What is this phantasmagoria?

I am so addicted to the new series of Dr. Who. Last night Andy, Del, Nat, and I watched four episodes that Will had found online and converted from PAL to play on US dvds. Nothing like pirated Dr,. Who. And the show is so good. The writing is smart but the writing on Dr. Who has always been smart. (That was the higlight of the low-budget show, good writing and good acting.) But this time around they actually have a budget for special effects and production. It looks as good as it should, no grainy film, bad camera shots, and certainly no guys lumbering around in bad monster suites.

The best episode (so far) is one where the Doctor and Rose go back to Cardiff, 1869. There's blue glowing aliens that possess the dead and walk the city and Charles Dickens who shouts out "What is this phantasmagoria!" and "What the dickens!" For the rest of the night we keep repeating, "What is this phantasmagoria!" It's really just a fun word to say.

The fourth episode (can't be bother to look up it's name) was a cliff hanger. Natalie was all, "Put in the next disc!"

"It's midnight," I said, for some reason turing into a responsible adult.

"But the Doctor's in trouble!"

Even though I was all responsible last night and left at midnight and went straight to bed, now I wish we had watched the next episode. The Doctor's in trouble!

Bubbie and Zadie

So I just read something really cool. Apparently, little Jewish boysand girls can write a letter to "Bubbie and Zadie", who live in KAnsas City, and once a year on the first night of Hanukkah magically fly and visit little children and deliver songs ans stories. Not gifts, songs and stories. That's a bit like getting socks, Andy says.

But the author, Danny Bloom, of the book, Bubbie and Zadie Come to My House lives in Kansas City and every year he gets thousands of letters from kids, addressed to the characters, and he writes back. It's like Santa lives in KC. Cool.

Cookies vs. Fishcakes

This is petty. And I'm ashamed to even be talking about it, but all week our clients and vendors have been showering us with holiday themed gifts. This is great. But I've got a case of sibling rivalry and yesterday I was acting like a brat.

Jule has more christmas cards than I. Fine. I mailed out 67 cards to my clients and have only received two in return. Two. But it's not a popularity contest. Fine. Two *muttered under breath*

Then yeterday Jule returns from a home visit with a large chocolate cake. Fine. Someone baked for her. Fine. *more muttering*

And then not an hour later a large box arrives from a home health agency and it is addressed to Jule. And its'sa large tin filled with cookies.

This was not fine. I send just as much business to that agency as Jule. We use them so much because they give us a really good rate. Why wasn't my name on the box, huh?

"It's for all of Social Services," Jule said.

"No, it's addressed to you. If it was for social services it would have said Social Services, Center in the Park."

"I was tryingto make you feel better," she said.

I couldn't stand it! Angrily, I said, "Why is it your clients make you a lovely chocolate cake and my client went to the effort to make little dumplings filled with fish? Fishcakes? I look like someone who enjoys cake without fish, right?"

So it's petty. And silly. And should be grateful that my clients think to make little treats for me because they are really ill and elderly and probably can't even afford a stamp to mail me a stinking cards...Still, fishcakes.

Neil Gaiman answered my annoying email!

So yesterday while playing Urban Dead I ran across a character named Neil Gaiman. Some of you may or may not know, he's my very favorite author. So I wrote to his blog:

I thought you might be interested to know that in the MMORP game Urban Dead (urbandead.com), you have apparently made an appearance in the zombie infested city of Malton: http://www.urbandead.com/profile.cgi?id=286937. I suppose it's ridiculous to bother you to sign a book under such circumstances. Thanks for all the stories.

And Neil wrote:

You're welcome. I'm glad I have axe proficency...


I'm so excited! He read my email! He replied!! He posted!!!

And you can just go to his blog to read for yourself.

Only know do I wish I had signed my name to the email, alas. Foolish Liarbyrd.

(I'm still realyl excited.)

the bad news

Today Andy's company laid off 13 employees, which is not the bad news. Andy was not on the list and still has his job. I'm relieved. All weekend he was depressed and kind of moping about the apartment. This morning he left for work with a forced cheery, "Off to my last day of work!"

He was right, it was the last day for a lot of people in his department. Tonight he's been calling all the other who were laid off. I overhead him say, "I don't know who stood up for me. I sure I was going to be on the list."

We had some suspicion this was going to happen. The Princeton lab's lease is up at the end of the month and everyone knew the people from Princeton were not going to be "transfered" to the other two labs.

Andy is still worried about his job, though, which brings me to the bad news. The lease for the Robinsville lab (the one Andy works in) is up at the end of January. He's expecting another round of lay offs.

Good thing we started working on his resume this weekend. Now we know we have a least a month to polish is up and send it out.

In a way, I'm glad people were let go. Now we don't have to live with the uncertainty, wondering if he was going to get laid off before Christmas, etc.

I'm trying to think of a positive way to end this, but I'm just tired. It's bed time.

Snow Day Weekend

Finally! Friday was a snow day and snow days are the best.

I made french toast for breakfast and finished xmas shopping on line. Which reminds me, Athene, I need your new address.

It's a short post, I know. Sorry.

That's odd

ON my way to get my hair cut this morning, I pass by the Wine & Spirits shop. In the window in a cute display off all the holiday gifts. My eye is caught by a bottle that says: Devonshire Irish Cream Liquor. On the package is a sticker that says, "Imported from Ireland."

I know where Devonshire is. And I know where Ireland is. And I'm pretty sure both Devonshire and the Irish are insulted by this product.

Post Nano Blues

Now that Nano is over I'm a bit sad. Omouse was spot on in her blog. It's th same every year: maddening frustration, lack of sleep, typing, typing, typing, coffee, coffee, typing, and more coffee. I love every minute of it.

And now I must face real life. I have to vacuum the carpet. And do the dishes. (Why is it I can never find a clean spoon?) And those boring real-world things I blithey pushes aside in the heady month of November.

On the bright side, I now how all thise free time I can fill with junk like talking to my husband or playing video games.