Reading: Ender's Game, which I'm greatly enjoying.

When Animals Speak

We noticed lots of fallen chestnuts on our walks this past weekend. It is a little early for chestnuts; most likely the hurricane was responsible. In the alley behind our house we found regular chestnuts with their smooth, tan hulls. One block away from our house, horse chestnuts with spiky outer hulls littered the sidewalk. The boys love to collect them. First they step on the hulls to squeeze out the shiny, brown nuts inside. Then they fill their pockets with hulled chestnuts.

I don't allow them to bring chestnuts inside, so they pile them on the front porch by the door. They pretend to know which nut belongs to whom, even though the piles have become mixed together. Both the regular chestnuts and the horse chestnuts look remarkably alike, although the latter are supposed to be inedible.

I've been meaning to add a more substantial bio section to this online journal, and when I do--if I ever do--I'm going to add a list of things I'm embarrassed to admit I like, entitled "Guilty Pleasures."

I just thought of something to add to the list: commercials featuring animals that speak with human voices. I don't know why, but I find these commercials hysterically funny. A couple of years ago, there was one I loved in which two penguins discussed sore throat pain. Tab used to stare at me in utter bewilderment as I'd collapse in hopeless giggles whenever that commercial came on.

Yesterday while I was eating lunch and watching Law & Order on A&E, I saw a commercial for a furniture company. Two raccoons were looking longingly through a picture window at a nicely-furnished room, and one of them was singing, "Wouldn't it Be Loverly" from My Fair Lady.

All I want is a room somewhere Far away from the cold night air With one enormous chair-- Oh, wouldn't it be loverly?

I nearly fell on the floor, I was laughing so hard.

On the other hand, I rarely remember which products those commercials are advertising, so in that respect, they are utter failures.

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