Showing posts with label goofing off. Show all posts
Showing posts with label goofing off. Show all posts

Monday, October 24, 2011

Goblins, spirits & demons for your beautiful modern life

Read about the Badi and other potentially useful spirits
and demons at Bastard Books!
One of the things I've noticed in recent research: People in the olden days blamed spirits for a lot of what went wrong. 


It makes me sad we don’t have many spirits to blame stuff on these days. Lucky for you, I've found some that you might be able to use... 


Today, I'm at Bastard Books having some crazy fun. Come visit. And, you can win something, too!


Come on over to Bastard Books and say hi!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Notable Books & 2011 predictions for Smugglivus!

 
What shocking new innovation will Apple unveil in 2011? What confusing concept will President Obama go on TV to explain to the nation? What are a few of the books that yours truly freaked out on this past year?

It's all at The Book Smugglers today! Those sad, sick, book-obsessed yet lovely bloggers have really been doing it up this year for their fabulous SMUGGLIVUS hoe-down. And I'm honored to be one of today's guests.

Happy Smugglivus!!  Woo-hoo! Come visit.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

I am hidious!

Back when I was in 7th grade I climbed pretty high up the area spelling bee ladder. I nailed killer hard words, but what did I get tripped up on? RECOMMEND! (I still remember the gasp that went up in the room when I finished spelling it with two C's.)

The spelling bee debacle sure cured me of my problem with recommend. But there are still a lot of words that I can never seem to learn. What is up with my mental block? Come, let us take a tour!

Viscious Huh, that isn't a word, is it? Yes, friends, I am trying to spell vicious here, and I had to go through some dictionary.com iterations to get this baby right. Because I want to spell it Viscious! I want an S in there!

Okay, then here's what always happens next: I take out the "i" and get viscous. Like a fool, I'll often put it in manuscripts, because viscous is a real word, meaning sticky and thick, so spellcheck doesn't pick it up. So I'll be like, "He was a mean and viscous fellow with a black goatee." And inevitably, somebody will laughingly point it out...Are you sure he was viscous, Carolyn?, and I'll be like, damn! Why is vicious spelled like that? It needs an S, and I don't think I have to remind you who agrees with me here, my brothers.

Occassionally Or is it occasionally? Or ocassion? I never know. I want there to be two 's's in it. The s/zh sound has way more presence when you say the word aloud than the C. Let's face it, the "s/zh" sound is the coolest part of the word, and it should have proper fanfare!

Independant This is what I always write for independent. Why do you not end with ANT? You should, you know. I mean, there are already two E's. it doesn't feel right that there would be YET ANOTHER. It seems like there should be an A somewhere. And also, Independent, have you never heard of pendant? A pendant hangs on a chain. Take it off the chain = independant.

Permanant Seriously, does permanent look right to you? Honestly? If you really really stare at it? It doesn't look right to me. Sometimes with a word you can't spell, you're supposed to change its form, and let that instruct you, but permanance seems perfectly viable to me.

Decieve, recieve and all that. Let me ask you, what good is that rhyme? 'I before E except after C, or when..." and then there's a list of exceptions. Yeah, that's really helpful. Because if you don't have the rest memorized, the rhyme might as well be, "I before E except after C, and also except when this rhyme is invalid." And you're back to your own devices. I actually have more problem with receive than deceive. In fact, this is a word I'll write around in client emails. I'll start an email 'I recieved the PDFs...' and then I'll be like, shit... Then I'll go, 'I got the PDFs' even though 'got' is feels unbusinessy to people.

Seperate I'm really fighting to get this one right, and sometimes I do spell it correctly, that is, separate. My trick is to remember that there is a para in there, the Greek root meaning by the side of, and that helps me, and sometimes I think about parallel, which also has para in it, to help guide me to spelling separate correctly. But, it's harder when it's a verb. (Let's seperate these two troublemakers!) because it's pronounced as if there's an E there.

Soldiar This might be my most embarrassing one. Who spells Soldier wrong? OMG. Is this post going too far? Am I divulging too much? I think the other words are acceptable misspellings, but soldiar strays into LOLcats territory.

Okay, dish people. What words can't you spell?
Image: self portrait of Antonio María Esquivel (1806, Sevilla – 1857, Madrid), from wikimedia. Sorry Antonio.

