Happy New Year!

Happy 2008, everyone! I have big plans for the new year, but I think I'm going to keep them to myself. That way, when I a) crash and burn or b) fail to even try, I won't have to be accountable to y'all. Of course, if I succeed, you'll all know it when you see me doing the late night talk show circuit.

Housekeeping issues: I'm playing around with adding some new features to my right nav bar. Check out two new sections: Recommended Online Reading (links I've come across that I've enjoyed and think you might enjoy, too -- updated often) and Recent Reads (which is, as you'd guess, books I've read recently -- if you're looking for a new book or two, give it a look).

Rational Compassion

I really like this post over at Masala Skeptic. I don't usually do resolutions, and this New Year's will be no different, but I will do my best to keep Maria's post in mind throughout the coming year and beyond.

Geek Crushes

Airan's super-fab Christmas gift got me to thinking about my long-enduring crush on Captain Picard, and how basically all of my fantasy crushes fixate on cerebral men -- we'll call them geeks, as long as we all understand that we're using "geek" as a term of high respect and admiration. Got it? Okay. So let's examine a few of my favorite geek crushes, both the fictional and the real.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Well, isn't every girl attracted to power? Captain Picard has at it all: A commanding presence, impeccable ethics, a way with the ladies. Every time I hear that voice say, "Engage," an arrow goes warp nine straight into my heart. Make it so.










Alton Brown: How can you not love Alton Brown? He doesn't just tell us how to cook something -- he explains why it works, and while he's at it, he uses super-cool props and devises clever uses for common household items that you'd never have thought to use in the kitchen. And those glasses! Va-va-voom.










Stephen Colbert: I normally don't fall for conservative republicans, but I make an exception for Mr. Colbert. He has the guts to tell it like it is, and America can't help but take notice. Stephen serves the cause of truthiness, which every woman is used to -- men love to spout things that are sort of true-ish in attempts to win our favor. Stephen has perfected that art and extended it to inspiring patriotism in our hearts, rather than lust. Or maybe in addition to. Whatever.



Gaius Baltar: Sure, Lee Adama is the pretty one, but that Gaius -- he's bad news. Totally insane, self-serving, morally craven, shameless womanizer, mad genius. Yes, please.













Carl Sagan: This crush is less lust and more overwhelming admiration and respect. What I wouldn't give for half an hour to talk to with Carl Sagan about our amazing, awe-inspiring cosmos. And then maybe he could hold me. (Please, no one bring up the pot smoking. You people know that drives me crazy.)











And, of course, the biggest crush of all.

Some thoughts on unemployment

Yes, I was not exactly what you'd call "employed" before, I know. But I recently lost my steady freelance gig, and I'm finding that the loss has had a much bigger affect on me than I'd have expected.

Other than the affect it has on my bank balance, that is. The monetary lost is to be lamented, for sure. But I'm extremely fortunate in that Airan has a good, steady income that takes care of our basic needs. The mortgage will be paid. The kids will eat. That's all that really matters. We'll be feeling a pinch, for sure, but the straits are not dire.

I know that as recently as four weeks ago, I was stressed out from my toes to my earlobes about how I was going to get everything done in the course of an average day. Between taking care of the girls and getting my freelance work done, I was maxed out. So, honestly, when I first heard rumors that my freelance project was likely to end, my first emotion was relief. I won't have to juggle everything anymore! I can be a good mom and stop feeling guilty for neglecting something or someone all day long.

And now that I have no freelance work coming in, it's not like I have any free time. My days are still full to the brim just keeping up with these crazy kids. Honestly, I'm not sure how I was doing the freelance work before without going psychotic.

But something isn't right. I've never been terribly career-oriented, likely because I've yet to figure out what I want to do with my life. And despite that, I find that having no work has left me feeling inadequate, insignificant, diminished in some way. I'm not pulling my weight, but worse than that, I've lost my value. I contribute nothing. I take up space.

This is all very silly, of course. I take care of two wonderful but demanding kids all day every day, which is job enough for anyone. I'm cooking up little projects for myself (that I rarely find time for), I try to help Airan with his many projects, and I try to keep up with y'all in the blogosphere. I'm busy. I'm active. I'm useful. Right?

