Tag: Weekend

Humor, Linkstorm, Weekend

Friday Links XX (Stuff and Nonesense)

“Friday: The day after Thursday and before Saturday according to Rebecca Black. Also the most annoying day of the week now.”
― Aaron Peckham

Albeit bored.

Hello.  Nope, not dead.  But honestly, nothing happened this week at.  Nothing at all.  And today, I’m sorry to say, is no different.

Regardless, you’re my minions and I adore you.  I’ll try to get into some scrapes next week, just for you.  Here are your links in the meantime:

SPF is your friend, kittens, wear it.

Is Pintrest really as innovative as some people think?  Or is it just the latest manifestation of human beings’ desire to “consume without purchasing?”  Here’s an interesting post with equally interesting links from the National Trust Collections’ blog.

Too cool!  I had a g’duh moment talking to J. the other day.  There’s a noted Shakespeare festival halfway between us and Flyboy’s wedding so I mentioned maybe stopping off to see a show on the way back.  J. looked at me funny and returned, “Or we could just go to The Globe when we’re back in London next year.”  Sometimes I’m dismayed at myself, kittens.

Yet another product endorsement from C. Small Dog.  This is my new go-to cat eye creating liner for the summer (it stayed on through an hour of kickboxing and zumba each) and my lashes are growing longer.  While I can never hope to achieve Chip’s indecent-for-a-baby-boy flutterers, I’m closer.

Speaking of products, how neat are these destination based fragrances?  Which city sounds best to you?

Here’s an article on perfume bottles and marketing, too.  Lady minions, do you have a signature scent or do you change your fragrances like you change your nail polish?  I’m a Coco Mademoiselle girl myself, but I have one extra scent that Peregrine gave me for my birthday one year that only makes appearances during the hot days of summer.

Yep.

Fascinating documentary on obesity in the US.  I think HBO did a great job to portray the situation from socioeconomic, historical trend, ethnic, industry, and healthcare viewpoints and there’s a lot to learn and think about.

NYT have declared this the year of the fringe/bang (depending on your vernacular).  Weigh in.

Good grief, let’s just all dress in paper bags so no one’s happy!

I found a piece of knapped flint once and an arrowhead…yeah, not as cool…

Sheep of the week, in desperate need of a shearing.

Humor, Husband, Linkstorm, London, Weekend

Friday Links XIX

“For Children: You will need to know the difference between Friday and a fried egg. It’s quite a simple difference, but an important one. Friday comes at the end of the week, whereas a fried egg comes out of a chicken. Like most things, of course, it isn’t quite that simple. The fried egg isn’t properly a fried egg until it’s been put in a frying pan and fried. This is something you wouldn’t do to a Friday, of course, though you might do it on a Friday. You can also fry eggs on a Thursday, if you like, or on a cooker. It’s all rather complicated, but it makes a kind of sense if you think about it for a while.”
– Douglas Adams

Last week was no good, pumpkins, my hormones went all crazy and I ate copious amount of terribly bad for me food.  I’ve been trying to get back on track this week and it hasn’t been any fun.  Food/Exercise morality is hateful.

Salad?!

But then – then!  On Monday J. got a job offer in London!  And if you think I’m complaining about anything for weeks to come, you’re nuts.  Here are your links, kittens!  I’ll be spending the weekend celebrating my birthday (!), checking in on the Queen’s Jubilee, checking out a new exhibit at the Museum of Art (courtesy of the V&A, so you know I have to go), and being a bit lazy.  How about you?

I burst into hysterical giggles checking these out.

Too bizarre.

If you’re celebrating the Jubilee with a G&T and dread a watery cocktail bringing you down, or just want your lemonade to look extra fancy at the next neighborhood barbeque, I think these oversize ice cube trays are nifty!

Very scary and upsetting, not for the faint hearted.  (On a less somber and highly inappropriate note, I’m pretty sure this is how the zombie apocalypse starts…)

Marie’s style is preppy, Kiri’s is French country, Nora’s is pure mid-century American.  My decorating tastes (inherited directly and unadulterated from my mum) are hardwood floors in houses stuffed to the brim with antiques and treasures from world travels, interspersed with trendy art that can be altered to fit the times.  There is probably no place for this in my Someday House.  Which means I may have to undergo a complete style makeover to accommodate it.

I have seen these fabulous riffs on vintage floating around the internet for months and I had no idea a genius company was behind it.  I have presents for the girls covered for years off of this site!  I’m craving this one in particular – because I am pretty sure this phrase has crossed the lips of of myself and everyone I have every considered to be a true friend.

