I'm glad the Two Guys and a Wrench showed up in timely way, skagirl. I wouldn't feel bad for being worried - water and electricity don't mix, unless of course you are Benjamen Franklin trying to discover electricity or something. Though I have to say, I so would have taken a shower before the Two Guys arrived, because OH MY HECK, if they told me I couldn't shower that day, I would be totally and seriously grumpy. Frequently, I take multiple showers and baths in a day because of exercise or just to relax, so a day without a shower would slay me.

My sister came for a whirl wind visit yesterday. I administered TLC and spa treatments. She is actually going through an experience very similar to what StaceyJ had on the Apprentice. So I pointed that out to her, only to discover that she is addicted to reality TV too. So all day, we were both all, "that woman is just like Jenn She Bangs" and "that's just like what they did to StaceyJ," etc. I was fun. Then we sat upstairs in our PJs on my bed and watched Survivor and the Surreal Life repeats. Then we both had nightmares about Brigette Neilson (that needs no explanation if you watch TSL.) Anyway, we were all about Reality TV. It's amazing you could have a sister for your whole life and not know such very important things about them - heh.

But who knew what we clearly needed was an hour in a flotation tank! Thanks for the full description, Aussie Girl. I'll keep my eyes open for one. It sounds like a fascinating experience, even without the warm herbalized oils.

Sensory-deprivation floatation tanks were trendy among certain circles in the U.S. a bunch of years ago. Mostly in California, maybe. I think there was a movie made about mind-altering things happening to people who use them, and I know there was a Simpsons episode that involved the use of them.

Anyone have any interesting weekend plans? MrBee and I are girding our loins for one of our infrequent trips to the Mall of America tomorrow. We have a couple of coupons/gift cards to use at stores there, and I want to get the rest of my Christmas shopping done (at least the non-perishable and non-Internet portions of it). We stay far, far away from the MOA between Halloween and Christmas - the crowds are insane.

We're also going down to Northfield, Minnesota on Sunday to visit with MrBee's sister, who is a visiting professor at Carleton College this semester. Northfield is a beautiful little town; their motto (seen on signs as you enter the town) is: Northfield: Home of Colleges, Cows, and Contentment.

I know Jeffrey and Kelly used them on Santa Barbara in early 1987 when they were hiding out in a medical research lab.

Is it sad that I can remember stuff like this in detail, yet frequently can't find my keys?

In any event, I always wanted to try one as well because it seemed so cool! My only concern would be feeling claustrophobic, but maybe you don't notice.

I remember that movie about the sensory deprivation tanks - I'm pretty sure William Hurt was the male lead. Wish I could remember the name - the special effects were very cool. I think Hurt's character got addicted to being in the tank, and went nuts at the end.

You are an amazing man, Last Dodo! And maybe a little scary, with a memory like that...

I don't remember a movie about sensory deprivation tanks, JennC. But I do remember a movie with these earphones that put the wearers right into a film or game. One man put a porno film loop into the machine, and didn't take it off for days. I think he went insane from too much sex in the end. What a wierd thing to remember. I've seen way too many films in my life.

I just had the most exquisite lunch with Mr. Yogi at a restaurant that specializes in Greek fish. What a way to start my Friday! I hope y'all are having a great day too!

You're right, TraceyBee, Jeen C, there was a movie made about floating, and it did star William Hurt. I think it was called Altered States. It did kind of present a negative view of floating though, in that the character did waaaayy too much of it. Everything in moderation, I say. And Dodo, you really don't feel claustrophobic at all, in fact after awhile, you don't feel anything but supreme relaxation. Bliss. Give it a try if you get the chance.

How cool Yogi that you and your sister have an even better relationship due to your mutual love of Reality TV! And your Greek fish lunch sounds scrumptious!

Home of Colleges, Cows and Contentment? Sounds like a great place, TraceyBee.

Pinki I heard this morning that Mt St Helen's is really rumbling. What's the news?

Hey Guys! How goes it? We actually got rain last night thank God, We've had like a draught now for about 3 years are so, sigh. But today was super hot, well not hot hot but humid hot, but that's the way Octobers work here they get warm till Halloween then it's freezing cold, and I'm ussaly not wearing that much ;)
I have like aplication hand today I filled out and turned in around 20 so hopefully I'll hear something good soon.

Real quick, real late-
Mt. St. Helen's err, erupted today. But just a little bit, mostly steam, only 1 mile high and went out about 3 miles.
Great, great, great, GREAT news!!!!! The teachers and board reached a "tentitive" agreement tonight! Thank you, Jesus!

