But why did NONE of you see fit to inform me that Robin McKinley has another book out? I mean, I know that she and I haven't been as close since that whole Dragonhaven episode. And discovering just how boring her life is through her blog didn't help. (Thank God for editors!) But still! We were close once! Old time's sake! That sort of thing.

Sheesh people. What next? An unremarked Bujold? Harry Potter VIII passing without discussion? A newly discovered Bronte book not being noticed?

I was expecting Erma Bombeck.

So I commented on a meme the other day (I do still read here, although not as much as I once did) and I actually got questions back! It's been quite some time since I wrote here instead of my blog, so I thought it might be fun, if anyone still reads here!

1. Standard question: If you could live anywhere in North America right now, where would it be and why?

I'm not really sure. Even 2 or 3 years ago, I would've answered the Northwest, and rhapsodized. But here's the thing... I CAN live wherever I choose. Granted, there are sacrifices and changes that would entail. But I'm a grownup with the full rights and privileges that go with that. There are excellent reasons I live where I do: great employment opportunities, strong and growing social and professional networks, a mortgage, a marriage, educational opportunities for my sons, etc. I CAN live anywhere in North America right now. I live here. If I don't choose to live here, what the heck am I doing here?

2. Another geography/travel question, since you're one of the
better-traveled folks I know: What's your favorite place that you've
visited? How come?

Vienna. For sure. In a heartbeat. If the question is "Why don't you live in Vienna" the answer is "Because I'm a chicken. Brawk brawk!" Seriously, it'd be worth learning German and uprooting. Vienna was awesome. I could explain why, but I probably need to go to bed before midnight. Food, scenery, history, good-planning, food, culture, food, the Alps, food. There were were many reasons. Although I must say that I really, really liked what I saw of Alsace (Franco/German border) and every once in a while contemplate whether I'd accept a transfer there if that's what fate brought me.

3. So how IS the new job? Better than the old one?
Infinitely. The world of opportunity just opened up. In fact, if anything, it's a little TOO good. I'm learning too much, meeting too many people, getting too many opportunities. I'm wiped out. No time for internet! Long days! Lots of brain cells being used! OMG! In retrospect, I should've left my old job two years ago. There were good reasons I didn't (cough)THANE(cough), but I'd been calcifying and not even aware of how bored, underutilized and unappreciated I was.

4. If you could go back and re-take any class at Conn, which one would it
be?
I was a twit in some of my classes, with the know-it-allness of a 19 year old sophomore. I particularly think that I must've been extremely obnoxious in American Literature and Victorian Literature. It's probably not coincidental I didn't like either subject. I might've taken a more interesting class than "The Literature of Passing" too. Yeah, I know. It SOUNDS interesting. But mostly, if I had it to do over again, I'd spend about 8 years at college. I wish I'd taken economics & statistics. I shouldn't have skated by with the bare minimum for science and math requirements. I still don't understand the French Revolution. I wish I'd played more in the ensembles. Basically, I regret very little of what I did do, I did the most I could do, I still wish I could've done more.

5. What's the strangest experience you've ever had as a parent?
I have to admit that giving birth is pretty surreal. It's so set-aside, and different. There's this phenomenal wash of hormones coursing through your body - the most powerful of your life. There's this one moment between is and isn't. It's not a flash -- there's a brief but palpable duration to it. You know you can't remember it properly, because you're quite sure it hurt a lot, but you can't remember that part. It's like you read about it instead of feeling it. And then you see your child, the person who will be one of the most important people in your life forever, for the first time. Do they have all their fingers and toes? What do they look like? Who are they? Are they safe now? They lie on your naked body before they even have a name, relying on you for everything: for the heat of your body, the milk of your breasts, their name on your lips, still tied to you for a few second by the pulsing cord that has kept them alive for months. The world spins and lands in a completely different orbit than it did just a few hours prior. It's a remarkable moment.

OK, I admit that I'm always a touch reassured when I realize that big (gigantic, in fact) corporations can make the exact same stupid mistakes I've always made, and that they can get through their QA too. Do you see the issue in this one?



Snrk.

At least their placeholder text isn't offensive or totally stupid. I wouldn't have noticed if it had been "this product" instead of "Product name"

You know what today needs? It needs more love.

Via sigerson, a love meme: Reply to this post and I'll tell you one reason why I like you. Then put this in your own journal and spread the love.

Dear Internets,

I need help. I'm pretty sure what I'm trying to do is easy-peasy if you know how. I do not know how.

Here's the sitch:

1) Our church has a good sound system, done in the last 5 years, hooked up to speakers
2) I want to connect a device to that sound system to record the sermons
3) I suspect my 120 gig iPod would do the trick nicely.
4) I don't know how to hook the iPod up to the system

Am I right? If I have a cable/doohickey can I just plug my iPod into some sort of "line out", press play at the beginning of the service, and then download audio off the iPod when I get home? Advice, please!

--Me

http://bflynn.wordpress.com/

Most of my writing is going there now... but with RSS feeds down I figured I'd let you know.... Thane had his first birthday!