I never thought that my own self-worth could be so tied up with something I considered to be an inconsequential, insignificant job. I need to find some other yardstick to measure my own value. I guess that's my main project these days. And it seems to be a full-time job.

And Merry Geekmas, Too

This is what Airan got me for Christmas Geekmas, and I couldn't be happier.

Merry Christmas

Perhaps we should have named her Veruca

Ah, the spirit of Christmas.

We were having a little pre-bedtime chat with the girls about what Santa might be leaving under the tree for them tonight. Sophie, always a [sarcasm] retiring, delicate flower [/sarcasm], got nose-to-nose with her father and made this proclaimation at the top of her lungs:

"I want a pony! I want a pony! Do it now!"

If there isn't a pony under that tree, I have a feeling there will be hell to pay.

A Christmas Miracle

What I ordered:

One Bacon Salt sampler

What I got:

TWO Bacon Salt samplers

Enough Bacon Salt to feed the masses! And in time for Christmas!

Some sort of processing error, I'm sure. I guess I should make sure they didn't double-charge me before I call this a miracle.

Billions

The Bad Astronomer reminds us that today is the eleventh anniversary of Carl Sagan's death. Many of you know about the deep affection I have for Carl Sagan. His book The Demon-Haunted World was life changing for me, not to sound too melodramatic, and I still think it should be required reading for every human. His series Cosmos is smart, fascinating, accessible, funny, wonderful -- even now, 27 years after he made it. (I need to get those DVDs out again.) This video, adapted from Pale Blue Dot, is a nice setting for some of Carl Sagan's very wise thoughts about this mote of dust we call Earth.



Check out the second-annual Carl Sagan blog-a-thon here.

12 Days

Some holiday choral humor for you.

Ditto

What Wil Wheaton said.

Note to John Scalzi

Dear Mr. John Scalzi:

Really? You Google yourself every hour? Please, sir, leave a comment. I'm begging you. (Unless it would take too much time away from that book you're writing, of course.)

As Promised

[Because I love each and every one of you, I'm going to link to the image below rather than thrusting it upon you the second you visit my blog. Those of you who are squeamish concerning perfectly normal, healthy human anatomy, don't click the link below.]

Behold, my vocal cords.

Tis the Season

Two days ago, we got one package in the mail.

Yesterday, we got two packages in the mail.

Today, we got seven packages in the mail.

How many packages will come tomorrow? And will they include a partridge in a pear tree?

I think it's a girl.

Everyone think good birthing thoughts! Kerri is on her way to the hospital, and Libby's little brother or sister will soon be in our midst. Hooray! Good luck, Kerri and Martin!

UPDATE: Scratch that. BBPD is on his/her own schedule and is in no big hurry.

UPDATE: She's here!

Brrrrrrrr

How's your morning going? I've been singing outside in 18-degree weather starting at 7:00 am. I can't feel my toes. Or my vocal cords. (Speaking of vocal cords, stay tuned. You're all about to see a lot more than you ever wanted to see.)

UPDATE: Go here to see video of the Chicago Chamber Choir singing for the WGN toy drive. (Scroll down for a few different CCC video clips. Oddly, the first video -- as of now at least -- is of someone from the publishing company where I worked for seven years. Crazy.)

Not Meant To Be

I report with some sadness that our short-lived experiment in daycare has come to a close. Today was the twins' fifth and last day of daycare. The situation was perfect, and the daycare provider was wonderful. The girls loved it. I was coming to love it, too.

Unfortunately, my main freelance gig, the one that's kept me steadily working for the last two years and the one I was counting on to pay for daycare, has suddenly and unexpectedly evaporated. I now am no longer able to pay for daycare, but since I don't have any work to do, I don't really need it.

The girls really had been thriving at daycare, so I'm disappointed that it didn't work out. Maybe I'll get a fab new freelance job soon and we'll be able to revisit this little experiment. Do you guys know anyone who wants to hire a gifted and talented freelance editor?

Some Holiday Songs For You

The Chicago Chamber Choir's annual Carols by Candlelight concert is coming up soon. Sadly, I'm sitting this concert series out due to an unavoidable conflict. But I plan to attend one of the performances and encourage you to do the same.

I will, however, appear with the choir on the WGN morning show this coming Friday, December 14, between 7:00 and 9:00 am Central time. If you're in an area that gets WGN broadcasts and can see the morning show, check it out! We'll be caroling a few times throughout that two-hour period as people partake in WGN's annual toy drive. Good times.