Is it sad that I can remember exactly what my dad said while doing a seagull commentary in a McDonald's parking lot, yet cannot remember what 7x7 or 7x8 or 7x6 is??

babalu says to hi to everyone! We shared a nice Indian buffet together on Friday, and she was kind enough to fuel my Janet Evanovich habit by loaning me more Stephanie Plum books.

traceybee, I hope you hit Hot Topic and its sister store, Torrid! Those stores always bring a smile to my face (and in the case of Torrid, fashion to my wardrobe!) We do the same thing - corned beef hash at Albert's as early as we can get there, triangulating our course, and then trying to get out by 1:00 p.m. at the latest.

My uncle supposedly got buried by Mt. St. Helen's - his name is on the plaque. I say supposedly because he had some mob ties, and my dad suspects he may have faked his death to escape huge gambling debts. A private detective told him in the late 80s that he saw him living up in Canada somewhere. You know the Annette Bening character in Bugsy? My uncle was married to her in the 70s. They had a beautiful, over the top house with a half dozen poodles. Then he split about five years later, without a word to her. The skeletons in my closet...

Both dad and stepdad have pnuemonia. Unfortunately, it's pretty standard for my stepdad - his immune system never seems to get back on track, but unusual for my dad. My stepmom found him on the floor at home passed out the day before yesterday; he had a tickle in this throat and poo-poohed it. Sigh. But he's doing alright - he was asking me to bring up his annual case of quart jars of pickled garlic for Christmas so he can be healthy and stinky for another year.

Bah. I forgot to make cookies for this bakesale tomorrow, so I'll develop a new recipe "Whatever's in the house Banana Bread..."

The iso tank movie is "Altered States". Written by Paddy Chayevsky, who wrote "Network." I think Ken Russell directed it. And no, I've never seen it.

Speaking of movies, "Sky Captain" is a goregous looking trifle. It's funnier than we thought, and Angelina Jolie completely steals the movie. But there's some serious dumbness in it, and the real life street scenes look funky - the shadows are all wrong, people's feet don't sink in the snow, etc. Gwen Paltrow looks the part, but lacks the right fire. Still, she wasn't bad enough to wreck the movie. I'd go for the matinee, and buy the soundtrack - it's a great, corny cheesy 30s movie score.

Anyway, gotta be productive. zzz.

Good Monday morning, people!! Oh, it's not Monday there yet? Hurry up and catch up!

Hi to Babalu - we've missed you mate!

suctionprints, how are your dads doing now? I hope they are both better, it must have been a harrowing time for you. And that is quite a skeleton about your uncle!

Pinki, great news about the teachers and the board! That's a step in the right direction. And I've been watching the newscasts on Mt St Helens, and thinking of you.

Big Little Aussie went back to school this morning after 2 weeks of school hols. He was not impressed! And I must say I miss him already. The holidays fly by too quickly.

I've decided to go out this morning and buy some big fluffy towels. Why? Just because. And then I thought Littlest Aussie and I might go have lunch and a milkshake.

Hee Suction! That story reminded me of one of my relatives, great uncle I'd guess he'd be, But he was just crazy and cooky, but we always thought that he was running from the mob., Like one time he bought a van just because he thought he could put it to work, and he moved to Costa Rica for a little bit and wrote under the name Pappion, for a newspapper and wrote about toilets, it was different, he mailed a copy to my grandma.

Hi miss Baba!

It's been quite nice here lately and we may get some more rain soon yay

Hopefully PiP Helen won't get too angry.

I'm old enough to have seen Altered States - trippy stuff! I think I gave it a 6 out of 10.

Wish me luck, after almost 6 years with the same company, I think I've run my course, and am applying somewhere else.

I hope everyone near Mount St helens stays safe! And I'm old enough to remember the eruption back in the '80's! Time to go eat some chocolate. :-)

How much do I love Babalu? I'm so happy that you had a wonderful lunch with her, suctionprints. Of course, you chose a delicious place to eat, but just as I asked her last week, my question is did y'all end up having a bit of dessert at Candyland? 'Cause that seems to be the way to go when in Minneapolis.

Speaking of weekend fun, how was your visit to Northfield: Home of Colleges, Cows, and Contentment, Tracey Bee? And how was the fair, Hildy? I can't imagine either of you had anything but a fabulous time. And by the way, I'm really looking forward to my Christmas present from the fair, Hildy. All the stuff on the web site looked great! ;)

Is it bad that I have a real hankering to visit Mt. St. Helen's? It looks very interesting. Though I hope that you are far, far away, PiP. I read that 50 plus people died in the last eruption. I'm glad they are taking precautions.

Best wishes to both my dear Elf, Woodlock and neptune as you search for new jobs. Good Fortune to you both. My dear Elfin One, I think you should get a job at Hot Topic. Then you would be able to cruise cute guys all the time whilst getting a discount on new t-shirts!

