Little and Big

Yesterday I spotted my first Smart Car in Philly. I've seen them in Canada a lot, but this is my first American sighting. I wasn't the only one intrigued. Every person passing by stopped and checked it out. The guy in the picture was all but lifting the hood to see what made it tick. I think they're adorable - they look like little shoes, and I think I could probably pick one up and put it in my pocket. Plus, parking would be a breeze!



On a size-related note, my friend and I went into Famous 4th Street Deli today and saw the largest apple turnovers I've ever seen. Witness her amazement:



She bought one for her boyfriend, so I'm waiting to hear if size is any indication of quality.

*UPDATE* Apparently in this case size is an indication of quality. Carl says the turnover is delicious (and I figure they've got a week's worth of dessert now, so it's economical as well)

Sometimes packagers can go slightly overboard

I bought an adorable little Bodum teacup and infuser from Amazon. This is it:


Notice how small and delicate it is. The little box measures 3.5” by 4.5” by 3.5”

Now, take a look at what it came shipped in:



Yes, that’s two Amazon boxes, a sheet of heavy duty bubble wrap, and so much of the airpack packing filler that I could strangle a horse with it. You have to wonder sometimes. And on a related note, my much larger Bodum tea press came in a freakishly small Amazon box.

Things left unfinished

Today I started reading a book and after one chapter decided to put it down. I do not feel guilty about it at all. This is a big statement, since I've always been the type of person that finshed whatever she started reading. I always felt that I make a commitment to a book, and must see it though. It's only recently that I'm coming to realize that it's okay to put a book down without finishing it. It doesn't happen very often, but when I just can't get into a book there's no shame in stopping. Actually, I think I need a twelve-step program.


Anyway, I tried to start BreakupBabe today at lunch. I lasted until page 19.

That's worse than the other book I couldn't finish this month, Umberto Eco's Name of the Rose. And that one's for book club. I'm bringing the movie version as my contribution to Book Club, as I couldn't get past page 52 in the book.

New obsession

Thank you to Bruno Gridley, who mentioned Jonathan Coulton in a livejournal post. I've fallen insanely in love with him, as have all the friends I've played his stuff for. You gotta love a guy who can write a delicate and beautiful ballad to both the mad scientist on Skullcrusher Mountain as well as IKEA


He's playing a show out in Ardmore on December 16. Some of us are already planning to go and see him, so if you're interested, drop me a line.

p.s. thank you Grimmgirl, for introducing me to the joys of orange-mango mohitos at Copa!

...worries for another day!

As reported by the fine poeple at Zap2it, Fraggle Rock is going to be a movie!


Let the Music Play, indeed!

Book of the week

Brent (Dork Lord extraordinaire) showed me a book by Minister Faust called Coyote Kings of the Space Age Bachelor Pad

This is a completely cool book full of magic and sci-fi geeks and drug dealers and pop-culture and satire and other good stuff like that and it's set in Edmonton (yay!) I took it out of the library (yes, Philadelphia has it) and finally got around to reading it. This is a book with tons of character. There are many different characters telling the story, each with their own voice and dialect and rhythm and style. The words are like music - I found myself reading parts aloud just to hear the sound of the story. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes interesting uses of language and kick-ass urban fantasy.

Exciting new developments

It's been quiet here but busy in the real world lo these many days. My folks were in town for a visit and we had a great time, shopping and AIDS walking and sailing and picking apples and meeting my friends and such.

But the most exciting news is that I think I'm starting a new religion. Yes, I have been suffering from nausea for the last four days and I think I will attribute it to morning sickness. Immaculate Conception has reappeared in the world (or, depending on your theology, appeared for the first time) and I will become the mother of a new religion. I'm taking applications for acolytes and assorted devoted followers now, so get in while the getting's good!

Of course, I could just have a flu, but that's so boring.

On an added note - if this is what morning sickness actually is like, it sucks!

Bringing in the big guns

Having suffered one mouse invasion this year so far (and the score is Dena-6, Mice-probably still breeding like, well, mice), I'm being proactive right now with the help of Grimmgirl and her two strapping lads, Will and Jake. Will is the biggest (not fat, big) cat I've seen in a long time, and Jake is probably big too, he just looks normal size next to Will. They are the friendliest cats in the world, and are amazingly tolerant of Grimmgirl's abundant affection for them. Anyway, they came over for a visit last night and we had a lovely time urging them to rub against everything.

Owning a cat plusses: something to snuggle, keeps mice away, more fun to watch than TV
Owning a Cat minuses: litter boxes, car hair, being responsible for a living thing, half-chewed mice
Borrowing a Cat ( or two) = The best of both worlds!

They'll be coming over tomorrow for Girl's Night as well, and will be horribly spoiled by my friends who are already planning to bring catnip and toys for them. And hopefully the mice will be suitably scared so they don't come visiting when my folks are in town.

White and nerdy

I don't know what it is about "Weird Al" Yankovic, but I've loved him since the eighties. He has a new song and video, and I pretty much fell out of my chair laughing when I saw it.

Buy a friend a book!

I just discovered this lovely event today when playing around on Shiny Shiny. What a great idea! Four times a year BAFAB encourages you to buy a friend a book for no good reason, just because.

My problem: too many friends, not enough cash. I'll think of something!