Monday, March 22, 2010

My long and heartbreaking road to publication

Like many authors, I experienced a lot of rejection before getting a book published. Today, I'm over with Donna at Fantasy Dreamer's Ramblings talking about novels and projects I worked on that were heartbreakingly and mysteriously passed over by editors and agents. Oh, why, why, why????

My sad list of 10 mysteriously rejected novels & projects includes:
1. An urban fantasy series:

Book #1: THE LAST MANICURE
Concept: Hilarious tales of a zombie manicure parlor with a permanent solution to cuticle problems.

Book #2:
THE LAST PEDICURE
Concept: Sequel to “The Last Manicure” featuring a client with a terrible ingrown toenail.

2. A zombie erotica standalone

Title: DEEP CARESS OF THE CLAMMY HAND
The concept: A tender and highly erotic zombie romance


Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Gifts you should NOT get for werewolves this holiday season

It is not easy to buy gifts for paranormals - especially werewolves. While they are typically polite about accepting items they don't like, quietly returning them when you're not around, some gifts that can upset them greatly, and should be avoided at all costs. Hopefully, this list will help.

Do NOT give your werewolf friends and family the following gifts:

1. Any chia pet in the shape of a canine. Deeply offensive to the werewolf psyche.

2. A Friendship bracelet that you worked really hard on, that the werewolf must never take off, and you'll be really mad if they lose it. Because they will!

    

3. The complete 5-volume Dog Whisperer DVD set featuring Cesar Millan. A werewolf will instantly rip it apart.

4. Nature's Gift Aromatherapy patchouli-scented bliss candles.

5. Actually, any heavily scented products are poor gift choices for werewolves.

6. Ten-hour video set of the historic Apollo 11 Lunar Landing. This type of close-up non-stop full moon footage can be overstimulating to werewolves, and lead to destruction of furnishings and upholstery and also set off howling that can result in noise complaints from the neighbors.

7. Road Runner vs. Wiley Coyote cartoon DVD set. (Not even as a joke, unless you hated your TV set anyway.)

8. Joy of yodelling CD. (Gets werewolves riled up, not in a good way.)

9. A surprise pre-paid trip to the dentist to get all cavities filled with silver fillings.

10. The clapper, or worse, if you helpfully change all their lights over to operation by the clapper. This is not something that the werewolf in your life will find at all helpful .

11. Rogaine.

12. The Slanket. While this gift may be exciting and attractive to your comfort-loving werewolf friend, it is actually very restrictive, and when it comes to shifting form unexpectedly, BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN.


13
. The Miau Kitty Christmas Carol album: definitely NOT a recommended buy for werewolves this holiday season.


Do not under ANY circumstances purchase this music CD for a werewolf.

Later this week: What not to get a vampire for Christmas.
Links:

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Reading personality quiz: Are you a Cinderella or a Little Red Riding Hood?

What is your reading personality? For each question, choose A or B.

You come upon a wolf in a bed. Your typical reaction:
A. Well well well...what have we here?

B
. Get out of here, you freak!!!!

Long road through town . . . or shortcut through the scary forest?
A. Oh, please. The forest. It'll be fine. And if I get into trouble I'll smash somebody over the head with my basket. The road through town is for sissies.

B
. Let me think: walking through a dark, scary, lonely forest or a riding in a fine carriage through town. Hold on, let me get back to you on that.*g*

What sounds more romantic?
A. Hero risks his life to save you and a beloved family member in a bloody and violent scene.

B.
Hero recognizes your true fabulousness and must have you and only you, and this dictates his actions forevermore.


Fashion for an evening out:
A. You go for practicality over style. That said, you want to stand out in a crowd.

B.
Evening out? Style all the way. There's nothing magical about practicality.

Evening out shoe choices:
A. Boots or flats. You prefer shoes you can walk and run in.

B. High heels. Because, hello, why do you think fairy godmothers make coaches with handsome coachmen?

Your problems:
A. They usually come from your not following directions or sticking to a schedule...but sometimes you need to stop and talk to interesting people and pick flowers!

B
. You can usually trace them back to those around you letting you down or being mean or just dense. People, can we try and be decent human beings and all just love each other and get along here?


Most important traits in a hero:
A. Hot, brave and kicks ass. Fun to have adventures with. Good at getting me out of trouble when necessary.

