I am in awe that I know someone who can do shit like that! One of the cakes in the shape of a bottle of Jack is actually flavored with Jack Daniels. I wish I'd known her back when Jon and I got married, because I love her wedding cakes.

Those are some fine, fine looking cakes.

If you really want to tilt at the windmill that is my filth-resistant brain, ita, by all means go to. I would never deny you any harmless pleasure. I might be baffled, but I wouldn't deny.

ION, I came in to work today sneezing and snuffly and admitted that I'd had a really savage allergy attack over the weekend. The nurse practitioner immediately said, "What are you allergic to? Do you sneeze more when you're here? Is there anything we can do to make it better? I know, I should call Housekeeping and make sure they come in here and vacuum more often; the rugs can't be good for you. Would that help?"

There was no berating, no shaming, no accusation that I was trying to blow her eardrums out or sicken her or make her lose her appetite or force her to murder me. It's like I'm living in some crazy nonsensical land where no conversation ever goes the way I expect it to. I don't get it.

JZ, worse, what if you get used to working around others who, like you, are loving caring human beings? How demented would that be?

Maybe you're living in crazy melty land....

The Princess Industrial Complex

Whatev. Little girls like princesses? Srsly who cares? Yeah, some girls like princesses, and some grow out of it and some don't. Big woo.

For some reason this is hitting my Substanceless Cultural War Topics button, maybe it's that it's coming so hard and fast on the heels of that Chinese Mom book.

Maybe you're living in crazy melty land....

Our cafeteria has shrimp ceviche today, so we can rule out the World Without Shrimp.

TB, it's just... weird, with the "Please" and the "Thank you" and the "Good job" and stuff. What's their angle here?

One of my students came in to my office today to take a makeup quiz, and she didn't have anywhere for her daughter to go during that time, so she brought her daughter with her. I ended up playing with the daughter (age 2 or so) while her mother was taking the quiz, which was fun (we played with the Sesame Street website), but I was somewhat puzzled that the mother would bring her toddler somewhere where she'd have to sit down and entertain herself for a while, and didn't bring so much as a coloring book and crayons.

TB, it's just... weird, with the "Please" and the "Thank you" and the "Good job" and stuff. What's their angle here?

Aw, JZ! I can't believe you lived without that for so long! That's the worst. You deserve so much better.

Depends on the kid. I was pretty good at entertaining myself.

I am also pleased to report that I will be attending both the women's and men's singles finals at the Australian Open this weekend. Wish me Rafa!

Okay, now I'm no longer on your side. Also, rooting for Murray.

JZ, I'm going to set a weekly timer.