First, an announcement: you can watch Ken Burn's documentary The Dust Bowl online for free until December 4. That's only a week and a half left. I watched it during the Thanksgiving break at my parents' home.

( family losses and parental memories )

It's Thanksgiving here in the US, and I'm grateful for:

• my sister-in-law's sweet potato soufflé, quite possibly the most wondrous Thanksgiving dessert ever created
• my adorable youngest niece with her head of curly hair
• a quiet bedroom where I can retreat if the cute nieces and nephews are too much
• feeling like a normal human being now that I'm over ( Read more... )

I was going to see The Avengers yesterday, but I was having car troubles. Figured it out finally; it appears I have a leak in my radiator. By the time I managed to get some coolant and put it in the system, it was too late to go to the movies. Ah well. Maybe tomorrow after work? Just because I need to see it before I end up accidentally ( Read more... )

It's Mother's Day and I'm... doing a picspam of Florence, Italy to celebrate? My brain is weird. Though in my defense, there's a maternal connection in these photos. All of these pictures were taken during a brief stay in Florence in June 2004. I took most of them, my mother took a few and a friend took some as well.

( picspam of Florence )

( religious quote about women and motherhood )

Has anyone read The Lies of Locke Lamora yet? I started this week and I love the world-building... but the title character is currently leaving me cold. I'm wondering if it's worth it to continue.

I'm sure everyone needs an illustrated version of Tom Lehrer's song 'The Elements.' (Tune stolen from Gilbert and Sullivan, if I remember correctly ( Read more... )

Being a 'fun' aunt is exhausting.

*collapses into a heap on the floor*

I'm not done posting for today yet! I figured babies need to be kept safe in a separate post from zombies, right? Anyway, last week I acquired a new niece and a new nephew. My sister had another little boy, Elijah, at home. It looks like he'll be another redhead. My older brother's wife had baby Miriam at the hospital. She's already got a ( Read more... )

I forgot Mothers' Day! Okay, I didn't actually forgot my own mother last week, I just forgot to say anything here. So: Happy (belated) Mothers' Day to everyone who acts as a mother figure to others ( Read more... )

How to guarantee a bit of spare time on the computer: wake up first ( Read more... )