B
. Handsome, wise, strong and rich. Super devoted. Will worship me to the end of time.

Your idea of an excellent romantic gift is:
A. The blood-soaked decapitated head of your mortal enemy. Score!

B.
The most beautiful ring in the world and, oh yeah, a kingdom to help rule over!

***
If you picked more A's: You're a Little Red Riding Hood. You like your HEAs, sure, but it's okay if it's a blood-soaked ending, or if you have to wait for it. Good reading choices: Anne Stuart, Ann Aguirre, ilona Andrews, Laurel K. Hamilton, Kelley Armstrong, Linnea Sinclair,

If you picked more B's: Surprise! You have a Cinderella reading personality. You love traditonal HEAs, magic and moonlight and crazy-in-love heroes, even epilogues with kids. Authors for you: Lisa Kleypas, Lisa Hendrix, J.R. Ward, Julia Quinn

If you went more half and half: You want it all! Drama, conflict, crazy devotion, HEA, heroines who can take care of themselves...extra points for a cool outfit. Authors: Kresley Cole, Meljean Brook, Richelle Mead, Joanne Bourne, some Loretta Chase,

Suggestions welcome! Okay, this post got away from me, and it was harder than I thought it would be to put books in these categories. What books would you put where? I might still shuffle them around.

Special bulletin to Little Red Riding Hoods: Jessica at Racy Romance Reviews is holding an open thread discussion tomorrow night, Sunday, on Anne Stuart's Black Ice! It starts at 7 pm EST.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Dear Mr. Tony Groups: I hope you are not annoyed


Dear Mr. Tony Groups:I received the scam email about your ‘banking project’ last night. I hope that you’re not annoyed, but honestly? I felt like you phoned it in. The scam field is crowded these days, and you really do need to make more of an effort to stand out.

I’m sending it back to you with a few suggestions and a new campaign concept: Vampires!
Have you heard about the huge popularity of Vampires? It's the zeitgeist of the century! I'm confident this new direction will greatly improve your response rate.

Like Dr. Ogechi Martins, who I believe is a colleague of yours, you have chosen to write YOUR ORIGINAL LETTER IN CAPS. I'm not all for caps, frankly, BUT I HAVE LEFT IT AS IS. My suggestions are in red [and my comments are in blue.]

