LaurieWrites: It's still hard to hold a candle.

But that's just because it's still freaking raining. What's up, November?

So just a few things lest I fail NaBloPoMo.

My cousin Kelly had a baby today. His name is Samm. He is the newest member of my extended family and I hope he has a beautiful, long and happy life. That is the most important thing that happened today by a long shot, or actually even this month. Or season. Or something. New people rank highly, is all I'm saying.

That's Samm there, on the right, in disguise, directly under the plastic pacifier necklace, I'm guessing. I'm looking forward to seeing him when he's not incognito anymore. (I am also related to the person on the left. I'll let you guess how.)

Moving on.

Oh, wait, before I do, another new person bears mentioning. My BlogHer buddy Genie Alisa had a baby in late October and he is just lovely. He's destined to be a Flyers fan, but I forgive now while he's small and defenseless and just so, so CUTE, seriously so cute. I'm glad things are going so well for their family.

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Speaking of hockey, last night Sarah took me along to a Washington Capitals game, where we sat in the best seats I've ever sat in for a hockey game at this facility, and as you may or may not know professional ice hockey particularly as played by this particular team is one of my favorite things in the world so it was all kinds of fun even before they beat the New York Islanders in one of the longest shootout overtimes I've ever seen. Anyway, I took no photos of the two of us together which is breaking a cardinal rule of any of our social interactions, but apparently I was too busy shoving beer and meatballs (seriously) into my grill while simultaneously commanding large, mulleted, toothless men to do unspeakable things to sticks and pucks. You know, as you do.

But as it is apparently the blog post of photos that do not exactly reflect the event in question but instead call it to mind, I will share a picture of us at a Washington Mystics game from earlier this year, where we sat in almost the exact row we were in last night, except there was a court before where there was now ice.

Also, hey, because it's a cute picture. I'm no dummy, born at night but not last night, etc.

I honestly have a lot of friends because I've made it a practice in my adult life to keep good people in my life and to spend time with people I like and who make me happy (novel, yes, I know) but at the risk of making one or both of us gag - or maybe you, who knows - Sarah is my present from the Internet.

And that is not just because she can drink a beer that I stick in her face while she's walking so I won't spill and not only does she not consider this a personal affront but a life skill, but that's no small thing. I mean, dude, to find that almost 20 years after college? Thanks, Internet. How did you know?

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In other news I am having a not insignificant pre-holiday existential crisis. It's exhilarating. I am simultaneously engaging in a whirlwind of activity in what feels like all areas of my life and a lot of it is good except some focus would be nice because a lot of the time I'm just waiting for my head to explode all over the sidewalk or the meeting room or Target or wherever. There's just too much going on in there. I'm not sure which way the winds are blowing and that's frustrating for me and a little bit frightening.

I like even-numbered years. As much as I don't like to wish any of my life away, I'm looking forward to 2010. Also this, very soon.