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The August HP monthly entries have been posted. Go have a look, and vote if you want. Also, the topic for September has been announced, so get t'drawing.

http://www.alicey.com/hpmonthly/

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Strange weekend. Mom, usually up at 6:00, came toddling out yesterday morning at 10:30 and looking darned embarrassed about it.

Went to the bookstore on Friday night, and was accosted by dark-haired woman:
"Kelly?"
*headshake*
"Sharon?"
*headshake*
"I know I know you. What's your name?"
"Ann."
"I'm sorry. I can't remember your last name..."
"Mutterlarmutter."
"Of course. I'm SUZANNE!"
I shake her hand politely. I have no fucking idea who she is. Possibly we were in school together, but since my graduating class had around 300 people, and half the girls were called Susan, Sue, Suzanne, or some other variation, and I've hysterically blocked out much of that time, and since she doesn't think to give me her past or present surname, clueless is me.
"This is my husband, Steve."
Steve, like Suzanne, is painfully neat. He's wearing a suit. She's wearing the girl equivalent, with a pleated skirt. I shake his hand, too.
"We met in Bible study class. We have five boys now! So where are you working? What do you do there? Where do you live? What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?"
I stammer some answers, in don't-give-information-to-strangers mode.
"I'm sorry. I hope I don't sound like I'm grilling you."
"Yes. You are. Very much so." Who the HELL are you?
She backs off, sort of. Somehow the subject changes to Tintin, which she can't find and her five boys JUST LOVE! Tintin I can discuss with strangers, and do.
"How do you know about Tintin?"
"Four years of French."
"He's FRENCH?"
"Belgian etc. etc. please God strike me dead or set off the fire alarm or something."
They find their book and go away. I still have no idea who she was. Perhaps she mistook me for somebody else altogether.

Found Harley Quinn Barbie, who is fabulous, with her face a delicate pale eggshell color, and Elektra Barbie, a character I hate but a perfectly adorable doll.

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Nicked from motheaten

1) What are you reading right now? Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson; Antarctica by Kim Stanley Robinson; The Annette Mysteries in that big goofy Disney box

2) Longest book you’ve ever read: Les Miserables

3) Strangest title of a book that you’ve read: Biggles Defies the Swastika

4) Stupidest ending of a book you’ve read: Any X-Files novel.

5) Which literary character have you related to the most? Wilbur the Pig

6) Do you prefer fiction or nonfiction? Fiction

7) Did you have a series of children’s/young adult books that you once enjoyed? The only series I read as an actual child was The Chronicles of Narnia. I've read tons more as an adult.

8) Can you enjoy reading the source book after seeing the screen adaptation? Sure!

9) Have you ever read a novelization of a movie or TV show? Of course.

10) Book that "turned you on" the most, erotically speaking: Never you mind.

11) Is there a real-life person that you’ve read more than one book about? Oscar Wilde, P.G. Wodehouse, the Beatles,

12) Book that everyone’s read but you: The DaVinci Code

13) Favorite "classic" writer/novelist: P.G. Wodehouse, H.G. Wells, assorted Brontes, Jerome K. Jerome, that Homer guy

14) Favorite contemporary novelist (let's say 1950's on): Neil Gaiman, Douglas Adams, Joe Keenan, Shirley Jackson, Daniel Pinkwater

15) Favorite short story writer: Kage Baker

16) Favorite columnist/journalistic writer: None at the moment

17) Favorite poet: Frank Jacobs

18) Favorite guilty pleasure book or series: I've enjoyed many truly bad books, but I refuse to feel guilty about them.

19) Favorite book by written by a famous actor or musician: Making History by Stephen Fry

20) Author whose work you once enjoyed but no longer do: Anne Rice

21) Favorite comics/graphic fiction author: Neil Gaiman, Keith Giffen, Goscinny/Uderzo