You can book your flight here, but I wouldn't recommend it

Recently I went to reserve a flight for Frank and hit a recurring snag. I like to use Priceline, but it's a no-bookie-bookie if your trip originates outside the US. I called my beloved to let him know I'd need a little time to search the airline sites directly, and he seemed a little aggravated. Because, you know, the Priceline thing is my fault. We exchanged "pleasantries" for a minute or two, then someone called someone an asshole, and then someone suggested checking flightsforassholes.com to see if anything was available. Cue the imaginary ticket site gigglefest. Here are the ones I can remember...

The aforementioned flightsforassholes.com
suckitandcrash.com
tryorderingyourowndamnticket.com
downinflames.com
icantdoanythingformyself.com
imaginingyouonfire.com
illbookthisflightandifyoudontlikeitcallyourlawyer.com
beagoodwifeanddoasisay.com
longwalkhomefromnewark.com
And Frank's clincher, enjoymyinsurancemoney.com.

I went directly through our usual airline and found a price I could live with, though I'll admit to being extremely tempted by that last one. Snort!

Art to Choke the Constant Reader's Heart*

Last night I stayed up late to finish reading Duma Key, and the end was better than I had hoped. If you're familiar with the work of Stephen King, you know he frequently and affectionately addresses the person holding the material as "Constant Reader", an act which I find excruciatingly endearing. My research on the man himself indicates that he's a great believer in giving it all away, which elevates him from 'respectable human being' to 'downright huggable' in my book.

Duma Key centers around a favorite topic of mine -- art. Sketching, drawing, painting... the kind of things you do a lot when you're a stay-at-home parent, whether or not you're an artiste. We generally do not permit the use of colored pencils as Olivia finds them to be particularly tasty, but occasionally one of the kids will turn up with one in hand. This morning Nico plucked a red pencil from somewhere (fellow Constant Readers, it was RED, ha-ha) and asked for a big piece of paper. We sat together at the table and I watched him make a self portrait.

"Look, Mommy, I'm drawing Nico. Here are Nico's eyes, and this is Nico's nose... and here is Nico's smile. Nico has arms and legs... and here is Nico's head, and look at his nice haaair. Look, Mommy, that's Nico."


Once again, there goes my chest. Caving inward.

Late note on the picture: when Nico draws faces, there are usually three eyes. First two vertical (open), then one horizontal (closed) to the left. When you look at this face as though the eyes are closed and the boy has long lashes, it's really a very accurate depiction of our Snuffy.

* Partial title theft from Henry Rollins Art to Choke Hearts, because you have to use that one when the opportunity presents itself.