No. Really. I've Been Doing Things.

I've also been fooling around just a little. Because I didn't yesterday.

(After you hit play and the first screen comes up you need to hit the littler play button to watch the show. Or, you know, just TiVo it for later).

Slide shows, scrapbooks, photo ecards, and more

Bestowing Honors

I suspect that it is very exciting to win things. I once put my business card in a drawing and won an Easter basket full of Godiva chocolate. That was pretty thrilling so I can only imagine how these folks (and personal heroes) must be feeling:

Doris Lessing, 2007 Nobel Prize for Literature

I'm particularly fond of Lessing's short stories because that's how I first discovered her and also because as hard as it is for me to write any sort of fiction at all (to the point of, you know, not even bothering), I am in awe of those who can create poignant, amusing, ironic or even somewhat twisted tales with an economy of language in a very few pages.

Al Gore, 2007 Nobel Peace Prize

Never mind that Al Gore has helped millions of regular people understand the problem of global warming or that he is a fiercely committed and passionate kinda guy. He is also really funny. I love me some funny guys.

(I detect a faint bee-like sound around this Nobel...that it will induce him into the Democratic race. Hello? Really? Why would he do that? Seriously. He's got a frakking Oscar and now a Nobel to place on his mantel. Why in the world would he want to be President of the United States now? He can do far more good in his current situation and I think he knows that.)

The Neighbor, most recent inductee into the Exalted Order of the Koihead.

Maker of Italian ice tea, sounding board, cheerleader, prayer partner, bringer- home- to- me- of- little- presents- just- because, Best Friend. I believe that merits a koihead. At least.

(For the record, she has been jet-setting entirely too much lately and if she doesn't stay put for a while I'm going to get seriously cranky).

Congratulations Doris, Al and Neighb. Well done. I salute you.

I'll Bet At Least One of You Saw This Coming

This has been a long time coming. The honor had been bestowed in my heart long, long ago. Likely around the time of the Great Cheese Bet of '06. And then, when his blog went dark shortly thereafter, I mourned. Not only because I was going to miss his clever wit, gifted writing style and sharp political analysis but also because no blog means no pictures and no pictures means no Photoshop and no Photoshop means, well, you know what it means.

So it is with great joy that I celebrate the return of the Lex to Blogtopia by formally inducting him and his lovely bride*, Lady Lex, into the venerable Exalted Order of the Koihead. So much more charming than a wedge of plastic cheese, don'tcha think?


And the little koi look like they're smooching. I think that's almost as adorable as Lex and his Lady.

* Only the 3rd such couple to be so honored, including me and The Spouse, which you sorta have to do since I made this whole thing up in the first place.

Other Honors and Accolades

I have been in a very photo-smacky, template shuffling sort of mood today. Must be the weather. Anyway, with all the Blogger Awards that have been flying around the 'hood this week, I decided that those who have been presented with one of Blogopia's most prestigious awards should have a little something to put in their sidebars, should they so choose. Something like this: And while there is nothing particularly to keep anyone from kyping it, I expect there's just too much integrity in our little community for that sort of behavior and only those who have truly merited this coveted award would even dream of displaying it oh, so proudly. (It could be better, I grant you but to do some more exciting things to it I have to find some disk and lord knows where it might be).

Speaking of Koihead, I have noticed some glaring omissions as regards the Esteemed Order and intend to rectify that right now.

First, I must induct my darling Buck because he possesses so many of the qualities most valued in a Koihead: creativity, kindness, generosity and humor. Plus he let us live in his apartment for a week. And he's a good and supportive friend.


Second, and when I say "second" it is only because that comes after "first" but in no way implies a lesser order of magnitude, or in this case, Koitude, is The Hat. It's not just because she is a homegirl (and now she really, truly is) or because she's delightful or because she has the sweetest voice you ever heard but because she very patiently answers my html questions and helps me with all manner of behind the scenes template-y things that I can't figure out on my own. Plus she looks very fetching in hats and as I always say, nothing is more fetching than a koihead.



Congratulations, kids. Welcome to the Esteemed Order of the Koihead.

