That's better.

First, I'd like to say I feel very, very sorry for this kid.
I think lousy sleep was starting to catch up with me, not to mention the cold I've been fighting off for the past week was actually starting to win. So I got boring and took a bath and went to bed early (helped by the fact that the kiddo crashed out at quarter to ten after three days of lousy sleep and a big day with the bubbysitter at the park.) and now I feel much better. (And hopefully kay_willow will forgive me for missing our RP date ... I promise to be much less airheaded today.)

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Yesterday was fun - it was nice and we had time so we went walking around downtown getting small errands done; although we didn't get to the bank because SIX people were waiting at the CUSTOMER SERVICE DESK ... before we walked in ... so we decided that perhaps next week would be better. Got chatted at by some random woman on the bus who was going on about (I swear) toenails. To random people.
And I dropped a milk crate on my foot and brused the hell out of it. Other than that, it's a nice day.
Time for coffee.

Sugar free, hands free ways to taunt your cats

Just buy yourself a solar rainbow maker and stick it on a sunny window. It makes our demons crazy. :-D It also has the neat side effect of making the room look like a disco.

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I'm afraid of Splenda. It tastes funny, and I don't understand how eating transfats (genetically modified fats) is a bad thing (which I agree with) but eating genetically modified sugar is somehow okay. I understand there are some people who need to eat the stuff - people with sugar issues, diabetics, etcetera. But it scares me. *shiver* Ew.

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Edit: Irregular Webcomic! today is PRECIOUS.

Ah, a pleasant evening in Geek House.

4 large roasted vegetable quesadillas (recipe available upon request)
1 DVD rental of Godzilla vs. Mothra: The Battle for Earth
Combine with a side of programming, two laptops, a wireless internet connection, a toddler and a couple of cats. Stir to blend. Enjoy. Best served with caffeinated beverages.

Bwah?

Right. According to this, my three year old son is a goth. I'm a goth.
Do people really believe this stuff?
Edit: Ah, apparently it's a parody. Thank Gord. I was worried. Ever since I found out that Harry Potter was apparently sinful I'll believe anything from fundamentalists.

( Apparently 'goth' describes every person I know. )

a place where no one's lost (drabble: pink)

It occured to Falda that the girl's hair was the same shade of pink as the gum she always had in her mouth. She wasn't sure if that was by design or by accident, but somehow the collision of coincidences seemed to make her that much more intriguing.
The strange thing was that she was always around, popping up in different forms with a different set of thrifted clothes in a different railstation, lugging around library books and clothes in the world on her back; one of those strange synchronous coincidences of life. She'd turn around from buying flowers downtown and the girl was sitting across the square reading Anais Nin. She'd get in line to buy tickets for the tram and the girl was around the corner singing show tunes in return for people's spare change that dripped into her flat black watch cap, shimmering silverfall. It was almost like she was being stalked - or perhaps stalking? - except that she didn't know about it on the one hand and on the other hand felt completely safe.
Safe enough to walk up to her in the middle of a rendition of "Castle on a Cloud" and toss a small bill into the cap - enough to make her look twice.
"Hey, thanks." She knelt down and scooped up the bill and a handful of change, tucking it in the depths of her army jacket.
"I figured I owed it to you, I keep seeing you around."
"I get around." She had a slight german accent - the faintest Teutonic whispers hardened her d's.
"Where you live?"
"Around."
"You want a place to crash?" Falda kept her face clear, just the slightest curve of a friendly smile, reassuring. "Seriously. My folks won't care."
"That's a little hard to believe." she laughed.
"You don't know my folks."
A moment went by, during which Falda felt herself being scrutinized by bright blue eyes like a can of peas hovering over the laser at a supermarket checkout.
"All right. But if I hear anything about Jesus, I'm gone." The girl picked up her cap and backpack and followed Falda up to street level.
"Nah, the worst you'll have to deal with is my wacko aunt and my dad walking around naked." Falda smiled and stuck her hand out in greeting. "I'm Falda. Falda Vanderschpiegle-Lennon-Donnelly."
"There's a hundred-euro last name if I've ever heard one." she laughed and shook Falda's hand firmly. "Ilse. Ilse Diefendorf."