Hi.

Cordelia and Charles have suffered a death in the family. My condolences.

I can't help but think of the early demise of my own parents whenever parents/grandparents of friends die. Reading Shakespearean tragedy doesn't help with the mood either.

The Gourami fish are fighting with one another. They face each other, swim quickly towards each other, and then try to grab lips. I know from previous Gourami owning experience (through reading about their behavior) that this is either typical mating behavior or typical male/male battling it out to see who is the baddest lip-locker of them all and therefore have first dibs on any female Grouramis around, I don't recall which and don't particularly feel like looking it up right now. They seem to enjoy the activity, so I wouldn't try to isolate them. What it does mean either way (male/male or male/female) is that the conditions in my aquarium are ideal for breeding.

Isn't that what we're all after (in a Darwinian sense, that is)?

The things I do are right
I wanna be free Just me! Whoa, oh! Babe!
That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning, yeah
That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like Sunday morning, whoa
'Cause I'm easy
Easy like Sunday morning, yeah
'Cause I'm easy Easy like Sunday morning
(ad lib fade)
Easy, Lionel Richie

And now for the alternative lyrics to the chorus that Lucas came up with:

That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like a drunken Mormon, yeah!
That's why I'm easy
I'm easy like a drunken Mormon, woah!

Now if you don't know how easy drunken Mormons can be, then you've missed out.

Speaking of drunken Mormons, when I was in grad school my graduate advisor told me the story of his ex-pat (Utah that is) Mormon schoolmate who was apparently the most epic drinker he had ever met aside from the random Scot or Irishman who happened by and he wondered if all Mormons who were disaffected with their church fall into such behavior. Now I certainly can't attest for all experiences, but I would have to agree that lady liquor does seem to be a favorite of those who've fallen out with the Brethren. Ultimately, I can agree with this assessment, since this old joke holds true:

Q: Why do you always take two Mormon's fishing?

A: Because if you only take one, he will drink all your beer.

Speaking of drunken Gaels:

It was Christmas Eve babe
In the drunk tank
An old man said to me, won't see another one
And then he sang a song
The Rare Old Mountain Dew
I turned my face away
And dreamed about you
(Pogues, Fairytale of New York)

And by the way, if you want some more contemporary thrash Celtic music, try Flogging Molly.

Oh and stay away from my liquor!