alison the wilca

Alison, that looks cool. What did you think?

Even though I've read Bellairs' books with the same "cast of characters" (Johnny Dixon, Professor Childermass and Byron Ferguson), this one was pretty different. It was a little oddball (without giving away too much, there is an Egyptian god with a sense of humor and a crazy trip to the fall of Constantinople) but very interesting. Bellairs is obviously in love with ancient history, especially Egyptian and thereabouts, and this book kind of brings that to life. I prefer some of his other books (The House with the Clock in Its Walls, The Curse of the Blue Figurine, etc) but I just love his old fashioned style and childlike wonder, which made this enjoyable like the rest.

Also, it is fairly short with big print... it would probably take you 2 hours or less to read, Maudie

just finished:

now reading (finally... i got this for Christmas of 2008):

i use IM in the office but i never ask anyone if they are there. usually i just ask my question and, if it is urgent, i don't use IM.

What I HATE about office IMing is when people send me an IM that says "call me"... what?!

i have avatars and sigs turned off so it is kind of weird. even if i turned them on, i have had them off so long i don't know who had what. crazy! heck, i don't even know my own husbands screen name.

yeah, I got an old school Trivial Pursuit Genus Ed. board game there for a few bucks. Its awesome because I don't think they make regular trivial pursuits anymore.

i like the new board. i still barely read anything but i think it looks nice.

Is anyone in here the one spray painting either "Jimmy Carter" or "Vegan" all over Bucktown/LP/Wicker Park? If so, WHY?

There is an express(?) MSI bus from downtown at Michigan and Chestnut. If taking the bus, they should bring ones and coins. I think it is $2.25 each way with no change offered.

http://www.transitchicago.com/riding_cta/b...spx?RouteId=171

So far so good with the BB Curve 8330... the only thing I'm having a problem with is getting BB Messenger to let me know when I have a pending contact request... hmm. Otherwise, it is pretty nice and compact.

I have Verizon and have had my current flip phone over 5 years (!!!). So, my company gets a 22% discount with Verizon and the rep was at my office the other day... I ended up getting 2 Blackberry Curve 8330s. They have a promotion right now for buy one get one free, $170 with a $70 rebate. I'd read some pretty decent reviews but I can't say what it's like because it just come in the mail today and it is busy charging before I can activate it.

I have the same feeling about flip phones... I like to be able to hold it to my ear with my shoulder. BUT, I just had to move into the current times so hopefully this all works out.

i love that one! i also really love the sonny and cher she did with Estelle Getty. So hilarious.

Thank you for bein' a friend...

ah... i think you're right

I love to read but generally have a hard time staying awake or getting in a comfortable reading position. I'm starting this one tonight, because for some reason I've landed in an animal book obsession.

I like the "highly messed up freaks" and "am-bt-st-yhf-agib-sbs" ideas.

It was "highy" which is what made it so funny at the time (and now). It still makes me giggle.

Also, wasn't there an almost as awesome quote regarding Glenn and how he used to wear braces? Someone will have a better memory than me.

I got the Whiskeytown 7 and the Bob Dylan Bonaroo 7...

What a wonderful show! Great requests and Jeff sounded great. There are some really interesting sounds on the new album... I really enjoyed it! It is full of really lush layers .. everyone in the band stands out on the songs at different points.

On a food note: the soft serve machine MUST become a pre-show staple. It was so delicious. I regret missing the stuffed bread and the artichoke dip- I was too full by the time it appeared on the scene.

Also, I didn't say goodbye to everyone when I left so... goodbye!

cats have a sufficient cleaning system called their tongue. We've only had to bathe our cat after taking him outside because he rolled around in piles of dirt. otherwise, he usually smells quite pretty.

We use a harness and leash on my cat. He couldn't care less about dogs and cars are okay. BUT, if a big tuck or something goes by, he darts home. We can walk down the block but he definitely isn't trained. He basically goes outside to randomly sniff things. Sometimes he smells something that freaks him out and he gets a puffy tail. I think that leashing or just going outside in general is only for certain indoor cats. There is a lot of environment to take in!

As a general rule, I tip 20%. However, I overtip quite often, depending if it is someone I may run into again (hair stylist) or if it seems like there is no way they could be living off of what they're paid/tipped. I tip my hair stylist $15 and the shampoo girl $5 on each of my $65 haircuts. I generally tip cabbies and diner waitresses 25-50%. A few extra dollars from me could make someones day, or at least make it better.

I didn't see this mentioned.. if you are a fan of The Wire, you should really see its precursor miniseries, The Corner. Some of the same actors are in it. It's incredibly good.

Yay!

we just tried to buy a house and found out that the drain line running under house was broken. In order to fix it, we would have to rip up the basement floors... which were asbestos tile. and the drain line breakage was right under the old cool bar in the basement, so it would have to be destroyed.

come to find out the seller knew about this, failed to disclose, and I was out $600 on asbestos and drain line testing/inspection.

be careful and get a really good home inspector.

I'm looking forward to Youth in Revolt very much... a favorite book of my teenagehood.

I had a ball there, Alison. No guided tour or anything, but even driving through was incredible.

awesome! I'm glad you went!