Our latest book share is Hugo Cabret. It's beautiful to look at and written exactly at Franny's level. She described it the other day, tears running down her face, "this book is creepy and sad and a little bit scary, but it's beautiful." For a book, that's pretty much a home run, right?

Aww, I love to hear that. Discovering a good book at that age is pretty magical. FYI, the author (Brian Selznick) has a new book that just came out a month or two ago, if you need holiday gift ideas...

Our latest book share is Hugo Cabret. It's beautiful to look at and written exactly at Franny's level. She described it the other day, tears running down her face, "this book is creepy and sad and a little bit scary, but it's beautiful." For a book, that's pretty much a home run, right?

Indeed! Kate beat me to it.. . the new book, Wonderstruck, is very similar with the illustrations being a key to the book. Quite expensive.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret was a controversial Caldecott pick because it's not the usual 32 page picture book. But it deserved it for the illustrations.

Woke up at 6:45 to the sound of bagpipes (had fallen asleep on the couch with the tv on one of the PBS stations, which was playing a Rick Steves ep on the Scottish highlands at 6:30). My cat curled up on top of me for about 10 minutes before I had to go pee, and she was ticked off that I made her get up. I just did my dishes and completely scrubbed out my microwave, which was just filthy inside. I really should go put my sweater into the bin to soak (get the purple tinge out of the white argyle triangles) so I can do my laundry before it gets too busy down there.

Sara just went off for the day with her friends and their dad (it's his weekend day), and the BAD CAT who stayed out all night came in, so I'm now relaxing and waiting for S. to make eggs and bacon.

I think I slept too much! I hope it was actually just the right amount, but I am still groggy and puffy-eyed.

Today I need to clean the bathroom, change my bed, maybe do a load of laundry, and do my nails. Doable!

Instead of soaking my sweater, I'm shopping for music on iTunes--finally replaced my long-lost cds for Purple Rain and Janis Joplin so I have them on my iPod. Also picked up a few songs from The Sing-Off (Darmouth Aires, Pentatonix, and Afro Blue, specifically). Debating on getting some Temptations and Sly and the Family Stone.

Amy,

not for nothing but Adam Levine is kind of a pig. Not particularly faithful and generally not that respectful to his partners.

You could do better!

Well, I'd only want him as a partner for one night ...

I'm just saying he's got a lot of stage charisma. I loved him on The Voice, but watching him perform was so much better. And the second song they did with Travie McCoy from Gym Class Heroes was awesome.

Oh yeah, I have a shameful enjoyment of Adam Levine, musically and aesthetically, despite knowing he's kind of a douche.

Obviously it's just a zipperless fuck (did I get it right this time?) with Levine. Problem addressed!

I think I've been much more surface chatty since my mother got sick. People behind counters, stocking rooms, driving taxis--no one is safe from the extra two or three sentences (bare minimum!) from me. But conversation conversation? It churns up something terrible in my gut and makes me feel like there are great big empty spaces in there.

She sounds happier. But I don't know if she's faking it for me. I'm certainly faking everything but my intent for her. Portacath in nine days, chemo starts a week later.

Gluten question: my father has been avoiding it, in order to try and quell his rheumatoid arthritis. Is that valid science, or woo woo chicken waving? I know gluten has been the cool thing to cut out, but I do know that when it's the right thing to drop, it really makes a difference. I'd just hate for all his food preparers (a group that does not include him) to go to any extra difficulty if it's not valid.