I had an interesting weekend. After four weeks of company, we decided to take it easy this weekend. On Friday night, Mr. Yogi and I went to a bar we frequent - a very nice bar in a nice hotel in our area. So we took our regular corner table, and guess who comes in to sit next to me but George Hamilton looking his usual swank self. (And when I mean next to me, it was like less than a foot away.) The funny thing was that he was very upset about the lighting in our area. He couldn't relax and spoke with several people until they turned the lighting down. The thing was, he was right - it was too bright. I found it much more pleasant immediately. I guess a lifetime as an actor teaches you something. After we had a light dinner of shrimp trio, we proceeded out the hotel to walk our two blocks home, and who should we run into but Michael Imperioli with a gang of children. So it was kind of one of those funny NY nights.

But then, I spent most of the weekend cleaning out my closet. Oh well, no doubt George, who always looks perfect, cleans out his closet from time to time as well!

Best of luck, Woodlock and neptune!

I also had a fun, but different, weekend. Friday night I went out with a former coworker and his boyfriend, who I met for the first time. Most of the weekend I just lounged around the house getting caught up on Ryan's Hope and also, I finally pulled out my DVDs of the first season of Survivor, which I had never seen. I got all the way up to Gretchen's boot and I'm completely addicted! I can totally see how this sucked everyone in and why it's still many people's favorites. What's odd is that I really don't hate anybody; the closest was probably BB.

I also got in a good powerwalk along the East River, which I like to do at least once a weekend. And last night I saw a singer who sounded uncannily like Janis Joplin at this basement lounge in my neighborhood with some people from that show I was in. Afterwards we ate at a local diner and they're pushing for me to get out there and get an agent, which I really should. I've put it off because quite honestly, I'm scared. Agents can be brutal with you if they don't like you. But the consensus was that I need to get it through my thick skull that I'm talented and there is an agent out there who will like me. Which...yeah. And it means a lot that people believe in me like that.

Also ran into my ex...a good ex. It's been almost 9 years since we dated and he knows me very well and has seen me do a lot of growing and changing over the years. But he's extremely busy and I haven't really seen him that much since he stopped DJing at this bar in my neighborhood around the first of the year. So it was good to catch up briefly. He's also...not exactly psychic, but very into spirituality and tarot and things like that and has instincts that over the years have proven to be pretty accurate. So he was leaving, then turned back to me and said that the worst was over for me and to trust him on this one. I hope so!

But maybe going along with that, what struck me is that after all the turmoil and upheaval and stress of the summer, for the first time in a long time I thought, "You know? I'm actually pretty happy!" And I didn't immediately get scared that the sky was going to fall like I usually do when I think that. Maybe he's onto something!

Hope you all had great weekends!

Hi Children! Wanted to drop in quickly...Yogi my friend had one of those weird star things a few weeks back, talking about Vincent Gallo & then boom, he just walks in, playing with his hair (as they had just been discussing). Also, bizarre, when I saw Michael Imperioli last summer, he was with a gaggle of kids.

PIP glad things are ok on the school side - everything settled now?

I had a good weekend, party in Bklyn, saw the new John Waters (if you like him & are pervy, like me, you'll like it). I'm now on Jury Duty in the most frightful courtlike area. I understand there are very pretty, pretty courts here, but I'm in some weird building that looks like a DMV reject, white/pale green walls. Totally makes one hypnotized. Wasn't chosen in the longest round ever but back tomorrow for more. Whoot. Well, it is sort of "whooty" because I get away from StupidHead for a few days!

Sorry to hear about the wretched jury duty surroundings for you, ska.n Glad that there are no more drips in your bedroom, too. (Hey, hey, no comments from the peanut gallery on that one, people!)

Of course things are on the upswing for you, Dodo. And DO go get an agent - any one would be lucky to have you.

Yogi, what a neat encounter with GH. I am, yet again, jealous. Glad you and Mr. Yogi had some you-time!

Mobbed-up/maybe mobbed-up relatives - suction and woody, you have some of the wildest tales to tell!

Good luck in the job search, neptune, it is a brave thing that you do - I am sure a lucky company will snatch you up soon. Keep at it, Woody - wow, 20 applications? You are one ambitious elf!

Long, long weekend full of parties and friends and shopping and parenting. Let's see, bowling league Friday night (yay! I got a 135 one game, and that's good for me). Saturday cleaned house all morning, shopped all afternoon with Beep for clothes for his Homecoming dance Sat. night. Sat. helped Beep and Beepgirlfriend get ready for dance (they were gorgeous), then cleaned more and made a turkey. Sunday morning, deboned and cut up turkey for sandwiches, made dips and salads, etc. People started coming over at noon for Packer game, then more came over before Beep got home from going to church with girlfriend. Had about 35 people here yelling "Happy Birthday!" when he walked in. I took the last of Beep's friends home at 9:30. And, I had no leftovers. NO leftovers - nigh impossible in our house. Teenage boys are like a swarm of locusts when it comes to food.