Tumblr of the week: for my fellow expats, travelers, gypsy souls, or generally lost friends.  And for those of you who just love to travel.

Old news, but new to me.  Technology is weird.

I suffer from pasta portion control.  Therefore, this thingy is fantastic.

More kitchen stuff!  I am not prepared to pay the money for these, but the tiny organizer in me thinks these would save a lot of space.

Scary!  Women: know your finances!  I’ll the the first to admit that J. does most of the financial research in our family (he’s an accountant after all), but without trying to sound like an idiot or helpless female, he takes time to explain financial concepts to me if I don’t understand them well.  I also try to educate myself about the economic state of the world, country, and my family.  He may be the financial wizard, but there isn’t a single financial decision made that we don’t talk about and come to an agreement on – from food budgets to student loans.  Lady minions – this is important!

Spring is nearly over, but I think we can all agree that these brings out the country gentry in all of us, right?

Recipe to try (and one of the cuter ex-pat blogs out there).

Here’s your weekly sheep, and good luck to you.

Humor, Linkstorm, Weekend

Friday Links XVIII (Minimal Effort)

“I want to start a band called “Friday Have Been Cancelled” and then hold open auditions every Friday. The sign will read, “Auditions For Friday Have Been Cancelled.” I sure hope nobody shows up because I certainly won’t be there.”
― Jarod Kintz

Today I have a wedding reception, I’ve been (surprisingly!) busy on a project all day, and had to run several errands for work.  And for some reason, I’ve been ridiculous all week and refused to go to bed a reasonable hour so I’m running on mostly sugar and hyperactivity right now.  But I’m way too tired to come up with something clever.  Here are your links, minions, “and therefore, frolic.”

Ladies of the past, being impressive.

I’m not sure what to think of this practice in Hong Kong.

The psychology and physiology behind yawning – it’s more complicated than you think.

Just in time for the Queen’s Jubilee (and who am I kidding, that party’s been going on for a while now), the Royal Archives have finished digitizing Queen Victoria’s journals and made them available.  She was a surprisingly good doodler.

Speaking of Good Queen Bess, here she is demonstrating the color wheel.  Nien sprechen sie Deutsch?  Enjoy anyway, Betty’s fabulous.

Finally answered: to conquer world!

Someday I will crank out a novel, and at that time I solemnly swear I will not be one of these writers.  Literary agents must have great stories, I should befriend one (for totally humorous and not at all selfish reasons, of course),

One of my assignments for Flyboy’s upcoming wedding was to find a quality barber shop so he could get a real gentleman’s shave.  And for some reason, I’m now mildly obsessed with the them, it’s an instant boost of class.  I think J. should check out this joint in London and report back.

This shop contains many items that might be prohibitively expensive, but still make me drool a bit.  The real gems are in the Apothecary and This N’ That sections.

J.?  I want one.  Not immediately, not today, but I want one to save and make pretty someday.  It will cost a fortune, but I want one.

The weekly sheep.

Humor, Linkstorm, Weekend

Friday Links XVII

“It’s 4:58 on Friday afternoon. Do you know where your margarita is?”
― Amy Neftzger

Oh, PBS, talk dirty to me…

Friday is again upon us, minions, and praise Jupiter for it because this week has dragged at work!  Most of the staff seems to have taken at least two days off (lucky jerks) and whole hours go by without so much as phone call.  But that’s alright because this weekend I’m working on finalizing wedding travel plans for Flyboy’s nuptials, going to yoga, cleaning my flat (of which it is in dire need…), and I’m also planning a couple of marathon phone calls with the girls and J.  Sunday looks like a good day to ride Harley and read some books before settling in with a bowl of kettlecorn, switching off my phone, and devouring the last episode of Sherlock.

In a similar vein, tonight (wild hedonistic thing that I am) I’m planning on working out, doing laundry, and pretending I’m at the Met with Scarlett by watching an Opera on PBS.  Heck, I might even get some takeaway!  That’s just how I roll, ducklings.  What are your weekend plans?  Tell me in the comments, and enjoy the links!

Funny tumblr of the week, for all you nerds out there.  And let’s be honest, kittens, to paraphrase Lewis Caroll, we’re all nerds here!

How common is your birthday?  Do the math backwards and apparently we discover the winter holiday season is the time babies happen.  ‘Tis the season?

I have…opinions about this commercial.  Clever?  Perhaps.  But…  What do you guys thing?

