*sigh* We got back from our vacation trip late last night, and have been comforting neurotic abandoned cats ever since. Here are a couple of shots of what we are now missing: ( cut for imagesCollapse )



And for everyone in the US (and everyone in the UK who says "good riddance")...

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

First, and preeminently...


To a beloved and much-missed one...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY dim54!!!

May this next year be truly sweet!



Second, I should report that we got back safely from San Francisco and had a wonderful time (except for missing meeting up with fellytone_k8). We did manage to spend a day with our old college friend Ray, we had mostly beautiful weather despite a forecast that said it would rain all three days we were there, and we survived the nasty night flight back.

My kids' favorite parts were:

1 - In 'N' Out Burger
2 - Exploratorium
3 - the beds in the Marriott.


My favorite parts were:

1 - Muir Woods
2 - the spaghetti carbonari
3 - the sea lions.


I need to ask my husband what he liked best.

... so little time to say it.


First, and most important:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY soupytwist!!!
May the bathtub of your life always stay bubbly and hot!


Second, I am BACK from our Thanksgiving trip to West Texas. We had our usual pleasant time, with the unpleasant addition of my mother-in-law needing to be hospitalized for unexplained blood loss and anemia. All has now been explained and (we hope) fixed, and she was released from the hospital today. We stayed an extra day because of that, and my husband stayed another day and flew home yesterday. Otherwise, we had a good time, especially on the Traditional Dog Walking Hike Through the Unexplored "Wilderness" That Everyone Knows the Layout of by Heart. The dog got to chase three armadilloes, one rabbit, one deer, and 87 dozen quail. Plus there was the traditional Driving While Dodging Dozens of Depressed Deer (they must be depressed, to be so suicidal), greatly increased by all the trips back and forth into town to visit the hospital. I managed not to hit any. The kids both got practice driving, which they love.


Third, everybody who ever watches -- or thinks about watching -- House should do so tonight (Fox! 9 PM/8 Central!). According to Tony Ausiello of TV Guide...

Next week's episode is by far the best of the season — and unlike Matt Roush, I do throw those words around often. But really, it's a triumph on every level — writing, directing, acting, etc. And in terms of how the story unfolds, it's unlike any House episode to date. ( mild spoilersCollapse )

Just sayin'...


Fourth, being away from teh internets for five days, I got a fair amount of reading done -- I enjoyed The Gun Seller by Hugh Laurie, The Grim Grotto (reread) and The Penultimate Peril by Lemony Snicket, and Locked Rooms by Laurie King. All very good, I thought. I also managed to watch the first three episodes of Jeeves and Wooster on my daughter's laptop, and re-listened to some great Hank the Cowdog tapes while driving.


I have... *counts* ... two fandom essays and four House fanfic shorts rattling around in my head, but seemingly no time to type them out and post them. And I really, really, really need to get to the grocery store tonight. Before House, of course!


That is all.