Connie's not-at-all-comprehensive list of melodies which Amazing Grace can be sung to...

Y'know, if you don't like the dirge-y quality of the normal melody. Of course, it's only dirge-y because people use it at funerals, but that's not the point.

1. Auld Lang Syne, both the original and the common versions
2. House of the Rising Sun
3. Skibbereen
4. Tramps and Hawkers
5. Star of the County Down
6. Clementine
7. The Parting Glass, but not really
8. Oh, Suzanna if you skip the chorus
9. The Eyes of Texas
10. O, Christmas Tree

This has been a public service announcement. You shall be updated with any new developments in this area. Thank you.

MY ADAPTER CAME!!!!

My sister's friend Asa made the point that just maybe the adapter isn't as universal as it claims to be, and that's why it wore out so quickly. I kinda snapped at him, because my computer isn't under warranty anymore, I think, and I can't afford to get a new adapter. If I hadn't gotten a replacement for the one I had been using, I'd not have my computer at all. (Though if anybody has any Dell Inspiron 1100 adapters just lying about, I'll gladly take them off your hands. Because I'm a beggar. I probably wouldn't be one if it worked, though :P)

On my mom's computer *now*, though - I'm not trekking mine downstairs.

So, today at the park, I brought our cheap squishy balls that cost $0.25 each so I don't have to worry about them getting lost. Of course, I end up spending five minutes chasing around a little boy to get them back at the end, because even if I don't have to worry if they get lost, knowing where they are and not having them is maddening. They were quite the star attraction today :)

Ana knows stuff I didn't even know she knew. At one point, we're sitting with a woman, and the woman is working on colors with her kid, so she asks Ana "what is this?" while holding up a blue star. Ana's sick of answering color questions by now, she keeps saying "gweeeeeeen!" for everything, so instead she goes "star!". That surprised me. I had no idea she had any idea about shapes.

Oooooh, and today, today, today, guess what, guess what, guess what? We were getting off the boat, and onto a bus, and I recognized the bus because there's only one 78 bus I know of that is really an express bus (you know, nice seats and all). I like the driver I've always had on that bus, he's friendly. So we get on the bus, and the driver sees Ana, asks for a hug, and I pass her off to him while I dig out my metrocard. Why not? He's stuck on the bus, and he's not a stranger, so I feel perfectly safe doing that. And he helps her honk the horn. Twice. And then again as we were getting off, he helped her honk the horn. Ana spent the whole bus ride turning to me and beeping.

Note to self, must not only buy more cheap balls, but must also buy peanuts for squirrels in park. They'll eat out of your hand if you let them, but they don't much like cereal. The pigeons do, but they're more cautious.

Anybody need a "Wireless laser for presentations"?

I did not get my new adapter. There was apparently some sort of mix-up, and I got a wireless laser instead. I'm now getting my adapter, a new order's been placed, and they said I should just keep the laser. Except that I have no use for such a thing. So if anybody needs one, I'd be glad to hand it over. Preference goes to people in the city. If nobody jumps to respond, I'll just donate it on freecycle or somesuch.

When I was four, I had this outfit I loved.

It was just a pair of plain overalls and a red plaid button-down shirt, but I loved it. Loved it when I was five, too. My mother would braid up my hair, in two braids, and I'd wear that if it was available. And it often *was* - my parents knew I loved it, my father had a white suit he felt the same way about (he wore that suit every day in the warm weather, and washed it so it never was dirty), so I wore that outfit a *lot*.

Got so bad that the school eventually called my parents and asked if maybe we couldn't afford to put me in different outfits. No, not so - I just *really* liked that outfit.

We have some pictures of me in that outfit. Even after I grew and didn't wear it so much, it was still a favorite. If I find one of them, and the scanner, I'll scan it in. Here I am, no more than 5, and looking at least 7 or 8, wearing my favorite outfit ever.

I miss that outfit.

I'm only thinking about it today because I almost put Ana in a similar outfit, and of course her hair is always braided (in three braids this week), so it reminded me. And also I found a bunch of my old plaid, button-down shirts in the attic. I had no idea I used to have so many, but there's some three or four of them that obviously can't fit an adult. They probably fit me when I was only a little older than Ana is now, but I was tall. There's no way they'd fit Ana for, not just two years, but several years.

I miss my Beary-Bear too. *sniffles*

*is slackjawed*

( Researchers capture giant squid... )