Oooo, shiny!

Took the kids to see Golden Compass yesterday.
( Here's what I thought. )

So over dinner I asked the kids if they could figure out any reason why people would say other folks shouldn't watch this. They mentioned some of the scarier bits (and make no mistake, some of the battles are pretty farking intense, especially ( spoiler )

) but neither kid thought much of the "Pullman's out to destroy the Church!" argument. As Rowan put it, "If seeing a movie makes you stop believing in God, then you really didn't believe very much." Out of the mouths of babes...

Yulemas Pimpage

Hey all,

I have this friend, amenquohi (Hi, amenquohi!).

A couple of years ago, when she started college, her mother gave her a hug to take to school with her. It was a large pillow, shaped like arms and hands, that she could wrap around herself whenever she needed a hug.

Great idea, isn't it? Think about it: everyone of us has needed a hug at some point in time. It's human nature, and sending someone you love a portable hug is one of those silly-sweet things that will always bring you fondly to mind.

Now amenquohi has a business that sells these hugs. It's called Hugs Direct. She's still getting it off the ground. I've got one, and it's great. I use it as a neck pillow when I'm reading, I sleep with it as a bolster, and when I'm feeling really down I wrap it around my shoulders and give myself a great big hug.

So, if you've got someone you need to get a gift for, a hug is a good alternative. It's cheap enough to be a Secret Santa gift, it's goofy enough for siblings, and it's got enough of an awwwww-factor for parents and SOs.

Help amenquohi out. Give somebody a hug.