So, after a crazy weekend, of course, today we were fatigued and sick-feeling. Beep went to school, but Squirrel and I stayed home most of the day (I went to work for a couple of hours this afternoon out of some warped need to get a little work done). Luckily Mr HH has avoided whatever bug is ailing us, and I hope it stays that way. What we all need most is a decent meal and about 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep. I am in the process of making a huge vat of spaghetti and meatballs for my crew, to start the evening right.

I have never posted in a Meet Market before so I am just in here to say hi to everyone. You might know me as the guy who posts are really dumb and have poor spelling and grammar in them (mostly on the Big Brother section of this site). Hey I did go to college but it did not help (I am 25years old and I still work in a Supermarket). Well I just wanted to say hi to everybody.

Hey guys, long time no post. School keeps me busy as all heck.

Welcome to BK1978! It's a great group of people here!

Best of luck to neptune and Woodlock on the jobs! Sending good vibes to you both.

pip, good to hear that things are going better on the school front.

skagirl, ugh, jury duty. One of my co-workers got chosen last year, and it ended up being for a capital case. At least you get to miss some work.

dodo, I hope your ex is right. It does sound like things are looking up for you, and that's great! The most important thing is that you're happy now, which is awesome.

To everyone else I may have missed, hello!

I had a pretty interesting weekend. Saturday was Back to School day, so I had to entertain my students' parents. I was really nervous at first, because this is my first year, but for the most part I think the parents liked me. I was probably really spastic due to nervous energy, but I'm sure the parents were entertained. I got applause, so that's good, I guess.

Also, my voice was shot since I'd gone to the Dodger game on Friday night, and though we lost, I still screamed my heart out. Much to my relief, a lot of the parents got a kick out of the fact that I was at the game, so they didn't mind my hoarseness. My roommate actually was at the game on Saturday, when we clinched the NL West Championship on a walk-off grand slam, so I'm insanely jealous of him. After Back to School day, I went out for my friend's birthday. My buddies and I went out for a nice dinner, and then out to a bar. Then yesterday, another group of my friends got together and played Mafia for hours. In all, a pretty fun weekend.

Next week, I'm heading off on retreat with the 8th graders to Lake Arrowhead. And then I get Friday off! Sweet!

Good luck on your job search, Woodlock. I officially started my search for a new job last night by applying at another company. I have new references all lined up now.

Tonight was eventful. Water leak in the apartment building hallway. My toilet had to be picked up and moved, so the line could be snaked. To say it was messy would be putting it mildly. A cleaning crew did an emergency mop-up, they'll come over tomorrow to do a thorough clean. Nothing of mine was damaged, if you consider that the carpet doesn't belong to me, but the building.

And the noise drove my poor cats under the bed. They still haven't come out of hiding.

Yeah, I'm glad things have gotten back to (semi) normal. The teachers vote on the contract tomorrow and the next day, after that it's either back to the drawing board or on with teaching.
Mt. St. Helen's is definitly rumbling! Another explosion happened today, at 9:47 am. How do I know this? I taped my soap opera and they intrupted it (at about 2:30) to tell us. So I have the newscast. On tape. Scientists are telling us that a 'major' erruption is 'emminante' and will happen 'sometime soon.' I can only hope it waits until after Thursday. Number 1, I don't want to have Survivor intrupted for "Breaking News", and number 2, our football team is playing our second arch-rivals (who happen to be league champs for, oh, 12 years running) and I think we're going to win! Can't miss it, although watching Survivor is tempting!
Hey BK1978! Welcome to the MM! Where do you hail from? And don't worry about spelling, I can't spell, never could, and my mom's an english teacher!
Good luck with the job hunt, Woody and neptune! So, woody, whatever happened with you and mall-boy? Or nothing? Someone new? I need gossip! Lol.

Welcome, BK1978, & welcome back wasimmerdude. The jury duty isn't so bad if only because I'm away from stupidhead (my co-worker) for a few days & it's civil cases, so not too horrifying, although I had to be honest yesterday on a case that just from the premise mortified me. Anyway, time to get ready for court...I just hope the a/c is on today even though it's like 50 out! No windows + no air = breakdown pending.

Hey Gang at MM, especially BK. I'm with PiP on the spelling issue, I do my best, but I'm a terrible speller, and I was an English teacher. It's embarassing.

Wow, what great weekends everyone had! I'm so very happy that things are going better for you, Last Dodo. What a difference it makes when we like the work that we are doing and have the leisure time to enjoy good friends. The singer you heard sounds great - Oh, I love Janis Joplin. I especially love to sing like her, but I only do it when I am alone - in the shower or car or on a hike on a deserted mountain. She has long been one of my most favorites. Maybe my first favorite. I think I did so much hitch hiking when I was a young woman because of Me and Bobby MaGee made it sound so very fabulous, and I must say, though I would never hitch now, I did have some pretty fabulous times living completely free.... you know, feedom's just another word for nothing left to loose... and you ain't nothing if you ain't free...

