* While I'm sorry she had the experience, I'm happy I get to laugh about it.
* I generally don't swoon about cute stuff but swoon. (Related.)
* Always talk to that mom.
* Could not be more true.
* In case you needed to know.
* Wyken Pippin will be the name of my next metal band.
* Huh.
* NSFW crafts.
* A part of U.S. history I knew nothing about.
* Building a better breast pump.
* The world's most dangerous garden.
Because my beloved children love me, they gave me a cold. Not sure which beloved child is the true culprit but am certain that I am sick. Feh. This has been one heck of a late summer/early fall.
On the upside, I realized that I can't remember the last time I had a cold. So there's that. Downside is, of course, that I feel like poo.
In one of my snot-filled hazes this weekend, I snapped this picture with my phone. Sometimes, you just get lucky.
Lordy I love that kid. And that dog. And the other kid, who was somewhere else in the house doing who knows what.
Lastly -- if you are local and want to (yarn) bomb something, plans are afoot at Hartwick....
11: The coworker who occasionally changes into a tuxedo before leaving for the evening is not someone you want to have as an enemy.
-- from this list, from Esquire.
Also: Martini Friday is live!
The Great British Bake Off is one of my favorite shows.* I love it so much that I've figured out how to watch content that is blocked in the U.S. -- Tunnel Bear is involved -- even though I hate having to learn how to do things like that.
Yes, yes, the Britishness of it is a huge draw. But it's one of those shows where I feel both smarter and more empowered after I've watched it. Not only is it great to hear knowledgeable people talk about baked goods, it makes me want to bake my own.
Which is why I decided to knock up some Kouign amann last night. I had all five ingredients in the house. While the whole recipe takes a few hours to complete, you're only paying attention to it for a few minutes every now and again. Plus, I wanted something sweet and have always wanted to give laminated pastry a go.
Last rise.
Out of the oven.
In my belly.
I can't begin to tell you how satisfying the whole exercise was. Were they perfect? Heh. No. Paul Hollywood would have been withering with his scorn. But I also don't care because I had the pleasure of both the process and the eating.
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* Don't waste your time withe the American version, which was fine but lacked Mel and Sue, who are integral to the format's success.
** I also love the Great British Sewing Bee but it's not airing right now.
Once upon a time, Lisa and Adrienne worked for the same alternative newsweekly. Now, both spend their respective days mining their creative souls and leading hermit-like lives. And so an idea was hatched. Every week, one would send the other a sketch - either in illustration or word form - and the other would make a companion sketch. The result would be posted on both their blogs every week, just for grins. Even if the result isn't award-worthy, the exercise might make both minds more nimble. Hopefully.
How many times have you dropped your beloved phone into the toilet? Or onto a tile floor? Or under passing bus? Do you know the heartbreak of being out of touch for endless hours because your precious devices is in pieces?
With Sticky Hand (tm), you need never let go of your phone again! No matter how sweaty your grip or shaky your hand, Sticky Hand (tm) ensures that your device stays secure.
Sticky Hand (tm). For when you absolutely, positively need to look at cute cat videos no matter what.
sticky hand (tm) is not responsible for users hit by cars, trapped in open manholes, or beaten to death by domestic partners. sticky hand (tm) encourages responsible mobile usage and denies any knowledge of the incident in chicago two weeks ago.
Text ©Adrienne Martini; illustration ©Lisa Horstman. Until the end of time. Or something.
* Let me again state my love for Nickel Creek.
* Funnies for runners: First one, second one.
* It's like Scary Mommy is in my house.
* This would be useful.
* Regretting motherhood: a conversation we never have.
* And this is why I love John Oliver.
* This might be funnier if you've spent time with MFA students.
* "My toddler has a diverse palate."
* My new favorite commercial.
* Save the muffatee!
EDITED TO ADD: the mystery has been solved! Click on the comments if you want to know what these mystical outlets are for. Don't click if you prefer to live in your own rich imagination.
One of the buildings on campus has been renovated and reopened. The new space is gorgeous and has all of the modern accouterments one could want, from water bottle re-filling stations and unisex bathrooms. But it also has these, which are just outside each and every exterior door:
Here it is in situ:
And the long shot:
At first, I thought it was just a classy downspout for the rain gutters. But the long I ponder, the more I think it can't be because it would dump all of the water at about knee height in front of the door, which would soak anyone standing near and/or create a slipping hazard that the architects wouldn't allow.
So what else could it be? A safe passage for the buildings gnomes?* A pneumatic mail system?** Or just a poorly designed rain control system?***
Thoughts? Or am I the only one who thinks about such things?
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* SUCO switched from gnomes to elves ten years ago after the labor dispute so that one looks increasingly unlikely.
** Not pressurized.
*** Most likely.
"The photograph caught four black bears as they puzzled over a suspended food bag. The bears were clearly startled but not remotely alarmed by the flash. It was not the size or demeanor of the bears that troubled me--they looked almost comically nonaggressive, like four guys who had gotten a Frisbee caught up a tree--but their numbers. Up to that moment it had not occurred to me that bears might prowl in parties. What on earth would I do if four bears came into my camp? Why, I would die, of course. Literally shit myself lifeless. I would blow my sphincter out my backside like one of those unrolling paper streamers you get at children's parties--I daresay it would even give a merry toot--and bleed to a messy death in my sleeping bag.”
-- From Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods, which is still one of my most favorite books ever.
Also: Martini Friday is back, baby.
John Scalzi is a writer whose work I've long enjoyed. Over the years, we've had a ships-crossing-in-the-night relationship. We've chit-chatted at various SF/F conferences. I've sent my books to him, which he has been kind enough to talk up, even though they might not fit his usual audience. Our relationship has become one where I email him every now and again about various things publishing related and/or give him crap about making it seem so easy and he replies kindly and/or snarkily. Like you do.
When I saw that he was coming to Northshire Books in Saratoga Spring, I decided to take a road trip, even though it was a school night.
Selfie with Scalzi and I in the bookstore's breakroom, where we had a chance to catch up before his reading.
'twas a good time, if not quite long enough, which is sorta the same as it ever was. Then he went and did his famous author thing.
Which always includes a shot of the crowd. I stuck around for a bit, then hit the road because, you know, school night.
A word or two about Northshire -- the fact that this stone plaque is just outside the front door tells you all you might need to know about the place within. Let me add, however, it is even better than you could image. Great place. Go if you can.
Finally, this picture is completely unrelated but just happened to be on my phone and needs to be seen by other people just so that I can prove that it exists:
(click to make it bigger and legible.)
So, um, "melodic beverages inspired by the magic of Mariah Carey" is a thing now? We're doing this?
Once upon a time, Lisa and Adrienne worked for the same alternative newsweekly. Now, both spend their respective days mining their creative souls and leading hermit-like lives. And so an idea was hatched. Every week, one would send the other a sketch - either in illustration or word form - and the other would make a companion sketch. The result would be posted on both their blogs every week, just for grins. Even if the result isn't award-worthy, the exercise might make both minds more nimble. Hopefully.
Text ©Adrienne Martini; illustration ©Lisa Horstman. Until the end of time. Or something.