***

TONY GROUPS, Esq. & ASSOCIATE
130 BANK ANTHONY WAY
ARAD, ROMANIA

[NOTE: I changed your Nigerian town to a Romanian one. Trust me on this: Nigeria and vampires is a non-starter for most people. I also added Esq. to your name. It has a certain flair.]
Dear Partner and friend of paranormal creatures,
Good day, firstly, I apologize for sending you this sensitive information via e-mail instead of a Certified mail/Post-mail. This is due to the urgency of the information, and because my client is extremely powerful and unaccumstomed to waiting. [NOTE: You see? We start right off building the mystique.]
I humbly crave your indulgence to read this e-mail with all seriousness of purpose because this project is based on Trust and the fact that you are an open-minded person who understands the unique problems of paranormal individuals. [NOTE: Just a numbers game, Mr. Groups. You'll probably hit 1 out of 20 who has read a vampire book or seen a vampire movie or TV show lately.]
My name is Mr. Tony Groups, a solicitor and personal attorney to the handsome and charismatic vampire Quendin Babos, who - well let me put it this way: most people believe he died in the Tsunami disaster on 26th December 2004 while on vacation in Thailand. In truth, he died 792 years ago, but he stages his own death every so often, because otherwise people would wonder why he doesn't grow old.
[This is a common problem for vampires - I feel it lends a good deal of verisimilitude, don't you? Not sure about the name Quendin Babos, but I left it. For future scams, I have a book recommendation for you: the White pages.]
Six years ago, My Client, Quendin Babos, who has jet black hair, sculpted cheeks, brilliant blue eyes and a cruel, cold smile [Rowrrr!] successfully executed a top secret contract for the Federal Government of Albania {FGA} singlehandedly fighting hordes of ancient zombies who had risen up out of an ancient cave and had been preying on the populace. This contract was worth US$19.3 million dollars. A part payment of USD9.million dollars was paid to my client, who roams the earth fighting evil, though nothing will bring back his beloved Zenthasia, who he lost in 1497. [it's called the tortured hero, dude. Readers can resist this murky savings deposit blather, but a tortured hero? Hello.]
However, the balance of USD10.3 million Dollars was still unpaid before my client pretended he died in the Indian Ocean Tsunami disaster and assumed his new identity: Anastasio Mikos. [NOTE: Don't you totally like my name better?]
All my efforts to locate the possible next of kin proved abortive though naturally I was just pretending--the money must go to Mikos himself.
NOW THE CRUX OF THIS E-LETTER is that Mikos is coming to your region of America to start a new life. As luck would have it, the new elected Government of Albania started fully paying all foreign Contractors who have successfully executed their contracts and, needless to say, Mikos is enraged about the timing and naturally, he wants access to the money. Too bad he "died." Oh privately, I do worry about him, and wonder if anybody out there could possibly sooth the inflamed passions of this charming and dangerous rogue. [NOTE: do you see where I'm going with this Mr. Groups? It's called thinking outside of the box! Also, as one copywriter to another, I hope you appreciate my sneaky use of inflamed.]
As his personal attorney/Adviser, his bank has officially notified and instructed me to forward particulars of my client's next of kin within the next 14 official working days so that he/she can be paid. We feel it would simplify things if an American woman who is sympathetic to the problems of vampires would pose as the widow of Quendin Babos, and then go on to marry Mikos who are, as you can see, one in the same. Otherwise the outstanding USD10.3 Million dollars payment will be diverted to the government coffers account as unclaimed bill.
I decided to contact you for a deal so that you and Mikos can work together as a team to remit the money to your account as his next of kin since I do not want to seat and watch my client hard earned entitlement to go astray, Mikos feels it will be easy for you to achieve; furthermore, Mikos has seen your photo, and you look exactly like his beloved dead Zenthusia, but please think nothing of it. I have every confidence that will not complicate things. [Not!]
Although I know that a transaction of this magnitude might make anyone apprehensive but I would like to assure you that Mikos will be a perfect gentleman, and split the money with you. I am proposing this project to you with the best of intensions. As a lawyer, I have the power to secure all the necessary legal documents that will be used for this claim. Though you will have to make the wedding appear legal so that Mikos can gain full citizenship. He promises not to ravish you, and not to bite the tender flesh of your thigh or neck in the throes of ectasy thereby spiralling you into an orgasm such as you have never experienced. [NOTE: just a little thing called reverse psychology, my friend.]
All I require from you is your honest co-operation to enable us see this deal through. And perhaps a modicum of understanding afforded Mikos, especially if he attempts to ravish you without warning, unable to control his fearsome passions which you alone bring out, and then retreats into a stew of violent self hatred for upsetting the only one he's ever loved, forcing you to spend your free time soothing his handsome, stormy brow instead of, say, chatting on Twitter. [NOTE: you like my Twitter touch? I mean, please, Mr. Groups, who wouldn't go for this?]
I guarantee that this transaction will be executed under a Legitimate banking arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. And frankly, if you do have trouble from the cops, well, I have no doubt Mikos would be happy to hypnotize them. Incidentally, this is a handy trick if you want to stop smoking, lose weight, or if you have any upcoming root canals. [Shades of Ronco--But that's not all—there’s more! Are you loving it, Mr. Groups?]
Upon successful conclusion of this project, you will be compensated with 40% of the total fund, while 60% will be for Mikos.
If you are interested to work with Mikos in this deal then kindly reply strictly to my email with your personal telephone/fax number for effective communication and oral clarification on how to proceed next. [not sure what you're getting at with the oral clarification, but what the hell, let's go with it!]
Sincerely yours,
Mr. Tony Groups
{Legal Adviser}

Monday, April 20, 2009

Dear DR. OGECHI MARTINS - a few suggestions

Dear Dr. Ogechi Martins,
I got your email last night. Okay, I know your money transfer thing is a scam. That's fine, everybody has to make a living, but your letter sounds like all the other scam letters.

Have you not heard how well romances sell in times of economic strife? I think you might get a better response rate if you spiced things up by taking a cue from, say, a good regency.

I have taken the liberty to make a few changes. I have not altered YOUR ORIGINAL LETTER, WHICH IS IN CAPS (tho caps are overkill, IMHO) and my suggestions are in red.

