‘They gave it me,’ Humpty Dumpty continued thoughtfully as he crossed one knee over the other and clasped his hands round it, ‘they gave it me — for an un-birthday present.’
‘I beg your pardon?’ Alice said with a puzzled air.
‘I’m not offended,’ said Humpty Dumpty.
‘I mean, what is an un-birthday present?’
‘A present given when it isn’t your birthday, of course.’
– Through the Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll

We just stumbled in the door from J.’s pre-birthday festivities, which involved a lovely dinner, cake at his sister’s, and rather copious amounts of our nieces and nephews beating the tar out of us.  As the resident childless aunt and uncle, our sole purpose in their eyes is to entertain them and we have a lot of fun doing so – although the bruises do accumulate.  We’re stuffed with cake so here are your links and happy weekend to you!

You guys, my childhood!  Did anyone else read and love this book?

Amen, Turkey.

This bird is determined to not be bothered.  He might be my hero after this fraught election week.

I agree wholeheartedly with the title.

Kate Beaton’s history quizzes fill me with nerd joy.

Quirky vegetables produce (pun!) much the same reaction.

And when they were done, they took the best bits with them and put them in museums in London.  For which I am personally grateful, but secretly a bit guilty about.

I’m seriously excited about the new Bond movie.  And honestly the thing that made me wild to see it was the moment on the trailer when he swings into a half exploded train and straightens his cuff.  Class.  Sexy, sexy class.  In honor of the franchise’s 50th anniversary, I give you this to play with.  Submit your best ones in the comments.

In honor of the recent election.

The weekly sheep.

And we’re going to bed.

“There is little chance that meteorologists can solve the mysteries of weather until they gain an understanding of the mutual attraction of rain and weekends.”
– Arnot Sheppard

Life may be dull, but we must press on, darlings.  As hard as Fall makes me want to up sticks and hitchhike to London now, it is still my favorite season and I’m throwing myself into it.  The other day I came home and immediately was seized with the baking frenzy – apple turnovers in cheddar cheese crusts and a spiced apple cake were the result and I’m still smug about them.  Today was also the first morning that required a light coat (specifically my stylish new trench that I bought on sale and in preparation for the London move, a trench being an absolute necessity for British life), which made me a bit giddy to be honest.  Fall has the best fashion, the best food, what else is there?

I’m also getting revved up for the holiday season, which when properly and liturgically observed lasts well into the new year!  Any excuse for good food and good company.  Marie and her husband Janus survived the adopted family trial period of last Christmas and are going to spend Thanksgiving with us in Virginia this year!  Anyone else who shows up will be very welcome, we’ll have pie.

Here are your links, well-beloved minions.  You’ve earned them.

I spend an average of an hour and a half working out, and my salary hasn’t changed one iota.  I call foul.

I cannot begin to express how upset this makes me.  My family is involved in scouting, both my brothers and my husband are Eagle Scouts, my father and grandfather participated in the program, I was a Venture Scout (the co-ed version of Boy Scouts – you should have seen the boys’ faces when our car rolled up with girls in it at camp.  An equally mix of offended, elated, and panicked), my brothers have jamboree-d on Lord Baden-Powell’s estate.  We like scouts.  But this is unacceptable.  BSA has been making a lot of decisions lately that have deeply disappointed me and caused me to rethink my support, which is saddening.

Since various misinformed, misogynistic nincompoops politicians have been throwing out “facts” lately, here’s a good introductory guide as to what birth control is, what it does, and what it doesn’t do.  The more you know, kittens.  Page four is political so be aware.

Social media tells me that another reason to look forward to fall are pumpkin lattes, which are apparently The Best Thing Ever.  I’m a tea over coffee girl, myself, so this rather stumps me.  Latte minded minions weigh in.

I have been to Italy multiple times, but when I was in Venice I was a child.  But I remember it (particularly the pigeons and the rather bad time we had at the glassblowing island, but after that it was lovely).  And this photo makes me want to go back and go to dinner.

The appeal…is utterly lost on me.

You may have watched the debate this week.  Good.  It’s important to take political involvement seriously.

People being decent.

I plan on being the reincarnation of this character when I’m old.  And I plan on enjoying it tremendously.

It’s October and the witching hour is upon us, so in that spirit (see what I did there?), here’s a tale of superstition to whet your appetites.

This excites me to an embarrassing degree, I cannot wait to see how the revamped season will go (and I especially Maeby with Catherine of Braganza hair).

The weekly sheep, a bit more grotesque than usual.

*photo from Glamour.com

“I do like escapism.  I like going to the movies on a Friday night and seeing something fun.”
– Charlie Kaufman

It’s another game weekend, which means an awful lot of scurrying about to prepare for it – and a lot of sympathy for the poor football player who came in earlier to report that someone hit his car in the parking lot.  Shake it off, dude, we need you!

