Strix, I would love to hear your stories too.

Reason number 1,000,001 why I know I married the right man. I just sat next to him while he watched an entire football game, without wanting to run from the room and hide. No screaming, yelling, or pacing around the room. I didn't even know the Patriots were losing until I looked up from the newspaper and saw the score.

I'm sorry, Strix. My condolences.

That is a saga! But congrats to you for persevering and congrats to Ryan, what a big boy!

I'm just happy we didn't have to buy him a whole new bed just yet. We've already had a couple of unexpected expenses this month, we didn't really need to add a major furniture purchase to it. (Most of the credit goes to Biyi really, who discovered that the offending nuts were removable.)

I am so sorry, Strix. Hearing the stories will make him a part of our collective memory, as it should be.

sj, it was much noisier here during the game. I was in and out of the room during both games as DH and friends were playing pool. One of the guys is a huge SF fan and I thought he was having an orgasm. No real dedicated fans for Ravens or Patriots, but much noise nonetheless.

IRN, yes I will be having a Super Bowl party. Y'all are invited of course.

sj, it was much noisier here during the game. I was in and out of the room during both games as DH and friends were playing pool. One of the guys is a huge SF fan and I thought he was having an orgasm. No real dedicated fans for Ravens or Patriots, but much noise nonetheless.

I think one of the reasons I grew up hating sports was because I have always been so sensitive to noise. I can't deal with all the screaming.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Erin. My colleague H's death right before we came back to school reminded me of the power of a true mentor. Much love to you.

sj, I found it totally adorable when I strolled back into the game viewing room and Kevin looked at me and said, "wow, did you hear that guy, I can't believe how loud he was, good thing we chased him out." We have this informal deal where I don't mind how boisterous they get when playing and watching games, and they don't take it personal when I depart to my quiet space.

Heh. Ryan's grandfather enjoys watching sports (basketball is a particular favourite). He's been watching the Australian Open. Ryan told us yesterday that he didn't want to watch tennis with WaiGong anymore, because he was "too noisy".

Strix, i am so sorry for your loss.

I want cookies! And I'd be willing to make some but I have no mixer and I'm not creaming butter and sugar by hand. But tomorrow I'm going to make some spiced applesauce muffins.

I.... have never heard of that before. It never in all my life occurred to me that there was an alternative to the hand cramps.

Thanks, all, for understanding. They'll trickle out.

Nostalgia. I met him in 1990. His house was legendary; proper Bostonian gourmand who took in students,bohemian,radical, whatever, as long as you were imaginative, creative, smart, or intellectually passionate or any combo thereof. We spent too much time at his house, talking about everything under the sun.

He introduced me to foie gras and Sauternes, among other things. Nina Simone and Etta James -- heard them for the first time there.