Dammit. I just read the ultimate In 'N Out secret menu guide and now I want one. Animal style!

Have we seen this Malvin and Cobbes T-shirt?

Erin, I've had too many retail people look at me funny when I go "Actually, no, hot chocolate." Some have the stupidity to look like I've betrayed some sort of sacred retail bond between them. Which is by no means the normal person, but the thing is, there's no point reaching for a given dish/drink/muffin when I come in the door. More often than not, I don't want it. More often than not, they make that moment of "Uh, actually, no" more awkward than I want.

If they treat me like they're familiar enough with me to take my suggestions seriously, or to put aside something when I ask, or give me leftovers free, then it's fine. But it's silly making a reach for my usual--that chick was good on Monday because she didn't assume she knew what I wanted. I hadn't wanted a smoothie in months. Just, last time I had, it was the Strawberry Twist. That's not prediction that's tracking details.

The dry cleaner I stopped going to because they pulled my clothes by the time I got to the counter on like my third visit there--that was just creepy. I didn't even see them look up the number on the spinny rack that matched my last name. Made me think they had nothing better to do than sit around and think too much about their random customers. Weirdos.

Lots of ~ma to your family, askye.

Oh, god, our pharmacy knows Hubby and me by name. But considering how many prescriptions we have and how chatty Hubby is, I'm not surprised.

ION, Unshelved is a comic based on a small town library, focused on the adventures of the Young Adult librarian, a young man named Dewey. He loves comics and movies and pop culture.

His pregnant wife has just gone into labor, and he's having angst: [link]

My pharmacy knows me by name. But they still give crap service. I'd rather they told me if they have to speak to the doctor to refill a script than if they head for my pills as soon as I come up to the counter.

Owen and Olivia are both home sick today. They've been amusing themselves for the last two hours with a Harry Potter Spells app and are dueling each other using the iTouch and iPhone.

Owen told Olivia she can't use Avada Kedavra but he just showed her how to use Expelliamus.

I used to frequent a Chinese restaurant that would get regulars' drinks as soon as they came in. They wouldn't assume where you sat, but you didn't have to wait. Plus I went in reading all the time and they'd comment on when I started a new book.

So, immediate family crisis has been averted. It's not a health thing, it's a major family drama issue that seriously needs to be resolved but my cousin needs to act like an adult and make some hard choices. Unfortunately my Aunt gets caught in the middle.

Dude, you can have Inn 'n Out.

I love it when staff remembers me. I'm dying for people to talk to most of the time, though.

In unrelated news, a picture book for all of us.

I've never seen Unshelved! But I am laughing my ass off. Also, I think this one will be Owen as an adult.