Same here. I'm not dexterous enough in the morning to separate those tiny filters (nor organized enough in the evening to get one ready ahead of time). My one complaint about the refillable KCup is that it tends to make markedly weaker coffee than the prefilled ones. I've seen some clever workarounds (using a rinsed-out plastic KCup), but I haven't yet put one to the test. Off to look into the Bunn machine JudoMom mentioned...

When you write your memoirs, this has to be a chapter title.

I actually did have a Great Uncle Dick, and even almost 30 years ago my college roommate got the giggles every time his name came up. He was a great guy, but his name did not make the long list when we were auditioning baby names. And I just re-read the above and will now swear that I did not intend the several double entendres. And that is why Dick will never come back into fashion.

My Googling skills are failing me on this one. I'm trying to figure out whether to avoid this stuff, but everything I encounter is either rah-rah propaganda from the Microban people or alarmist We're All Going to Die!!! blogs that also suggest that hand sanitizer is going to be the downfall of modern society. I think I'll just look for sheets without Microban. Sounds like the easiest plan (she said naively).

No clue. I read it in a sleazy Jilly Cooper novel years ago, and I've always liked it.

I lobbied hard for Agnes. Would have called her Taggie. That got vetoed hard.

I've been shopping for college dorm bedding, and I noticed that a lot of the Twin XL bedding at Bed Bath & Beyond is treated with "Microban protection." Is this common? Are all my sheets infused with Microban and I just never noticed? Or are they trying to stave off the dorm room stink? Meaningless marketing ploy? So is it something to avoid? I don't really care if it doesn't do much, but I do worry that it is somehow harmful. What do you think?

#throwingamyunderthebusbecauseshestartedit

I had a relative named Arvella. I quite like it, but I don't think I'd saddle a baby with that name. How about Brenda? Any chance?

Hard to say. I'm meeting a lot of preschool-aged Hazels lately, and I'd not have bet that name would make a big comeback.

#betthebookstoreisn'tclosed

How are you holding up, Beth?

I love that. In fact, I think we need to consolidate Hive efforts to Make Ter Happen. We can do this, people!

English muffins are known as E-muffs in our house. A boy we knew in college used terms like that for nearly everything, and we always thought E-muff especially goofy. Naturally, it stuck and we've inflicted it upon the next generation.

There was quite a kerfuffle about the Glee performance, but Fox and Mr. Coulton seem to have reached an agreement (and a music charity benefited, so all's good). It is hilarious, though. I do like your sweater vest guy, but I think my favorite is the girl in the blue shirt and headband. She sells it.

I'm partial to Jonathan Coulton's cover.

It was in the name of science!

Ice cream. Much ice cream. I'd be a wreck, too, if it were me. But it isn't, so I'll point out that the YMCA runs excellent programs and there's no reason to think this would be any less well organized and supervised. Your girl is brave and kind and strong. She'll be fine. When does she come home?

I didn't care for the one I used, either. Then again, I like a forceful shower. Gentle rainfall is lovely, but if I could have a fire hose rigged up in my shower I would probably go for it. My husband keeps threatening to get the kind of shower they use for circus elephants.

They do have excellent, practical advice there. I especially like their recommendation about laundry: "Wash it, dry it, put it away. Like, AWAY away, not just in a basket." Reminding myself to put things (and not just laundry) AWAY away is tremendously helpful if I'm feeling cluttery.

Did you hear about the guy who was cooled to absolute zero? He's OK now.

Three logicians walked into a bar. The bartender asked, "Do you all want drinks?" Logician #1: I don't know. Logician #2: I don't know. Logician #3: Yes.

Helium walked into a bar and ordered a beer. The bartender said, "I'm sorry. We don't serve noble gases here." He didn't react.