Spontaneous Foliage Combustion

My worst fears have been confirmed.

Child "witches" targeted in Nigeria

Revisiting the topic of witches (because we had such stimulating conversation last time): This is what comes of belief in witches. This is a very real example of the dangers inherent in such mystical and illogical thinking.

The Golden Compass

Airan and I don't get out much these days, so seeing a movie in a theater is kind of a big deal for us. Last night, we went to see The Golden Compass. I must admit that when I read the book a few years ago, I didn't love it. I didn't hate it, either, but I didn't think it lived up to the hype. The movie has received so much attention in the press lately that I feared it, too, would fail to meet expectations.

I'm happy to report that I was wrong. We loved the movie. Yes, it skips over quite a lot of the book, and some things are rearranged and presented differently. (The gaggle of tweens sitting behind us was outraged -- OUTRAGED -- by the changes.) But that's to be expected in any movie adaptation.

Of course, all the talk about The Golden Compass has focused on its atheist agenda, its nefarious plot to poison young children against organized religion. You all know I wouldn't really have a problem with such an agenda if the movie did actually have one. But I saw no evidence of any such message. Yes, the movie does encourage kids to question and challenge authority, and I don't think that's such a bad thing. Blind, unquestioning, cattle-like compliance shouldn't be what we want from our kids, regardless of our religion or worldview. The Golden Compass encourages kids to use their brain and draw their own conclusions about the world around them -- I second that sentiment.

The movie is quite mature, with graphic violence and scenes with kids in mortal peril -- the twins won't be watching it until they're at least twelve. Otherwise, I highly recommend it to all movie goers. The Golden Compass is beautiful and captivating, the story is quite engaging, and the cast is excellent. (Ian McKellan as the voice of Iorek! Brilliant!) Check it out.

Think of the truffles!

I spent yesterday morning at the French Pastry School in downtown Chicago. Airan had arranged this tour/demonstration for my birthday back in September, and I finally got to enjoy it.

And enjoy I did! Friends, I was dying to go to pastry school before. Now I am downright obsessed with the idea. Imagine the amazing breads, cakes, and candies I'd learn to make! And I'd share them all with you! Sound good? Great. Glad you're on board. You have the $20,000 I'm going to need for tuition, right? You can make that check out to me.

A few random thoughts on decorating Christmas trees

A few nights ago, we bundled up and headed out to our traditional spot to select this year's Christmas tree. This is quite a bit earlier than I usually like to put up the tree, owing to my fear of spontaneous foliage combustion, but the twins have been so excited about the decorations they've seen around the neighborhood that I just couldn't hold out any longer.

Alas, we were rushed while tannenbaum shopping, so while we picked out a lovely specimen of festive greenery, I was denied my customary ornament-shopping spree. I have a weakness for the ornaments, you see, and ever year I buy so many that we can no longer fit them all on our not-small tree. (To those of you who say I ought to take this as a sign that I needn't pick up so many new ornaments every year, I say humbug.) And so we have only two new ornaments for this year's tree:

Lovely, no?

As I believe I've mentioned in the past, I do not decorate Christmas trees with a theme, and I feel sad for all those who do. I never want to have a Christmas tree that doesn't have a place for gold-painted macaroni-and-glue ornaments made by the smallest hands in the house. These are, in my opinion, the ornaments to be most cherished, and will always be front and center on my tree.

Exhibit A

Dirty Ice

So, so gross: Hold the ice: What's in your glass might surprise you

The article asks, "Is toilet water cleaner than the ice that's in your drink?" And depending on where in the Chicagoland area you're having that drink, the answer might disgust and sicken you.

Do we STILL, in this day and age, have to remind people to wash their hands? Really?

Very Small Rocks

I don't even have words to express how I feel about this poll.

I mean, come on. Thirty-seven percent of evangelicals believe in witches?? As opposed to a mere 32 percent of mainline Protestants and Catholics?

Religion encourages irrational thinking. Period.

UPDATE: David brings up an excellent point: Wiccans do exist. So depending on what the poll means by "witches," maybe that number should rightfully be 100%. Either way, we're talking about crackpots. That is all.