The Sheila Variations

I still remember you telling the story about the murals the first time.

"Yeah, um...hello? Artist person? I was wondering if you were free on Thursday to come over and paint an enormous picture of a man in a ski mask holding a gun on the side of my house?"

I'm glad Carrie's back, but where are pictures of that baby, dammit!

hahahahaha

So prosaic. "I'd like to have a skull and cross bones painted onto the side of my house. I would like it to have blood dripping out of its mouth - and I'd like it to be holding an Uzi - Thank you. I would like the mural to be done as soon as possible. Just keepin' up with the Joneses, dontcha know!!"

You know, I think they finally painted over the loyalist mural with just that image on it. I always thought the Princess Diana Queen of Hearts one was great but I suppose that is my sense of camp. I find a lot of things funny here (funny ha ha) that don't seem to amuse the locals in the same way.

Click my name for the new man.

Oh, and Sheila, I am curious what you thought of the Secret History! I wondered if you ever finished it. Did you get a copy of Blanketmen yet?

Carrie -

Oh my God, he is so cute!!!!!

I love his velour outfit. He looks very cozy.

Look at those John Belushi eyes (under the tunnel in the Blues Brothers). Isn't he just gonna be a real heartbreaker. ;-)

I'm so glad you got to have a private room this time after the birth, Carrie - I can see how that would make such a difference in the whole experience.

It is the softest thing. A friend of mine said it was like holding a real live teddy bear. And it is. Very snuggly.

Oh, man. It was great. I am really glad that I did this twice, just to have the two different experiences. Not that the first one was all bad, not at all, but I really enjoyed this time around, mainly cause I knew what I was in for. Although I sort of forgot how much work a newborn is and how exhausting and tiring and well I forgot a lot of that sort of end of things but! It all came back to me in a hurry. And I never thought I'd have kids, nevermind two. But yeah. Being on an open ward sucks.

Cutie pie! If he grows up to be half as adorable as his big sister, he'll be a doll.

Oh, and no - I have not read Blanketmen yet, Carrie - it's on my list, of course.

Carrie, I have to tell you this!! My friend Allison who you so kindly opened your house to as well works for TV Guide - and they have been doing this huge partnership with Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Allison went to the "set" - she was there when they filmed their latest show - she is now good buddies with Ty - she has many many stories and she said: "Oh, you HAVE to tell Carrie that I met Ty!!"

We were just laughing recently about coming to Belfast and watching that show and crying on your couch about it.

Auden is my favorite, hands-down. Well, A.E. Houseman and ee cummings run close seconds. Also T.S. Eliot? What is it with the initials, I'm just now noticing?