They expire? Huh. Maybe that explains why I don't have more of them?

I have to look at my trips for the rest of the year and figure out if I need to squeeze one more in to make the required status miles--I think I might be like 200 miles short, so I need to do the math.

Someone tell me I can get through the next week and a half without my head exploding? I'd really like that.

The Chester Beatty Library in Dublin [link] is excellent. It also had (in 2011) a good place to eat inside and I got to watch a tourist fall full-body into the ornamental water feature.

Dublin: I loved the tours at the Kilmanhaim Gaol and Glasnevin Cemetery. The Book of Kells at Trinity is nice...seeing the Long Room is the best part. Marsh's Library is another great old library, right next to St Patrick's Cathedral (which, meh). The Hugh Lane is a my fave art gallery that I've been to and I also really liked the NMI-Archeology. If you like Yeats or that era, the National Library has a nice exhibit in their basement. (Also across the courtyard from the NMI-Archeology. )

The highlight of my trip in September was going to St. Michan's crypts. The church is pretty run down, and the exhibits looked older than me, but the tour guide was a hoot, and though, I suspect this happens more frequently than he made it seem, he let us touch a mummy! (Which was the reason for it being the highlight of my trip.)

Sigh. Now I want to go back.

You can do it, Sox!

I also recommend a place called Queen of Tarts, [link] which is central and easy to find, for dining, and a shop (wovens and take-away food) called Avoca [link] .

So remember how they tricked my grandmother into a nursing home? She's having a great time! AS I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR YEARS. She was isolated in her house for like 15 years, and now she has a boyfriend (!!!).

Can we younger people remember that communal living can be great? I wish she had gone into assisted living so many years ago.

So remember how they tricked my grandmother into a nursing home? She's having a great time! AS I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR YEARS.

God, I wish we could get Tim's dad into assisted living. He'd be so much happier. He is SO isolated in his house. He doesn't even have neighbors close by. He's a total extrovert, and would be so much happier with people around. Gah.

Let's try to stick around to remind each other as becomes necessary.

We are having a Thanksgiving potluck next Wednesday. At least it isn't the same week as Thanksgiving. Wouldn't it make more sense to have it after and, like, trade leftovers? But after Thanksgiving is Outlet Sale and Xmas decorations, I guess. Still, maybe I will suggest that for our December department meeting. Sort of a White Elephant potluck.

My mother will tell you that one reason she pushed for moving to the retirement community is because if she died first my father would never leave the house, but there he'd always have someone to eat dinner with - the ladies would be all over him because he has pretty blue eyes and a full head of hair in his 80s. There he plays pool and chess and makes clay flutes. Bizarro Dad.

Sox, you can do it!

Today is our teacher-parent conference. Like many children, when I ask my kid how school was she'll say, "Fine." This year, however, she has a girl in her class who I've pegged as most likely to be Student Body President, and if I ask D what K is doing in class, I get a full run down. It's hilarious when there are 3-4 of us lined up at soccer practice to talk to D about our kid.