h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I agree TM, let's stick with admiral

[z]

Thank you, imp. I appreciate the sentiment.

Lil, I've done mucho soul searching. Maybe it's a huge rationalization on my part, but I've come to believe that I chose to overlook certain signs in an effort to secure a safe and reasonably secure environment for my girls (and me). I shudder to think of the fix we would have been in if I put my foot down a decade ago.

And on a lighter note ,#2 received an acceptance letter to her first choice university! Fingers crossed that NJ doesn't go bankrupt so that we can afford the tuition!

That is great about #2 Witty, but as for the engagement, what is he thinking? Oh, wait...

[Mol]

He's thinking with the little brain, kelli.

I bought my mom the J.J. Cale-Eric Clapton collaboration CD Road to Escondido a couple years ago. She's quite fond of it. I got it not so much for Clapton, who's a favorite of hers, but Cale, who's one of mine. She was heavily into music back in the 70s and yet had never heard of J.J. Cale which really surprised me.

*Sidles past the Fuzzy Blue Pants, which appear to be eying her speculatively*

Good evening, good denizens of the Salon. My, but I'm late to the party. I am sorry. I went away for the weekend and There Is No Internetting at Away.

Especially when my mother wishes to play Scrabble until dawn.

First of all, and condolences to Hyp, on the loss of her sweet little Annie. I am very glad that she got to be Hypatia's pet, as I know that she spent her life as a most cherished companion to one of the best people.

Happy very very very very belated birthday greetings to Mags and d'E.

Admiral Witty, I am gobsmacked.

I like J.J. Cale.

What have I missed?

I always wondered about those Aintree lions, seeing as my knowledge of Aintree was limited to the Grand National. I imagined the Aintree lions snacking on knackered steeplechasers. But now it seems I've created a genuine mondegreen.

You're not that wrong Lil. Years ago I saw a list of Spillers' locations (they make pet food). They had a factory near Aintree and another in Newmarket.

B

[GDZ]

[sol]

Mornin All

Frosty, with light rain forecast

Backlog done. I knew it was Cream , I got the CD last year. Close encounters of the Blue Fuzzy kind receding.

Right, now, Aintree Iron is the pub that is on the junction of I think Scotty Road and another one that runs off at an angle, so in plan view it is shaped like an iron. Thank you very very much.

Was frosty and nice and we even had a very wee sprinkling of snow that managed to cling desperately to select patches of ground and windshields.

Now we're back to slightly above freezing, gray dullness and damp. Bleh. As 16 said this morning "what's the use of winter when it can't be properly cold and snowy?"

*Toasts Admiral Witty*

Snowstorm, but just barely below freezing point, so I expect it to melt later today. Currently 6 hours 10 minutes between sunrise and sunset.

9 Places Where You Can Retire and Live Like a King
http://www.mint.com/blog/goals/9-places-where-you-can-retire-and-live-like-a-king/

Can't sleep.

Also can't help but notice Thailand in the list of places to retire to.

If we're going by the pictures, I think my choice is retirement in Costa Rica. What a lovely ocean sunset.

Currently waiting for a firewood delivery man to come round while the weather decides whether to be rain, fog or just plain dull grey. Depending on its decision there may be more garlic planting at the allotment this morning.

MC

Hopefully the log man won't take too long and you can get out and plant things.

I'll take a house in Italy, thanks. Too many drug wars/kidnappings/corrupt political types in Central/South America for me!

Witty, I know you feel bad for your daughters, but as the daughter of a man who 'forgot' my birthday, and who still doesn't ever remember his granddaughter's, well, trust me. They get it. They know *exactly* what their father is doing, and what it means for them. Yes, of course it hurts, and yes, as their mother, you want to soothe their pain and kick his a$$ for making them feel this wayÉbut wait to express your disgust (sometime around 30 works for most people).

The bonus to being the one who actually has a clue is that your children will thank you for it later. I used to beat myself up for my dad's neglect, and then I was mad at him for a long time. Now, well, you know what? he's missing out on a really terrific opportunity, and his life is lessened by not knowing the amazing person his granddaughter is. His loss, not mine.