So, I haven't posted in a bit, largely because I've been away. First I was home for the grand Chinese Christmas Buffet (where I ate much seafood) and saw Two Towers. Also, I now have a new computer, which replaces the 6-year old Toshitbox Inferior, which had been my computer since Freshman year of college.

    Upon returning here, I turned around and joined some friends for a tremendous New Years gathering over the course of a few days. A couple I'm friends with invites dozens of people to their house for a grand fete, and I was glad to be able to join them all for the second time. In addition to playing a delightfully evil board game called Abalone and frying burritos for everyone, I got to sit at the piano while my host played the accordion as a few of us tried to make up songs. Much fun.

    However, the thing that the world really needs to know about is the email my father sent me:

I am quite upset with you. I had a weird dream last night. You had informed me and Mom that you were to attend penguin school, to learn how to act like a penguin. The school is located in Baltimore. Wonder if it has anything to do with the National Aquarium, being there. Mom and I thought it was a waste of your time to become a penguin. How will that benefit you?? And you would be limiting yourself to cold weather. There was not much more to it than that.

    As far as I know, my only penguin training is the tuxedo I must pay for the privelege of wearing at weddings. But he viewed it as a sign that my current pursuits have roughly the same value as penguin school. Which is odd because while fish come in schools, penguins are generally found in colonies. And speaking of fish, I've got a craving for a raw one, so I'm going to waddle over to the kitchen.

    (That's a little penguin joke. Everyone knows our kitchen has nothing but rice, pasta, eggs, and potatoes.)