Remember my Ogre? (That’s him with the scowl on). Remember how he was studying for those harrowing qualifying exams which will officially make him ABD? HE PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As you can probably imagine, I’m near hysterics here. I can’t even write a coherent post. He found a cheap ticket and is flying in tomorrow afternoon to surprise the kids and celebrate, so there’s NO WAY I’ll be back in Bloglandia this weekend.  I know many of you were praying and crossing... Read more

I dragged myself and my box of kleenex to confession tonight. Since I converted to Catholicism five years ago confession has been my absolute favorite sacrament. However, the first confession I made was mortifying. It was such a terrifying experience, actually, that I lost sleep in the days before and ended up writing a list (which I kept on my person at all times) of my sins so that I wouldn’t forget any. Luckily my wonderful priest had dealt with... Read more

I officially do not have the flu. I have a nasty cold and a bad case of melodrama. Oh, who am I kidding? This is what I have: In case you haven’t guessed, the Ogre is a bit of a stoic. When he gets sick he just wants me to leave him alone. He also likes to pretend he isn’t sick until he literally can’t get out of bed, at which point he kicks me out of the room and... Read more

One of these things are not like the others…yeah, that would be you, American Captain Jack.   I’ve been watching Torchwood lately, and I just have to say it. I love the way British people talk. Can I be British when I grow up? We sound like backwoods country bumpkins of whom the classy Brits are ever-so-hugely embarrassed in comparison. Jeez. Ancestry sucks sometimes. I’d even settle for Australian, at this point. Welsh. Scottish! (yeah, Amy Pond.) Irish (go Pogues).... Read more

Oh for the love of all that’s holy. I have the flu. And even more unfortunately, if that’s possible, this inane discussion over the relative status of my alcohol usage is still raging. Now the commenters have turned against each other, I guess because I decided not to get more involved, and then I decided to get involved again, and now I wish I had just taken a nap instead. Someone. Stop. The. Madness. Is it just me, or has... Read more

The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my all-time favorite movies. It is, in my opinion, just everything a movie for children should be. Imaginative, scary, whimsical, terrifying, heartbreaking, and heart-warming, all at once. This year my sisters-in-law and I got together with our kids and let them eat pizza and M&M;’s and watch the movie. Sienna has seen it before but none of the others had, and I loved watching their little faces widen at the sight of the... Read more

…the heavens part and choirs of angels sing. No, really. My wonderful mom watched the female minions last night so that I could put Liam down early and fully enjoy my brother-in-law and his wife’s monthly supper club. Sasha Feroce made fondue, which she’s been dying to make for us for ages. She spent a year (a formative high school year) in Switzerland and picked up many Swiss kitchen tricks. One of them was this classic Swiss fondue, which she... Read more

It’s Saturday, and I love you.  Here you go. You’re welcome Read more

It’s Friday. I’m in a bad mood. I haven’t had ANY time to blog lately which is making me very angry and sad. I miss my friends. And I do not care how pathetic that makes me. But right now Sasha Feroce has the little nipotini at the doctor, so I have approximately 14.3 minutes in which to put up quick takes.  Here goes.  #7 I’m In a Bad Mood because these little minions  will. not. frakking. sleep.  No, not ever.... Read more

No snow, but you get the idea These are the two things that make me happiest in all the world. I think I’ve known that for some time, but it was just driven home today how deeply my mood and general outlook on life is affected by the weather. Last night the Ogre and I got into a fight on the phone. Again. These last two weeks, fighting has been our main (and really only) form of communication. His qualifying... Read more