Ha, you posting made it happen!

That was good.

Dang, I want to see that live SO MUCH.

Drew, I'm so sorry. Peace to you and all who loved her.

Kate, I'm sad you guys didn't move here! Maybe another opportunity will come up someday. I'm not sure I know what your husband's field is but there are plenty o' universities here!

Thanks, lisah! I'm a little sad about it too. His field is Irish/British/British Empire history.

Oh, and did I tell you that Atomic Books Nashville finally opened?? And it's right next door to one of our favorite restaurants. We went in on Saturday and it looks great! I'm psyched to have a good bookstore in our neighborhood.

I really lucked out. Both DH and I were late with teeth and so were the boys. #1 got his first tooth at 18 months!

I had two at 4 months. So, I guess I'm lucky her first one didn't appear until 6 months, I guess.

Y'all, the Grammys reminded me of a ridiculous conversation is had with my mom Super Bowl night. She's the only one in our family who likes watching football, and after catching the first half, came home and caught halftime.

M: all hip thrusting and gyrating.

S: called dancing, mom. Serious skills.

M: it just was so ...so..I don't know who these people are. Are they popular?

S: (choking on OMG, mother laughter and rolling eyes so hard.) MOTHER. Elvis. Beatles.

M: but we didn't have a tv, that wasn't my experience.

S: JESUS, but you knew.

M:yes, but...

S: Ok, so (explains my take on the Black Panther symbolism, significance, dance style incorporation as culturally significant, Formation lyrical import and vid imagery, relevance.)

M: ooh, I worked with the panthers in the prisons back in CA. But still, so many hip thrusts.

S: (dying) Mom, you are so very white Midwestern baby girl.

M: what does that mean?

S: (face in pillow) I love you but you're fussing about sexxay dancing? Who are you?

Yaktrax literally saved my ass in Moldova. I went through two pairs.

Oh, and did I tell you that Atomic Books Nashville finally opened?? And it's right next door to one of our favorite restaurants. We went in on Saturday and it looks great! I'm psyched to have a good bookstore in our neighborhood.

I heard! So exciting!!!

Drew, I'm very sorry for your loss.

A friend pulled a huge six foot tall by five foot wide bookcase (not really for books, though because the shelves are unsupported in the middle) out of her dad's garage, where he had been storing paint cans and rusty tools on the shelves. She cleaned it up--it's solid walnut, and at least a hundred years old. It's in her living room now, with tasteful bibelots and family photographs displayed.

I sold a raft of old Fire King and Pyrex dishes of Mom's, my aunt's and my grandmother's on ebay. Mom had the nesting tulip pyrex bowls--they brought in well over $100, and the single large jadeite mixing bowl went for $70. My MiL's pink pyrex covered dishes would be worth a lot, but she's still using them, frequently.

It's kind of amazing what people will pay for stuff, says the woman who ponied up retail for Steiff and artist teddy bears.

I still use my mom's old Pyrex casserole bowls, but I doubt they are worth much of anything. Far more desirable to me for their use and memory values.

I have some of my grandmother's corning ware casseroles, which I can't imagine are valuable - I think they still sell the same design. In any case, I have them because I use them. Although I have somewhat accidentally acquired some newer casserole dishes just by working where I do.

I did get rid of Grandma's glass quart measuring cup when it broke. It wasn't pyrex, I don't know what it was - I liked the look of its shape but it didn't pour well so I didn't even try to glue it back together. This is something of a triumph for me.