I hope that the long sleep and the yummy pasta did the trick for you, Heidihug. It sounds like you sure expended a lot of energy this weekend, and some carbs were in order! What a great Mom you are - hair stylist, chef, party planner, fashion consultant - you can do it all. I would love to see a photo of the gorgeous couple, if there are any you could post or send e-mail. It sounds like such a happy occasion.

I have no mob connections to share with Elfin One or Suctionprints, but I did ride the elevator with Cousin Larry from Perfect Strangers yesterday. I was going to ask him to do the dance of joy with me, but I decided he had probably heard that one before.

I have only been called for jury duty once in my life, and it was here at a lovely building in NYC for Civil Court. We must have been in different buildings, Skagirl? I did not serve, because basically, "I could not possibly be objective." Thankfully. Mr. Yogi was on a bogus Medical Malpractice case for six weeks that settled in three hours. Ugh. It was Christmas time, and he was stuck cancelling all his plans and sitting in court.

Congratualations to WSDude as you continue to have great, great success in your first year of teaching. You must be a natural. And More Good Luck sent to Neptune and Woodlock for lots of good job Karma. And love to Babalu and also to Aussie Girl, just because.

Welcome BK.

No news just yet but some good kinda news, I went to Johnny Carino's(sp) yesterday and they are like 35 short on waiting staff so odds are...

Oh I have some pics of me and some friends link

ETA Hee I'm the blonde guy by the way.

Spelling was never a problem for me in school, I nearly always got 100% in English tests. I should have been an English teacher, heh.

Poor ska stuck in her ugly building with smelly people. I've never served on a Jury, though I have been called up many times. I have always managed to get an exemption, because I had a child, was pregnant, or was caring for someone with a disability - and once I managed to claim all three at once! I would like to serve sometime though, when the kids are older. And ska, what did you mean when you say you "saw the new John Waters"? The actor?

Dodo, I reckon for sure your ex was correct - things will certainly be better for you now. God knows, you've had your share of not-nice things in your life lately, and I say you especially deserve good things now.

Welcome to BK1978. It's always nice to have new posters join us. Your name obviously is a reference to your year of birth. I actually remember what I was doing in 1978 (working in a library). Now I really feel old!

Yogi I love Janis. That song has got to be one of my all time faves. Oh oh, showing my age again! Heh.

Good pics, Woody! And the job situation sounds really promising too. Hope all goes well with it!

Hi to everyone else! BTW, where's Samina - haven't heard from her in ages.

Hee. I actually am an English teacher.


My old cat used to get freaked out because of the vacuum, and hide under the bed for hours. I actually love cats, but now I've become allergic, so it's really sad. My friends have a couple of cats in their apartment, and I normally start going insane when I go there, but I still play with them constantly because they're really cute. They do that nose rub thing a lot, which I find adorable. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment.

BOO! The Dodgers got rocked today. :( At least Boston won, and at least the Yankees are losing as of right now!

ska, when I was on jury duty, I often found myself wondering if we couldn't find both parties guilty!

What great photos, Woodlock! Do you dress like that every Saturday night down there in Texas, or was that you ensemble for something special, like a wedding? And what are you holding? I tried to zoom in, but they look like bobble heads (maybe I should say, like Mia?) You and your friends are adorable, and you look like you are having a great time.



Well, in our own defense, I'm sure she had long gone to the big drug emporium in the sky by the time we became fans. But, Lord, could that woman sing! Like all great artists, it's hard to even imagine her in the past tense. Through her songs, I've always felt like I've known her. I think Bette Midler might have played her in a film, which I never saw. I'm not sure if I would like it, or if it would make me nervous.

Since we all seem to be former or present English teachers, or daughters of English teachers, or former Enlish majors, or English speakers, or somewhat English speakers (heh, Aussie Girl, a little teasing for my friend down under,) I have a question about Harry Potter, which includes a question about children's lit in general. I read the series once again for the upteenth time, and once again I finished five very upset because of the death of a main character. I remember reading an interview with JKR somewhere in which she said that she had a difficult time "killing" the character. She came downstairs in tears. Her husband asked her why she just didn't just keep him alive. She said that he didn't understand children's literature at all because someone has to die. So my question is obviously - why does someone have to die in children's literature? I have been racking my brain, and it seems that there are loads of great children's books where no one dies. These are the questions that occupy my already over taxed brain. It's a miracle I ever get anything done.

I have to chime in - I taught English as a Second Language off and on for nine years. :-)

Hmmm. I'm another English major here, but I'm an excellent speller. My husband, who loves to read and has a very large vocabulary, is an awful speller. I think it has very little to do with how much one loves words, and lots to do with how one's brain is wired...

