Albert: I think one of those weird angora guys is here, if you want to go say hi.
Me: Which one? Angora Man 1.0 or Angora Man 2.0?
Albert: How should I know??

So I went to have a look. It turns out that it was the most rare and elusive Angora Man 1.0! We haven’t seen him in, like, a year and a half. He looked the same as ever: shuffling, mumbling, sporting a massive combover, and wearing the original women’s white angora jumper that he’d had on when I met him. I asked him what had happened to the one we knit him. “It was too big,” he mumbled, “so I sold it.” And now he wants another one knitted. So that’s another $700 sale… All in a day’s work at Sydney’s #1 Fluffy Emporium.

A MeFite wants to know: What are the most important animals in your neck of the woods? I had no idea that some of these Indiana species were endangered…

Yay! I just had a phone call from the lovely people at the Pine Street Creative Arts Centre to let me know that they’ve added another Beginners Ceramics course this term. And since I’m on the waiting list, I get first dibs at the class! So I booked in. Starting next Wednesday, I’ll be learning “wheel forming” for nine weeks. I haven’t made anything with clay since, like, the third grade. This should be fun!

Oh my gosh. I’m still laughing at Staci’s “Dinnertime Conversation” video. It starts out so quiet… (Make sure you don’t have the volume up at work.) The look on Ruth’s face as she happily joins in just cracks me up. Screaming babies that aren’t in my house are fun! 🙂

Books
Awhile back I joined the Kinokuniya loyalty club, and today I found an e-mail in my Inbox with a couple 20% off coupons. That’s as good an excuse as any to go book shopping! I’ve been wanting to read March by Geraldine Brooks ever since Mary-Helen recommended it so I picked up a copy (one of their last!) as well as a new copy of Little Women. I’ve read LW several times before (and I’m sure it’s sitting in my Mom’s basement somewhere) but I figured I ought to read it again before I tackle March. I also put in an order for Jeffrey Steingarten‘s The Man Who Ate Everything (since it’s always out of stock). Then I moseyed on over to the comics section – I love the looks on the geek guys’ faces – where I was excited to see that Batman: The Dark Knight Returns was finally available. I’ve always liked Batman, and I’m trying to hit some of the big high points in the comics canon. (Did I mention I read The Watchmen? That’s a whole ‘nother post, really…) So that’s three new books to add to the pile on my bedside table. I’m currently about halfway through Peter Carey’s The True History of the Kelly Gang, and so far I’m really enjoying it. (Ned Kelly was sorta the Australian equivalent of Jesse James.) Yay! The only thing that makes chilly winter nights bearable is a warm husband, a thick duvet, and a stack of new books…