(no subject)

So I did that thing you do in the Internet Age, where you think of someone you grew up with and think, "hey, they have a pretty unique and Google-able name, I wonder if anything will come up?"

And I discovered that the Mayor of NYC just praised his second novel, released last summer.

(And that to my eye, he's completely unrecognizable as the kid I remember.)

(no subject)

Speaking of long-lost acquaintances, it's good to know that it isn't only SF/F that likes to prop itself up as the relevant and happening (and action-packed, too!) genre as compared to that sterile, formless, out-of-touch and slightly fey shibboleth known as the literary novel. (Unless you're Jonathan Franzen! Now there's a manly man.)

Nice shout-out to Walter Mosley, though.

(no subject)

Today G. and I and the ladies went to the zoo, because it's finally sunny and warm out and we could all use the walk-around. Plus we had free ride tickets for the train.

All Simone really wanted to see were the frogs, with maybe some turtles on the side. We also took in the squirrel monkeys and sun bears (and the flamingos by the front, as always), but we skipped the elephants, tigers, and all other standard exhibits in favor of extra time at the reptile and amphibian house. Plus lots of climbing on the larger-than-life playground frogs.

The train was a treat, too. It's kind of cool that there are animals (wallabies and emus) you can only see via the train. Also some lovely views of Oakland and the bay.

I'm also very impressed with how well they walked with us. No running ahead, no hairpin turns, only a little negotiation required here and there when paths would diverge. My girls are growing up...