So, lots of luck to job seekers, volcano worriers, and jury dutiers! It's such a glorious crisp fall day here that I can't imagine that we won't have a lovely, lovely day. Also, Woodlock, was that your bridesmaid dress? Enquiring minds, etc., etc., etc.
My Waterford Fair trek was delightful. I bought some redware pottery, which I collect, and a couple other little thingies. Plus, there was a stand selling fried artichoke hearts with horseradish dipping sauce. Holy Smokes, those were good. I had to fight my sister over them.

There are also tons of craft demonstrators at this fair, as well as Civil War encampments and the like. We also saw a fencing demonstration! That was tres cool. Hildygirl got to: spin yarn, help throw a pot, make felt, quilt, and weave. She had a blast and a half.

So in other news, I just got a real, honest to goodness business trip to NYC next week. I'll be coming in around dinner time on the 13th and spending the day on the 14th. Anybody available for fun?

We posed the same question to our 6th grade English teacher who had us doing the rounds of the depressing dead animal syllabus for the entire year - Sounder, Where the Red Fern Grows, Old Yeller, Red Pony, Oh My Gawd Another Animal Died Damn It, etc. Her response was to make us read "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie so we could have nightmares about human death. Nice.

But it goes the same way with children's (i.e., Disney & Pixar) films with Mommy Dies & Occasionally Dad - the only one I can think of with a mom is Lion King.

Anyway, done with Jury Service, with a promise not to be called for two years. We're taking bets that I will be called around Oct. 7, 2006.

Time to do a ton of work...ech.

Hmmm. Excellent question.

Let's see what I can think of for non-Death books: Little Men, Dr. Doolittle, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, The Secret Garden, Little House books (although Jack the brindle bulldog does die in On the Shores of Silver Lake), Anne of Green Gables (first book only, then Matthew goes to plough the great potato field in the sky). THere are some missing parents in those books, but as the books start off that way and don't feature the demise as part of the storyline, I'm apt to give them a bye.

For the Death is a Plot Point genre, I can think of: Little Women, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (although Aslan does come back to life), Charlotte's Web, Lord of the Rings trilogy, all those dead animal books referenced by skagirl that I could never bring myself to read, The Little Princess, (again, a temporary death, so to speak), Harry Potter and Co.....

I think that having characters in children's literature deal with death can be an important way for kids to figure this stuff out, but I don't think that it's by any means required. I hope not, at any rate.

Woodlock, you remind me so much of someone, but I can't figure out if it's someone famous or someone I used to know. It's a good thing either way though!


Kind of, although I never saw it either. But her character in The Rose was based on Janis.

Man, Charlotte's Web always made me bawl...and I forget if I said it here or not, but I just recently watched the animated film of The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe when it was on a cable channel and I still cried when Aslan "died" even though I knew very well he came back to life all of 5 minutes later. One of the more unusual examples of death in children's lit that I can think of is the last Chronicle of Narnia, The Last Battle, where it turns out that most of the main human characters died in the same train crash, but you also see that they'll be together and happy forever.

Looked at his pics again & is it someone who was on QAF???

I may look like a famous person Yay! lol. Anyways to answer a couple of questions, that was a prom dress, of my friends, and I was holding a couple of my Bratz Boyz dolls, Cause you know thats what macho men do :)

Yikes, how many creatures have been sacrificed in the name of children's lit? I remember crying for days after my first reading of both Old Yeller and Sounder. Like Last Dodo said, forget about Charlotte, I still cry when I think about her. How could she leave Wilbur? And now that you mention it, I bawl through almost all the Disney films. Someone suggested I put a Tarzan video in while I was waiting for Little Yogi at the therapist's office. It was so disturbing, that both Little Yogi and the Doctor had to comfort me when they brought him back to the waiting room. Now, the two of them censure my viewing habits very carefully. What is it with Disney and the killing off of parents? It's a nightmare, and it's such a frequent theme in their productions.

I'm not certain that the authors do it to teach children about death, because really, what is there to learn about death in these books except that it hurts? Maybe an author wants the reader to experience a full range of emotions. I could do without the fear and death thing, though. I just wish my Harry Potter hero could come back, but JKR has definitively stated he will not. So very sad.

I am thrilled that you are coming to NYC, Hildy. Let's definitely plan a dinner, or whatever fun activity you would like to fit into your schedule. I would love that! The craft fair sounds just fascinating. I want to do everything Little Hildygirl did. Oh, it's so hard to grow up!

Congratulations on coming through jury duty un-skathed, girl! heh. What a relief to avoid the trials of jury duty in NYC. Ugh. I'm with scherzo, everyone looks guilty - send 'em all to jail.

Forgot to say, Aussie that it's funny you ask about John Waters. I did run into him two or three weeks ago, and he has a new dirty movie out which I saw over the weekend. It's naughty.

And Yogi I wail during Disney films...wailed during Nemo...yea, I'm a crier not a lover. Or something.

