I have a hangover.

Which probably means this was not the best time for me to reply (explode is a better word) to an e-mail I just received. Long story, basically involving members of the disabled people's movement being damagingly elitist and generally pissing me off. I said my piece. Now I am drinking tea. I will be calm. Yes.

Wait, was that clock in Budapest? I thought it was the Astronomer's Clock in Prague.

How unprofessional would it be to call in to work just slightly broken-hearted? Aka, "sick."