That is surprising. I thought driving in snow was one of the three things Canadians are extra good at.

This makes me sad:

Gilda's Club affiliates changing their name because Gilda Radner died way too long ago

Four affiliates of the cancer support community Gilda's Club, formed and named in honor of the legendary Saturday Night Live comedian Gilda Radner (who died of ovarian cancer in 1989), have decided to drop Gilda's name for an incredibly depressing reason: the younger patients don't know who she is. "...[O]ur college students were born after Gilda Radner passed, as we are seeing younger and younger adults who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis,” said executive director of Gilda's Club Madison, Lannia Syren Stenz. "We want to make sure that what we are is clear to them and that there’s not a lot of confusion that would cause people not to come in our doors." According to the Wisconsin State Journal, the national organization will slowly phase in the new name, Cancer Support Community, and phase Gilda out. I feel like there's a "there's always something" joke in this, but I'm too sad to think of one.

Every one of my ancestors living in Maine were killed in this war except for a mother and son, who where captured and kept by the Native American tribe for 2 years until they were ransomed by an English sea captain, who took them back to England. Where they boarded a ship for Boston, and then walked back to Maine. Now you all know where I get my stubborn from.

Good heavens, Sparky! That's a novel, right there.

I went to King Philip Regional High School, and yet I didn't know that King Philip's War stretched all the way to Maine! I'll have to research that.

The hill behind the house I grew up in was named "Indian Hill", and local rumor had it that King Philip himself hid out in one of the caves on the hill.

ION, I got home from work last night to be greated by a frantic text message from my BIL that my folks had shown up at his/my sister's house. (My BIL likes my dad fine, but finds my mother way too difficult to deal with.)

Dad admitted, happily, that driving out to the old apartment had been a mistake--I think I need to get the keys from him, just to prevent that happening again. I told him that taking her out of the building whenever she wants isn't going to help her adjust.

My brother the doctor, meanwhile, is wondering whether a prescription for Haldol will help. Oy.

WE ARE BOOKED FOR DISNEY!!!

Yay msbelle!

And Pix, your new dog is adorable! Very cute, and I hope he settles in well.

In case you were wondering... [link]

So... there's a veteran on the list. "And they can't pass over a veteran if they meet the minimal qualifications."

t beats head against the desk

(No, that's not the final word, just what some random person at a desk in DC told me.)

Damn it, Suela.

Re: King Philip's War, it was the colonial settlements at the fringes that had the worst of it; western Mass and Maine (which was part of Mass at that point) and down the Connecticut River Valley. Most of my ancestors were firmly ensconced in Plymouth and Taunton and Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard, where the colonial population density was high and (in some areas) the local native population was heavily Christian. It was a pretty terrible war, in terms of losses in comparison to total population, on both sides. Philbrick's 'Mayflower' is actually mostly about the war, and is pretty readable.

Aaaaaargh, Consuela. I think you need another vacation, like, yesterday.

Had a great time in Nashville and was so happy to get to meet and introduce the SO to another Buffista (he liked you bunches!).

Yay! It was really fantastic to see you guys. I was sad that I had to go back to work.

Speaking of work... yikes, I am falling way behind. I know this is not a new problem for me (or many people), but I am having so much trouble concentrating and motivating myself to do my work. And my work is reading, for cryin' out loud! It should not be so hard for me to buckle down and get it done, but I come into work every day now with a bad case of the don' wannas. I'm getting tired of this job. Need to start keeping an eye out for other potential jobs -- I really miss library work. But there are so few library jobs. Bleh.