These…pants?…offend me.  Minions found wearing them will be sacked.

SoupAddict (whose blog I love and stalk) just posted some lovely pictures of her blooming garden.  Mum and Dad apparently put in a garden at home recently too and are already enjoying the fruits (pun!) thereof.  I have a black thumb, although I’ve managed to keep my bamboo alive for years now, so a full garden is out for me.  But for my Someday House, I have a vision of growing herbs outside of my kitchen.  I think I could manage that.

Alright, I’m going to come out and say it: people like this make me despair at the human race.  I’m not sure when notoriety became the only thing worth seeking, when talent was eclipsed by self-branding, and idiots became so admired, but it needs to stop.  History shows that this is not a new phenomenon, but I contend it’s never been so bad in all of recorded human experience.

On a happier note, this kid is utterly adorable.

On the other hand: yes, you can.  I have met one, and I say that without the barest hint of sarcasm or hyperbole.  Scary, uncomfortable, and very sad.

It’s rainy today (for the first time in months, blasted American West) but for the past while it’s been sunny and hot.  Summer is here, and that means product testing time!  I’ve discovered a whole host of things that have made life easier.  This amazing product from Kielhs  currently tops the list.  I tried it because apparently Certain-Dri does not work forever (hi, chemical burns on my underarms!) and normal antiperspirants/ deodorants don’t work at all.  Summer is not kind to your friendly neighborhood Small Dog, she is a creature built for cooler climes, but such things help.

Sheep, even the weekly ones, are jerks.  One charged my little sister when we were hiking Hadrian’s Wall on holiday and it caused a bit of consternation at the time, though it makes for a good story now.

Family, Humor, Linkstorm, Weekend

Friday Links XVI

“The rhythm of the weekend, with its birth, its planned gaiety, and its announced end, followed the rhythm of life and was a substitute for it.”
~F. Scott Fitzgerald

I’m bone tired.  The other night, well, you know sometimes how youtube happens?  Youtube happened until 1am and I’ve been out of whack ever since.  Last night, after treating myself to This American Life’s live show in movie theatres, I was off to meet Margot to work out together…when I got a text from her.  She’d been in a car accident.  Luckily she was fine, but I had a pretty horrible moment there.

This weekend I’ve got Trixie’s bacherlorette party with the girls from my godfamily, but first of all I’m going to the funerals for my brother-in-law’s parents and niece.  Love your people extra hard this weekend, ducklings.  Here are your links:

Sad though it may sound, I have not had to hunt for good reading for years – I have a battalion of unbelievably intelligent friends feeding me recommendations, links, articles, and books.  Here’s a fascinating read, hat tip to Peregrine.

Not quite as fun (to a history nerd like me) as Kate Beaton, but I quite like Gemma Correll‘s puns.  Like this one.

I have instituted a shopping ban that will remain in place at least until after my birthday, and probably until J.’s graduation, but that doesn’t stop me from looking.  At this, for example.

Recently I had an interesting conversation with a friend who asked me, “Do you think we need feminism anymore?  I mean, aren’t we past it?”  Quite admirably (for me), I didn’t do a double take, I didn’t roll my eyes, I kept my eyebrows wrangled, and did not demand, “Are you serious?”  I live in a fairly conservative place and work at a religious university, so I am routinely subjected to nonsensical sentences that start thus: “I’m not a feminist, but…” and usual end with some statement of equality or common sense.  It was a matter of some joy, when J. said something similar in conversation once, I could retort, “I hate to break it to you, love, but you totally are.”  After a pause, he laughed and said, “Yeah.  You’re right.”  And now, he occasionally tells me that once you have seen sexism, you start seeing it everywhere.  Which is a long way of me saying that people (and in my experience, mostly ultra conservative men) can say we’re post-feminism, or that women don’t need it anymore, but I believe they’re irrevocably and world-without-end wrong.  Here’s a recent example as to why.

Seriously, is there anything we can eat without panicking anymore?

It’s true.  If you ever go to Pisa, you will see legions of tourists trying this very thing.  And the next time I’m in town, I’m going to take a leaf from this gentleman‘s book.

This site is hysterical, if occasionally crude (warning, pearl clutchers).  This one and this one made me snort I was laughing so hard, because living alone with Margot gone and J. back in London, I have experienced both these sensations.  Mostly on account of the fact that I’d seen The Woman in Black and scary movies stick with me and make unsettling appearances in my head at 2am.

