Because he IS. I saw those cartoons with fresh eyes once I was somewhat older and had been unwillingly cast as Penelope a few times.

I also saw from the get-go as a child that it would never work because she wasn’t even of the same species.

Were you supposed to twist yourself into some kind of pretzel trying to prove him wrong? Good you didn’t waste your time.

Russians always know who to approach. They have some kind of uncanny homing sense.

This thread has put some things on my mind — I will take most of them to my journal today. I have done a lot of the things I wanted to do, or that sound like a dream job, but the reality of them is often (as has been said a few times by others) that many don’t pay enough to live on, or there’s some other big fat hairy…

You can be a massage therapist for abused and neglected kittens.

I thought it was too, but in situations where information is not being freely made available it is sometimes the only way to get an alternative to the prevailing narrative.

It is especially hard to stop these habits and this thinking (or channel them into something less limiting) when you grew up with them.

I read an amazing book years ago, wish I could remember the title, about how quilts made by slaves contained symbols with all sorts of meanings — and highly stylized maps to the North.

I think I have hated every one of her book picks that I’ve ever tried to read. So she has (IMO) questionable taste in literature as well.

This is 100,000x truer if you’re dealing with students whose first language is not English.

If that’s what you’re into...

I didn’t even know this song until I heard this version, which is still my favorite:

Does she ever think about writing some of her stuff down? or recording it in some way? I love that some kid somewhere is still making up original characters and stories despite all the Disney and other commercialized media aimed at children.

Not a bad habit at all IMO. I can even see the Business Sparrow starring in a work of literature that becomes a classic. And the costume is really cute too.

I really want to hear more about the Business Sparrow.

Monthly count from Turkey.

Sounds kind of like browsing through profiles on OKStupid in this regard.

If she’s “pear-shaped” she must be a Bartlett. I have always considered myself a Bosc.

That coming over to his/your place for a first “date” is epidemic. If I like the guy I suggest an alternative without getting all strident, but he usually isn’t interested so no deal. I feel you, I am incredibly tired of it.