This morning, I got my hair cut at a salon near Sarah’s, which is much more than coincidental because, well, she gave me the name of her salon when I told her I finally decided to find one here and not in NJ (long story). Since I couldn’t get a Saturday appointment until sometime in mid-February, and I was hating my hair (desperately in need of a cut/style; its last cut was Thanksgiving weekend), I took the first one in the morning and went in late to work.

Sarah and the twins stopped by after running one of their errands, saw my yellow Jeep, and deduced I was still there. (They really are pretty smart people.) Rebecca was very happy to be inside a girly shop. Max thought we were going to cut his hair, and had a very displeased expression on his face, and couldn’t wait to leave. Outside, I chatted with Sarah in between having the twins yell “Boo!” at me and yelling “Boo!” back (they have recently discovered being scared is fun). After a few minutes, though, I had to leave. “I have to go to work,” I told the twins.

“Work is bad,” Max said. What he really meant is that work is bad because it stops me from getting into the van with Sarah and the twins, and riding around town with them on their errands, followed by lunch with the twins and much back-and-forth “scaring” going on the whole time.

Y’know, I have to agree with him. I would have had a much nicer day with Sarah and the twins. I was with the family most of Saturday, and got to see Nate’s book and get his commentary on whether or not the plane on the last page was going to crash into the penguin. (Most certainly.) Do click the link; the book is hilarious and yet terrifying all at the same time.

The mind of a seven-year-old is an amazing thing.

More proof of the lies of the famous Muslim tolerance of other religions: Egyptian Muslims set fire to a house that was to be converted into a church. I’m sorry, they’re Egyptian “youths.” At least, they are in the original Reuters article.

At least 12 people were injured in clashes in Upper Egypt when a group of Muslims attempted to stop Christians converting a house into a church.
Security officials said the Muslims set fire to building materials for the building in Odaysat, near Luxor.

Several members of both communities were reported injured in the subsequent clashes, as well as two policemen.

I’d love to find a more detailed report, but I can’t.

It is the latest in a series of violent sectarian incidents in Egypt in the past few months.

A security source quoted by Reuters said the Christians did not have official permission to build the church.

In order to build a church in Egypt, you have to satisfy a number of extremely restrictive requirements. It can’t be too close to another church, can’t be anywhere near a mosque, you have to have a certain number of worshippers per church–can’t have too many churches, you know–and a series of other draconian restrictions. I need to find that cite that I read years ago with all of the requirements.

But please believe them when they tell you that Islam is a religion of tolerance. Because we can see how tolerant they are of other religions. That’s why Christians are leaving the Middle East by the millions. Because they feel safe and welcome there.

Just ask the Lebanese Christians. Or the Christians in Bethlehem.

Funny how the mainstream media doesn’t pick up on this story. But every time a palestinian child stubs his toe, it’s front page news.

A bomber from palestinian Islamic Jihad blew himself up in Tel Aviv today, wounding 29 Israelis. It’s possible the bomb detonated prematurely and saved many lives. Once again, for those who like to call these murderers part of the “resistance” that is attempting to drive Israel out of the occupied territories, I should like to point out that Tel Aviv is well within Israel proper.

The AP is convinced it knows the reason, because it prints what Mahmoud Abbas says. This is the lead:

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) - A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up at a Tel Aviv fast-food stand Thursday, killing himself and wounding 15 people in an apparent attempt to destabilize the region just a week before the Palestinian parliamentary election.

The militant Islamic Jihad group claimed responsibility in a telephone call to The Associated Press. The group has been responsible for all six suicide bombings in Israel in the past year, and is the only faction boycotting the Jan. 25 vote.

And this is in the middle of the article:

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said the attack was meant to derail next week’s parliamentary vote. “This is sabotage and aimed at sabotaging the elections, not only the elections, but also the security of Palestinians,” he told reporters at his office in the West Bank city of Ramallah. “The culprits must be punished.”

By the way, once more, let me point out that Abbas has yet to decry a bombing because it is wrong. But this he will never do, because he is part of the organization that sends out the terrorists on a regular basis–Fateh is no different from “the political wing” of other terror organizations.

Thank God the bomb or the bomber screwed up. Lives were saved today.

I have developed the ultimate diet plan.

Go to the hairdresser’s. Sit in front of a mirror for 45 minutes, staring at yourself and saying, “Holy crap! Why didn’t anyone tell me I got fat?”

I am so getting on the exercise machine when I get home tonight.

I mean, I started the food part of the diet this week. But man, am I going on the Gazelle Glider tonight. And tomorrow. And the day after that. And the day after that.

I think I’ll buy a full-length mirror and put it on my bedroom door. I’ve been planning to for a while. Now, I’ll do it. That’ll keep me on track.

A 15-year-old palestinian had a change of conscience. He handed over his bomb belt to the IDF. Good for him. The question is: Was he going to be The Youngest Suicide Bomber, or was he just a transport vehicle?

Is Hamas moderating? No. Duh.

Gee, Iran and Syria are partners. Who’da thunk it? (Can you say, “Axis of Evil”? I knew you could.)

Off to get my hair cut.

Vote for me. Today’s the last day of the nomination round. I might be cranky if I don’t make it through this round. It’s an honor just to be nominated, you see. (No, I couldn’t say that with a straight face.)