Maurice Sendak passed away this week, and I was surprised at how affected I felt.  I admired so much of his work, not just Where the Wild Things Are, but the Little Bear books and the tale of Pierre, who could only say, “I don’t care.”  But one of my favorite of his projects was his creative work on the Northwest Ballet Company’s brilliant motion picture adaptation of The Nutcracker.  The only reason I have a VHS player is because the powers have never seen fit to turn that beautiful piece of art into a DVD.  Here are some excerpts of interviews he had with NPR’s Terry Gross.

Want this.  Want it so hard.  Want it with all the yearning of my geeky soul.

The weekly sheep this week is a sheep dog, in an unexpected way.

J.’s transformation from steak and potatoes eating, jeans and ball cap wearing, all American male to Brit is almost complete.  Not only does he refer to delivered/carryout food (properly) as takeaway, he drinks tea daily.  Ha ha!  He also passes on a recommendation for this tea if you need to fall asleep, apparently it knocks him out like Tylenol PM.  Quoth J., “Tea over here is just better.”

Victory.
Friends, Humor, Linkstorm, Weekend

Friday Links XIV (Style and Substance)

“Sunday clears away the rust of the whole week.”
~ Joseph Addison

So, the lesson this week is that if you’re having a bad day, speak up!  After I confessed to feeling low, Jane stopped by to see me with a funny card and bunch of flowers, Peregrine wrote me the best BFF email in history, Scarlett regaled me with tales of hilarity from her internship to boost my mood, and a lovely neighbor invited me over for dinner and some girl time.  The moral of this week: complain*.  Stiff upper lips out, quivering lips in!

*Actually, the moral of this week is surround yourself with Good People and even your worst days can be alleviated rather spectacularly.

Here are your weekend links, kittens.  I’m spending mine doing yoga, brunching with Jane, and reading friend-recommended books.  How about you guys?

Nope.  I’ve puzzled it over and over and I still can’t get it.

I want to go to there: Flavorwire runs down its list of the 25 most beautiful public libraries (bibliophiles: check out the university and private library lists as well).

So remember that project from a while back that changed the various depictions of Venus to something more current in terms of body type appreciation?  Here’s another lesson in it: Pinup-up girls before and after.  Even Vargas girls don’t look like Vargas girls.

I’ve spent hours on this site planning the future presents I could make, if only I weren’t so poor.  Alas!

I am firmly of the opinion that Theodore Roosevelt was the most bad A of American presidents.  This is cause for some debate, Andrew Jackson has quite a number of devotees and to be fair he was pretty intense, but he was also an insufferable jerk, so I don’t like him as much.  Not that Ted wasn’t without his faults, but I’m far more impressed with the turn of the century style big game hunting, the Rough Riders, social reform, the national parks, and this tiny little event.  Hardcore history, kittens!

I’ve been to several of these, but I want to make it to all of them.  In the meantime, J. is on assignment to visit so we can all live vicariously through him in the meantime.

Some fun City Hall weddings are style profiled on Refinery 29.  Lovely!  I had the whole shebang type of wedding and loved every minute of it, but I do like some of the smaller, non-traditional varieties.  Basically, I like parties of every size and shape.

The weekly sheep.  A stupid tradition continues, and this particular sheep expresses his opinion about it.

Humor, Life, Linkstorm, Weekend

Friday Links XIII (Short and Sweet)

“I have a stag weekend coming up and I have said I’m not doing anything more than a few drinks.  I won’t have it.  I will go home and watch Antiques Roadshow.”
– Martin Freeman

Still a bit out of it. Normalcy will restore itself eventually.

Equilibrium slowly restoring, kitten, but still not functioning at full capacity, so with that in mind, here’s your links.  I can’t quite be bothered to be exceptionally clever today.  Give me the weekend and it’s usual copious amounts of PBS and we’ll see what I can stir up for you.

Animals who are extremely disappointed in you.

The always hyperbolic and usually inappropriate Cracked.com takes on The Hunger Games.

Meet Henri, the existential French cat, your new favorite feline.

Rules of a Gentleman.  Preach.

This offends me.  I suspect J. would die a happy man.  Our marriage is a strange animal.

Summer brings out the WASP ancestry in me and I begin to crave preppy things.  Like these.

My old school mate does it again.  Now that J. is back in London (and let’s not talk about it too much, the wound is pretty raw) I can go back to my mostly vegetarian eating habits.  To be clear I’m not anti-meat, pro-vegan, or any you-must-live-this-way-or-forever-be-deemed-a-heathen sorts of philosophies.  I just like the financial, culinary, and caloric break of not needing to eat meat everyday.  J. may have acclimated himself to salads and vegetables living with me, but heaven help you if that’s all you feed him!