A Tribute

The Chicago end of Blogtopia is all a dither today, what with the celebration of one of their highest feasts, the birthday of Miss Healthypants. Her loving husband & best poodle have offered their tributes, mostly because they've had several hours already to do so. But now it is time for the West Coast to acknowledge this auspicious occasion.


I myself am not yet personally acquainted with the inestimable MHP, although I did chat with her once on the phone. (She has a very lovely voice and was giggling). But she is well-loved by people whose judgement I trust and so am assured that she is worthy of any and all tributes.


But what to do? I get to meet her in July and am looking forward to that. I will be able to cook for her, which is the sort of thing I like doing for people I care about. But today is her birthday. Something should be done now. I could bake her a cake (a healthy sort of cake; applesauce, say), take a picture of it and "give" it to her via the internets. But that doesn't seem like quite enough for a woman of her calibre.


And then it hit me. The perfect gift.


MHP, thank you for coming into the world and making so many people happy. It is with great pleasure that I initiate you into the Exalted Order of Koihead. You wear it well. Happy birthday, sweetie!

Long Overdue

Mr. Iwanski needs a little cheering up and at "Here's the Thing" you know exactly what that means.

























Congratulations on your induction into the Exalted Order of Koihead.

Whatever

I do not know what is wrong with me. I have no will to do any of the things I should be doing and it's now less than an hour before The Child must be retrieved. It's crazy, I tell you. I'm going to set my timer in a minute and blow myself away with how much can be accomplished in 45 minutes. But before that happens I would like to say, because I'm not sure it was remarked on quite enough, my family is pretty cool. Too many people go into the holidays dreading the time they will be forced to endure with people who, all things being equal, they wouldn't spend 2 minutes talking to at a cocktail party. I on the other hand, always leave our little get-togethers with the feeling that the time was too short. So, because I like my family members so much, I have formally inducted all of them into the Exalted Order of the Koihead.

Because they rock.

A Post Wherein I Overuse My Latest html Trick, Because I Can

It is safe to say that not everyone is a member of the Koihead Nation™. It's all very random and arbitrary (and dependent in large part on whether I have the right photo in my possession when the mood strikes). Koihead™, my friends, are made, not born.

Strictly speaking, I have the same feelings about annointing koi as I do about blog links. It isn't something you ask for, it is bestowed. On the other hand, it's not like there is a Constitution of Koi or even a charter. (At this point we have trouble convening enough Koihead for a decent game of poker). Those qualities and qualifications which make a Koihead™ are nebulus at best. Caprice plays a large role. (Caprice and I were college room-mates).

All that said, a big part of getting what you want in this world is to do with who you know and your willingness to put yourself out there. So here, honey. You wanted to be a Koihead™, a Koihead™ you shall be. Welcome to that high and exalted order.

You wear it well. So say we all.

Party Time

Sling has a new template. Let's celebrate, shall we?


Congratulations, Sling. Welcome to the Exalted Order of the Koihead.

Curses, Foiled Again

So it turns out that my outgoing email isn't working. It has been down or uncooperative or whatever since the weekend. Which explains why:

Jon might think I don't want to tell him stories.

Edy could be wondering if I'm dodging an accountability pact we made.

Ree is desperate about the dinner she wants me to help her with on Saturday.

Dana suspects I've forgotten we're to have lunch or something when he's in town next week.

JP is saddened to think himself unworthy of joining the Exalted Order of the Koihead.


Of course he isn't. (I like the jaunty way he wears that, don't you?)

And, of course, I want to share stories, keep pacts, help with a teaching dinner and go to lunch.

I also want to make my book deadline today. Fortunately The Neighbor is plugged in and letting me use her computer for that.

I suppose there is something dangerous about being so plugged in that I feel dysfunctional without my email. But with friends strewn throughout the world it is a necessary part of modern life. I feel lost without it. Hopefully, we'll get to the bottom of the problem before too much longer.

Oh, and yes, Edy, I really didn't get my driver's license until I was 40. Any other blog worthy questions?