I have a Girl’s Day with the ladies of my godfamily planned for tomorrow, laundry to fold, and I fully intend on blackmailing J. to taking me to seep “Looper,” since he unwittingly revealed a major spoiler and must atone for such a mistake.  What soirees/minor acts of revenge are you participating in this weekend, ducklings?

You may remember a while back that an incredibly impressive computer was developed.  When this paragon was set up with the ability to search the web, it immediately started “viewing” cat videos.  In that spirit, some enterprising soul condensed the internets down for you to one video for you.  You’re welcome.

Kate Spade New York has some really nice city guides for the travel minded.  Of course I checked out the London one to compare notes, but now I’m craving a jaunt to Copenhagen.

The Queen talks back!

Elmo: red, cuddly, fashionista.  Who knew.

This woman is impressive.  And the internet is finally good for undoing some unfortunate behavior.

The hell?!

Tomorrow, tens of thousands of museums across the country will be offering free admission!  Minions are encouraged to take advantage.

You may remember that J. and I picked up some E. H. Shepard prints for Winnie the Pooh while in London, but he also did the original artwork for The Wind in the Willows, another of my childhood favorites.  Here’s a glimpse into some of his drawings.  Toad holding court with the cigar is my favorite.

Here, another animal video.  This one brought J. much joy.

Good grief, it’s Mother Nature’s Little Darlings day, here’s one of the funniest photos I’ve seen in a while.  It’s all fun and games until one of these things stabs Steve Irwin in the heart, kids.

My planned jack-o’lantern for Halloween this year suddenly seems a lot less impressive.

And the weekly sheep.  Endlessly.

“I understand what it’s like to work all week and on Friday night just want to go and leave your brain at the door, buy some popcorn and be thrilled by something.”
– Don Cheadle

Here we are again, minions, and aren’t we glad?  This week has gone by very quickly, which is nice, but generally that implies the weekend will fly by equally fast, which is not nice at all.  Last weekend was almost a total waste: Jeff and I slept in both Saturday and Sunday and went to bed early, so before we knew it Monday had swung back around.  Fingers crossed for more relaxation this time around.  We’re going to catch up on some Dr. Who.  Big, big plans, I know.  Here are you links, enjoy!

Fascinating story on academic cheating.

Slowpokes.

Are you in need of some noir, kittens?  You look like you’re in need of some noir.  Mind you turn on the music first.

J. and I have semi-annual dentist appointments on Monday.  We (the human race) have come a long way.

Wedding season is winding down, but I still found this hysterical.

And this.  This made me giggle as well.

It was inevitable, of course it was.

Christmas is coming, and the goose is getting ordered.

Gah.  Right up there with indoor plumbing, here’s another reason to be glad we live when we do, she-minions.

The weekly sheep, kicking butt and taking names.

“Cheers to the freakin’ weekend, I’ll drink to that…”
– Rhianna

Thank goodness for the end of the  week, muffins.  I’m tired and I want to watch Götterdämmerung tonight in my pajamas and a big football game tomorrow (we’re pancultural like that).  Also, I really should clean the house at some point because it’s getting unfit for human society.  Most importantly, I intend to nap with great enthusiasm.  Let me know what your plans for the weekend are, darlings, and here are you links!

I, for one, am grateful the corsets didn’t make it.

I’ve always wanted to go to Iceland (flying through the airport simply doesn’t count), and this photo log is not making my craving any easier.

As we move forward into this political season, I expect to see a lot more of this going on.  Brace yourselves.

Therefore, in the interest of increased meaningful cultural dialog, here’s an excellent explanatory piece as to just why the film mocking the Prophet Muhammed is as offensive as it is.  I enjoy learning about religions and have tried to learn about Islam, but this explained a few things in a really good way.  The more you know, kittens.

Current beauty craving.  Because there are some days where washing your hair is just going to have to wait until you get back from kickboxing class.

Other beauty craving.  The 90’s style dark lips (thankfully sans darker lip liner!) may not be my thing, but this is totally wearable.

Dr. Who is back (that shrieking you heard was me losing it)!  To that end, here’s a funny t-shirt for the lovers out there.

History Nerds!  This is amazing!

Most of us type it at least once a day, now here’s why.

The weekly sheep.

Fridays are not ‘pants optional’.
– Nancy Cartwright

Better late than never, darlings!  Here are your links, quick and dirty.

Tom and Lorenzo get some well deserved kudos.

Here are the top fifty “Pictures of the Day” for 2012 as chosen by Twisted Sifter.

I wonder if this actually works.  Because this was a week of lethal irritability, kittens.  I could have gleefully stuffed a fist down more than one throat.  Luckily I’m sensible, mature, and much better behaved.  Drat.

J. found more Muppets goodness and insisted, insisted I share them with you.  The whole Small Dog clan loved you, minions!

Downton Abbey is inching closer.  Here’s the full promo, recently released to whet the appetites of ravenous devotees.

Teeth.  I can’t stress how important they are.

Good dog!

The weekly sheep is number nine.  Beware.