So ABalGENSTABSEA is up and open - go read Press - So all I want to do now is wait for sign ups and do this all day. I am not sure work is going to appreciate that.

Woo, flea! Get down with your bad self.

I'm imagining a secret network of water coolers where they discuss all the gossip they overhear, etc. Just because they don't talk to us doesn't mean they don't talk...

Rugs!

So this cotton rug is a lot cheaper than this wool rug, but will I regret getting the cotton one? Will it disintegrate after a year? Is it harder to keep clean?

Cotton attracts dirt and wool naturally repels. If it's going where there will be foot traffic, go wool.

Wool will last a lot longer than cotton, but cotton lasts fine. I have a cheap flat-weave cotton rug that we got when Casper was born and it's been washed in the washing machine at least once (which is a no-no, but, you know) and it looks fine. I sometimes wish it would die so I could get a better rug, you know? It's been 10 years!

We've done name picking in my extended family for years now (mom's family with 7 siblings and loads of cousins) and I totally get what you're saying, java. I'm always hoping for one of my aunts or a couple of girl cousins who I know I can find something cool for. We do get something little for all of Bob's 7 nieces still and my nieces and little nephew so I Jane plenty of fun gift buying opportunities, though.

Man, speaking of family, the wife of one of Bob's cousins just had a very late term misscarriage. Very tragic, I feel terrible for them. She's posted a picture of her and her husband holding the baby and, while I respect her need to grieve in any way she needs, it's pretty disturbing to keep scrolling past in my fb feed, popping to the top every time someone comments on it. . . I know I could hide it but I really have been too disturbed to hover over it. I haven't read the comments but Bob said it's clear that some people don't know that she hasn't delivered a healthy baby. So sad all around.

Oh god, lisah, that's so sad.

Ha, I was totally imagining some digital talking water cooler that creepily greets people.

This is how kickstarter projects start.

Oh lisah, that's awful.

We're currently in a debate in my family over whether we should draw names or not. I guess "not" is going to win, because at least one couple refuses to participate! And I just know one other person would buy stuff for everyone else anyway. So much for that bright idea.

We do that with middling success in my immediate family. We've finally more or less settled on the person you draw gets the "big gift", and you can do smaller stuff for everyone else.

ETA: Lisah, how awful.