Quite right, Dodo. Bette Midler did play Janis in The Rose and she gave a remarkable performance too. I think she was nominated for an Oscar for it. I thought it was a pretty good movie.

So Ska is the John Waters you referred to, the Aussie John Waters? By the sounds of what you said, I think that it isn't. As far as I know, this guy didn't make any dirty movies, but I could be wrong! Hee.

Yesterday, there was a bushfire raging pretty close to where I live. There was a huge black cloud of smoke on this side of Mt Coot-tha and fire almost engulfed one of the TV stations. It is so hot here, apparently it's going to be 33 C tomorrow, and bushfires are a real concern, as we've had so very little rain. And we're still 7 weeks away from summer. I shudder to think what will happen in summer if it is this bad already.

And Yogi lol, "somewhat English speakers", hee. You'll really be thinking that if you ever hear my accent!

No, at least not that I can think of....who were you thinking of? I'm drawing a blank but it'll hit me eventually.


I didn't know there was an Aussie John Waters! The John Waters she was referring to is a director that's made tons of cult films since the early 70s. His early period stuff was pretty risque: Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble, Polyester, and others. His late period stuff is still funny but more tame: Hairspray, Serial Mom, Cry Baby, etc. I like his stuff a lot, but I haven't seen his latest one yet.

Thanks for clearing that up, Dodo. Yes, there is an Aussie John Waters, he looks a lot like John Lennon, in fact he plays John Lennon in a play called Glass Onion. Definitely not the same guy.

This weekend we are going whale watching, yeah! Can't wait. It's a place called Hervey Bay, about 4 hours north of Brisbane, and is called the whale watching capital of the world. Apparently the whales come right up to the boat, so close you can almost touch them. And it's a good time of year to go, as there will be mothers and their calves. We're staying in a really nice resort too, right on the beach, so I'm really looking forward to it.

Another bit of news. My sister, the one who lectures in International Relations, and frequently meets with world leaders in various countries, has been asked to speak at the United Nations in New York on November 5th. What an amazing achievement! We are all so proud of her. I have been trying and trying to convince her that she needs a personal assistant to accompany her on the trip, heh. I would so love to go with her and meet all you NY MM'ers.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, see you next week!

Thank you all for greeting me so kindly.
Pretty in Pinki,I hail from the great state of Richard Hatch also known as Rhode Island were corruption runs amuck.

I know some of the names on here such as skagirl77 (from Big Brother), Yogi bear, and Aussie Girl.

wasimmerdude, Tough break for the Dodgers tonight being down 2-0. I was pulling for them in the N.L. because I am a Yankee fan (yes a Yankee fan in Rhode Island I have been branded a hertic by the Red Sox nation) and I would love to see a Dodger/Yankee World Series. However, I have my doubts about the Yanks getting past the Twins.

Well as I said thank you all for letting me into the fold with open arms.

Off to Upper Michigan for an unplanned trip after work today. My dad had a stroke yesterday AM, and when I called my in-laws to tell them, they said Chris' aunt passed away that morning as well. Well, on the bright side, the fall color should be gorgeous up there, and we were out of Vernor's anyways...Oy.

Oh, suctionprints, Godspeed to you and Mr. Suctionprints. I'm so sorry to hear that your family is still suffering these health problems. I hope that your weekend is as gentle as possible. At least you have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful Fall foliage. And when you come back, please do tell me why anyone would want their garlic pickled?

I have always wanted to go whale watching, Aussie Girl. It sounds like you have a wonderous weekend ahead. Will the Little Aussies be able to join the fun? I can't imagine Little Yogi would have enjoyed anything more than seeing live whales swimming in the ocean. Even better than Sea World.

What an honor it is for your sister to come to the UN to speak, Aussie Girl. What issue will she be addressing? And I definitely think she does need a personal assistant. I would love it if you could come as well. Wouldn't it be fun to meet over all these miles?

You will find very little sympathy going out to a Yankees fan, BK. A few of us are of the Mets and Red Sox breed that essentially roots for whatever team is playing against the Yankees. I am married to the only man born and raised in the South Bronx that is a rabid Mets fan, and he is truly vile when the Mets are loosing, which is a lot in recent years. So tonight, I am definitely going to be pulling for the Twins. But no offense, BK. We love our misguided friends that are Yankees fans too - heh.

What a week I have had. My assistant is moving to Florida. All she gave me is two weeks notice. I realize that two weeks notice is respectable, but it is the minimum, and I have given her so much more than the minimum in so many areas, I think she owed me better on many levels. Plus, we just had our computer system redone, and she completely dropped the ball, so I have spent the last week cleaning up that mess, literally and figuratively. I'm going to have to do some heavy meditation this week to get myself back in order.

Suctionprints sorry about the family problems - hope your trip is safe.