Um…people?  I don’t think this is the way… Let me rephrase: stopitstopitstopit!

Fascinating look at our ever evolving relationship to social media, the importance of being along, and difference between that and being lonely.  An equally fascinating interview with the author.

The weekly sheep.

Humor, Life, Linkstorm, Weekend

Friday Links XII (Extra wordy this week)

“It’s 4:58 on Friday afternoon. Do you know where your margarita is?”
― Amy Neftzger

Have my lectures really sunk in? I may have accidentially put myself out of work...

Another day, another seemingly crime free week on campus.

I’m starting to feel badly, ducklings, I used to have all sorts of tales of human silliness for you, but the well has run dry the last few months.  I don’t know if that means I’ve finally reached the point of saturation where even truly heinous examples of Darwinism at work are so commonplace that I don’t even register them…or if it’s time to find a new topic.  I suspect the latter.

We’ll make that Monday’s post, in the meantime, look at the shiny things I found for you to play with this weekend!  Don’t put them in your mouth, you don’t know where they’ve been.

J. is a huge Muppet fan (this may be the grossest understatement of the century).  I am too, but my love is as peanuts compared to his.  I have never seen him turn into a shrieking little boy but for once, in the Smithsonian Museum of American History looking at a case filled with Henson’s original creations.  But I digress.  In addition to the Muppets proper, we were both raised on Sesame Street and have fond memories of the monsters who rehearsed the ABC’s with us.  Grover was my favorite, but Elmo seems to be the universal beloved.  You’d never guess how the man behind him came to be – which is why anyone who loved the red furry beast should check out the documentary Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey.  J. and I watched it the other night and I admit my eyes watered.  (We watched it on Independent Lens, and although it’s not available on the website yet, it may be soon.  Otherwise, Netflix this sucker!)

Here, more fun and pretty baubles for you to look at.  I am particularly coveting this bag.  Minions should remember my birthday is fast approaching… ahem!

I hoarded books from a young age, and even as a kid I remember loving some books for no other reason than their illustrations.  Here are some of the most beloved children’s book illustrators according to flavorwire.    Gustave Doré,  and Ivan Bilibin are illustrators whose work I remember from my childhood, though I had no idea who they were then.  Virginia Frances Sterret is someone I need to look into more.

This is a link originally passed on to me by Peregrine, who always manages to find some of the best articles out there.  I’ve been having more than usually strong wander lust twitches lately (it’s been made exponentially worse with J. in London, I’ve planned all sorts of imaginary weekend getaways!), and I’ll add walking across Provence to the list.

The great change is…not upon me for several years yet…but lately my skin has been going through a mid-20’s change.  Suddenly blemishes have been turning up where there never were before – not even during puberty!  This has been obnoxious as I’ve always been rather fond of my good skin, it’s the pride of my dermatologist, but as always there are cures.  I’ve discovered this.  It’s fantastic.

Tumblr find of the week.  The best part?  She submitted one of her own! (Edited to add: like all good things, as soon as I find it, it goes away.  I have the same effect on certain brands and cuts of work trousers.  Alas!  Luckily Facebook is helping keep this glorious thing alive.)

Never would do it.  Gotta respect it.

Study up, ladies, miscommunication kills relationships.

Oh dear.  Oh dear.  I have a sudden, almost uncontrollable urge to take this on my next international flight.  Oh dear…

Ha!  Anything done “in the Flemish style” is going to be fun!

The weekly sheep.

Humor, Life, Linkstorm, Weekend

Friday Links XI (Good Friday edition, with little or nothing to do with Holy Week)

“Middle age is when you’re sitting at home on a Saturday night and the telephone rings and you hope it isn’t for you.”
~ Ogden Nash

Randomness today, pumpkins.  There is no theme or cohesion, don’t look for one, and for Odin’s sake don’t read too much into anything.  Just enjoy the links.

See? Random.

I love museums.  I LOVE museums.  The British Museum, the V&A, the Louvre, the Smithsonian, the MOMA…if I could spend every weekend burried in a museum I’d be a happy Small Dog.  Here are a few things I found in various museums this past week.  Votes for women!   The need of orthodontia!  J. will want to see this exhibition, I’m positive.

Babies in advertising in the days of yore.  Weird.

I’ve got a whole slew of weddings this summer (including one where I’m the best man!  I know, right?!) so here’s a glimpse into the Industrial Wedding Complex, the gown to be specific.

