Can we say bio-neural gel packs?

Forget that, can we say opportunities to mock Bush? Because that's the sole reason I'm sharing this link on the mousie-pilot-in-the-bowl story.

Not to insult any disembodied mice here, I mean.

So, I had this conversation a few times whilst talking about comments.

I opted not to get comment emails because I hate checking my email. Such a pain. To me, it's easier to use the comments page than to check my email. For conversations in other journals, I figure that if I can't even remember where I'm holding a conversation, the conversation simply isn't that important to me. (This saves me so much stress in the long run, it is not to be believed).

That said, a few people commented that I should use a program that automatically informs me when I have new mail.

That's not a bad idea, except for the "automatically informs me when I have new mail" part. I sometimes go weeks, or even months without checking my email because I'm avoiding one particular person (or mail). I don't generally go on AIM because too many people found out about my AIM name (for most of the world, I tried to pretend I didn't have one), and because even when it was limited to a few people I personally picked, it was too stressful. I don't like getting a message and feeling like I have to answer it. With email, at least I don't know when I got it, so I can pretend I didn't see it if I saw it. Same with the recent comments page, even when I do know that I got it.

So, thanks, but I think I'll pass and use my method. I don't use it entirely to be haughty about it when problems happen. Mostly I use it because it's better than the alternatives, at least for me.

So, I come home today, and it's dark, and my door is wide open.

*blinkblinkblink*

So I go around the house, and see that there are lights on all the way in the front of the basement (but not in the back, by the steps), like somebody had to fix the circuit breaker, and also that there's a light on in my mom's room, which I'd left on.

So I decide that there's probably nobody inside, and do a Very Stupid Thing by going inside while my mom's on the cell phone.

WILL I GET THROUGH THIS ALIVE?
IS THIS ENTIRE ENTRY BEING WRITTEN BY A GHOSTWRITER?

Um. Yeah. Nobody was here, and all the expensive computer stuff was fine, so we think that the door just didn't close properly when I left this morning, or maybe it was Asa leaving that didn't close it properly. *huge sigh of relief*

That was scary.

Oh, and I got two boxes via the US postal service, one from New Hampshire, and the other... Man, I forget the first name, initials are A.H - more used clothing. We're quite happy, especially with the gloves, overalls (I love overalls) and heavy stockings.

I think I can safely say we are no longer completely desperate here. We'll still take any new clothes, especially those that have already been bought (like you'd wear them yourself, right?), or any used clothes, but we're not dying for clothes anymore. Which is *good*. (Oh, and of course, I'll take any non-necessary item on my wishlist, which is mostly toys, books, music, etc. But those are hardly needful items, and I'm just asking for them because it's my custom, not because I really truly want them that much. Much better to donate to charity - have I said that yet this year?)

I do want to send out cookies to people, please, if you want treats, comment in That Entry with your address, or email me at conuly AT livejournal. But the entry in my user info is a better bet - less likely to get accidentally deleted that way.

Today's not-so-inspiring quote...

Build a man a fire, and you warm him for a day. Set a man on fire, and he's warm for the rest of his life.

No comment, no comment, of *course* I haven't tried it!

I've ranted before about disliking Molly Weasley...

Here's another thing: What is her obsession with Ron and maroon? Ron's sweater is always maroon. Ron's pyjamas (britspelling!) are maroon. When she buys dress robes for him, they're maroon (with lace, no less!) I find it hard to believe that she honestly couldn't've found another color for his robes.

Ron hates maroon. I mean, he'd probably complain no matter what, but when he consistently tells everyone that he hates maroon, why does his mother go out of her way to keep getting and making him stuff in that color? At the very least, it's thoughtless, or hopelessly stubborn - she's decided that Ron = maroon, and he can just sit there and fume. At the worst, it's deliberately cruel, emphasising that his feelings on his own damn clothes don't matter.

And those dress robes. Honestly, lace? The woman is a homemaker in the most complimentary sense of the word. She knits several sweaters a year. She cleans. She degnomes. She cooks wonderfully. And you're telling me that with all that, and magic too, she can't even do a minor alteration on a (maroon!) robe for her youngest son, such as removing the lace? This is something basic.

And, to add insult to injury, while Ron is getting his ugly-ass robes, Harry's getting his dark green, respectable robes. "To match your eyes, dear". Sure, it was bought with Harry's money (at least we all assume it was - does she have authorization for his account?), but Ron's the one who has to hear his mom fawning over some kid who's not even part of the family, while he gets snapped at for being upset that his robe is really, really, ugly. And maroon.

Ron, dear, it's not because you're poor. I don't believe you're that poor. Why? Well, because when you get to be a prefect, somehow the money comes through for a broom. Not a good broom, but a broom nonetheless - brooms are expensive, even if they're not, right? And when Percy became prefect, he got an owl. An owl is a significant investment when you add in the cost of owl treats and a cage and occasional health care and all. And when your family won the jackpot, they didn't spend the money on anything remotely practical, like adding more space to the house, or socking some of it away just in case. The only concession they made in that part was buying you a new wand to replace that one that was completely ruined last year. No, they splurged it all on a trip to Egypt. I'm not begruding the trip to Egypt, I'm just wondering how poor they are that they can spend extra money on expensive splurges instead of useful things. Given that they're on one income (and all the kids at school), I can't help but wonder if maybe certain parties in that family prefer poverty, for whatever reason.

So Ron, please, rest assured, it's not because you're poor. It's because your mom favors Harry over you. Sorry, ducky.