Yogi hope you're not mad but I'm finally getting to go to Florida tomorrow. Mind you, I have to leave my house at like 7:30 am & my flight back is at 7 am Monday & this is not going to be "relaxing" but thank goodness I'm going somewhere besides my parents' house or 14th Street.

Have a great trip! I was actually just getting ready to ask you if you were going and for how long.

suctionprints, hang in there and I hope everything turns out OK. You too, yogi...I know how frustrating it can be to have to start at square one interviewing new people and having more work for yourself in the interim. Plus, it can be hard finding someone with whom you really feel comfortable. Best of luck!

For heaven's sake, skagirl, why would I be mad? I'm thrilled that you are both going to Florida to enjoy exellent hurricane-free weather and that you got to see your beloved cubs twice. Like everyone I care about, I want you to have it all, baby - a life rich abundance, a Robin Leach kind of life. I'm just glad you enjoyed those games in great weather here, Now go, have a fabulous time, and come back to tell us all about your excellent tan and your fabulous adventures. You can always relax next weekend...

I hope your dad is ok, suction and give Chris my condolences for his aunt. That sucks. In the same vein, my 91-yr-old grandma fell yesterday and was seriously hurt - broken neck vertebrae and nasty cuts and bruises. She was airlifted to a hospital, where she is in stable condition. I just talked to my uncle about it, and he said she looks like she went through the windshield of a car. I may drive down to visit her this afternoon, or may wait until tomorrow, don't know yet. Prognosis is uncertain, but she definitely will not be going back home again. It will be nursing home care from here on out.

Yogi, I am sorry about your being abandoned by your assistant; two weeks is really not enough time at all to get a replacement. I hope you find someone competent and friendly and soon.

Cool, whales, Aussie! I would love to do that, too. Maybe sometime we will take a trip to the Alaskan coast to see whales and such; Mr HH has always wanted to visit there.

Have a great vacation, ska!!!

Baseball? Go Twins and Houston and, er, anyone but the Yankees and the Dodgers. Sorry, BK. And, hey, I have a friend who lives in Rhode Island, near Saunderstown. I keep wanting to come out and visit her, she says it is beautiful there.

Heidihug inspired me to add, ``Go, Astros!''

Sigh. I have no doubt they will find a way to break my heart - after all, they've been doing it since 1965.

Yes, and I'm sorry, BK, but as a native Masshole, I have to say, "Go Twins!"
Although really, if the Twins eliminated the dreaded Yanquis and the Sox went on to win the Series, it would somehow feel as though we'd won via a loophole of sorts. On the other hand, the Yankees require a lot of psychic energy. We don't want our hometown team totally drained by the time they get to the Series. It's a quandary, I tell you.

Oh Heidihug, what a rotton fall. Your poor grandmother. She must be in terrible pain, and you must be so worried. But even at 91, you and your family may have a time keeping her from going home again. We certainly did with one grandmother in our family. Mr. Yogi's grandmother lived in the South Bronx her whole life. We all, especially her three daughters, begged her to move out to a safer place. (There were two murders on her block in one weekend during my last visit.) But she would have none of it. One morning, she had a terrible fall, but she still made it to church to bring the priest a bit of breakfast as she did every morning because he has diabetes, and "it helps him to have something right after mass to break his fast." Then she went home, tried to take a bath, and her intenal bleeding from the fall got so bad she could no longer ignore it. She died late that night. I have to say, she was without a doubt one of the toughest and most stubborn old birds you ever did meet, but you have to admire a woman who lives her whole life and dies on her own terms, though I promise you I would have never said this when she was alive. At that time, I was in total agreement with my MIL and his aunts that she should be much safter, because we all loved her very much.

Thank's Last Dodo and Heidihug for the good luck wishes on this assistant thing. It is going to be very hard. I am honestly not unhappy that she is leaving, but I am terribly upset with this short notice. A lot of problems could have been avoided with a month's notice.

On a happy front, I have completed and wrapped all my Christmas gifts to general family! No it's on to my immediate family and friends.

God be with you and your family, suctionprints. I hope your father is doing well.

heidihug, I hope your grandmother is okay. Here's to hoping for a speedy recovery.

yogi, best of luck on finding a new assistant. It's funny that people will be so gracious and grateful while they're working for/with you, but once they see that there's a way out, they can turn on you.

skagirl, have a safe and fun trip! At least you missed the hurricanes. My sort of friend went to FL some time this past week, and I think the weather was okay.

BK, oh man, I hate the Yankees with a passion, but I won't hold your being a fan of them against you. ;) Stoked that Boston won, but as much as I'd like for the Sox to go to the World Series via destroying the Yanks, I just want NY to lose now. 'Stros are leading as we speak, which is cool. I REALLY hope the Dodgers don't get swept. We haven't won a postseason game in 16 years, so I hope we can pull it off tonight!