Nutmeg is probably my favorite spice.  I use it in my Mac n’ Cheese recipe, in soups, in cakes and cookies – I love it.  But I had no idea what the process was to get it from beginning to end, or that mace (the spice…not the thing you carry to deter attackers and those people who chase you with fliers demanding you come see their installation art exhibit) came from the same plant!

Not even celebrities look like their magazine covers.

It’s the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year!  Let’s celebrate by looking at her hats!

Mum lived in Japan as a girl and it instilled in her a love of Asian antiques, our house is crammed with them.  She also collected some textiles that she uses to decorate, which is probably what led me to read this article on Kabuki theatre costumes.  I prefer the cabinets and tables myself (the siblings and I are going to have to arm wrestle one another for inheritance rights) but those kimono are pretty fabulous.

These sound delicious.  I’m thinking of getting Dad a few for Father’s Day.

Here, the cover picture should cure you of your recent love affair with sheep pictures (seriously, minions, did I miss a memo and are sheep a thing now?).  Mind you read the article in its entirety.

Here’s some Good Friday stuff after all.  I am a huge fan of eating the proper foods on corresponding holidays.  The food liturgical calendar in the Small Dog clan is strictly observed, and we’ve picked up tons of holidays – and their respective foods – we don’t even celebrate from all the places we’ve lived.  Try it sometime, it’s a blast!  Here’s a good place to start, good old English hot cross buns!

Finally, is this Friday dragging a bit too slowly for you?  Never fear, the internet is here to help!

Humor, Linkstorm, Weekend

Friday Links X (Marks the Spot)

“There will be a rain dance Friday night, weather permitting.”
– George Carlin

May you find enlightenment. Or a comfy nap spot. Whichever.

Bittersweet week this time, ducklings.  Hennessy’s last day was on Tuesday, she’s going to stay at home with her sweet little baby to help him kick Goltz Syndrome in the teeth!  Savvy is moving out of state in just a few weeks and this saddens me.  I spent all of Monday and Tuesday herding, feeding, and organizing FBI agents and law enforcement officers for a special training (which was exhausting!).  J.’s been here for nearly two weeks now, which means we only have two more weeks until he has to go back to London for his exams – le sigh.  But we’re not dwelling, kittens, because today is Friday and we’re going to have a lovely family filled weekend with good food and fun.  How was that alliteration for you?

Here’s your weekly dose of randomness:

Mad Men is back and I am thrilled!  Naturally the internet has been saturated with articles, surveys, tips for cocktail parties, and info about the late 60’s, but here was one of my favorites: some info on  Diet and Exercise fads in the 60’s. 

I did a post a long time ago (mostly because I was bored) on words I found particularly annoying or misused.  I ended up giving a couple of history lessons…boredom produces odd effects in me.  Anyway, here’s the history behind some more English words, and I vote that we bring back “fopdoodle.”

If you’re in a dry move, here’s an academic paper from the University of South Africa about what could be determined the first recorded great divorce scandal.  Drama, drama, drama.  (Link to full article towards bottom of the page.)

Speaking of marriages, here’s an interesting article that a rather amazing former coworker recently highlighted on her blog.

Here’s a fun tumblr from the National Archives of the United States.

I wonder how many of you, minions, get as worked up as my family does about board games.  The first Christmas J. spent with my family he was reduced to hysterics when Snickers won two out of three Settlers of Catan games only to lose the third and spent the rest of the day plotting revenge.  See, in his family, board games are excellent excuses for the brothers to talk smack and goof off.  Not so in my clan!  We are Borgias!  If we can’t win we will conspire to take down as many enemies with us as we can, and we remember that you didn’t trade us for a brick that one Thanksgiving four years ago.  Apparently, though Settlers can be used for good: here are some Catan pickup lines that will make any aficionado of the game chortle.

I am not a gardener, and not likely to ever be, but every year I plant a little basil bush that manages to provide me pesto well into autumn (if I don’t kill it first).  I think that someday, if I’m very ambitious I may plant more spices in my Someday House back yard.  Anyway, here’s a good post on stocking one’s spice cupboard – for the culinary ambitious among you!

I am…not sure what to think of this particular neuron… Weigh in.

Last week’s diamond ring was labeled vulgar after all, Aunty C. is proud you all have such good taste!  Here’s some other sparkly things I found that I think are much more tasteful, pretty, and interesting.

Last but not least, history nerd humor!  This week’s edition: courtly love, courtesy of Flight of the Conchords.