* * *

DEAREST Carolyn Jean [personalization will go a long way!!],

MY NAME IS DR. OGECHI MARTINS, loyal and long-suffering PERSONAL ASSISTANT TO DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT ALLIED AND BOND BANK. [a bit of personality for you, Ogechi!]

I AM WRITING IN RESPECT OF A reclusive and wealthy FOREIGN CUSTOMER OF MY BANK (WILLIAM BARNES) WHO was an Earl, but he so despised his rakish half gypsy son, Hugo Barnes, that he resigned his title and lands to punish the poor boy, who he raised with a cruel hand. But then William Barnes PERISHED IN THE PLANE CRASH OF 31 OCTOBER 1999 [WITH EGYPTIAN AIRLINE 990] WITH OTHER PASSENGERS ABOARD before it could all be finalized. [do you see Ogechi? A little backstory!]

SINCE THE DEMISE OF WILLIAM BARNES, I PERSONALLY HAVE WATCHED over the devilishly handsome young Hugo WITH KEEN INTEREST TO SEE THE NEXT OF KIN show some sign of responsibility BUT ALL HAS PROVED ABORTIVE AS NO ONE, other than Hugo HAS COME TO CLAIM HIS FUNDS OF US $30,000,000 [THIRTY MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS]. And out of hatred for his father, Hugo says he does not want the funds, and that he would squander it all on the gaming tables. [Hugo: Rowrrrr!]

ON THIS NOTE I DECIDED TO SEEK a deserving female, such as yourself, to become Hugo’s wife (in name only) to act as AN AGENT FOR WHOSE NAME SHALL BE USED AS THE NEXT OF KIN, AS NO ONE aside from dissolute scoundrel Hugo CAN COME UP TO PUT CLAIM AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO THIS enormous FUNDS AND THE BANKING ETHICS HERE DOES NOT ALLOW SUCH MONEY TO STAY MORE THAN TEN YEARS. [Ogechi, don't you think the setup is more interesting now?]

IN VIEW OF THIS I GOT YOUR CONTACT THROUGH MY COUNTRY'S FOREIGN TRADE MISSION on a list of poor but lovely and kind-hearted women AFTER I WAS CONVINCED that this would be best for all. [Flattery goes a long way.]

Naturally you would have to consummate the marriage with
Hugo (who is rumored to be a brilliant but cold lover) in order to make the union legal, but IN MY MIND THAT is little to pay, and then you would be able to utilize and safeguard the funds. [Now we're cooking with gas, huh?]

YOUR NAME/COMPANY COULD BE USED AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO THIS CLAIM - just think, you would not have to go to work in a brothel, or as a parlor maid. Can you get that kind of guarantee anywhere else in this economy? [classic direct mail technique here.]

THE REQUEST OF THE FOREIGNER AS A NEXT OF KIN IN THIS BUSINESS IS OCCASIONED BY THE FACT THAT THE CUSTOMER WAS A FOREIGNER AND A NIGERIAN, or at least he claimed to be, but few believed it, aside from Lady Watterly, and everybody knew she was barking mad. At any rate, I see no reason, though you are of American parentage, that you CANNOT STAND AS THE NEXT OF KIN TO A FOREIGNER. [a bit of color for verisimilitude]

Hugo has agreed to my plan, though he growled that he would take his pleasure from you, whenever and in whatever way he deems fit, use you like a whore, and will under no circumstances fall in love with you. I AGREED THAT was only fair, seeing as how 30% OF THIS MONEY WILL BE FOR YOU AS A FOREIGN PARTNER IN RESPECT for having to submit to this brooding, rakishly handsome man. [again, Hugo: rowrrr!]

At any rate, for the purpose OF PROVIDING this matchmaking, AN ACCOUNT WHILE 10% WILL TAKE OF ANY EXPENSES THAT MIGHT BE INCURRED IN THE PROCESS OF buying a proper wardrobe and SUCCEEDING THE TRANSFER AND THE REST WILL BE FOR ME. [see where I'm going with this?]

THEREAFTER I WILL VISIT YOUR COUNTRY home to see that you are entertaining the Ton in proper style, to get a report on your marriage night and take my money FOR DISBURSEMENT AS I AM ALMOST DUE FOR RETIREMENT. While there, I would be delighted to sup with your elderly aunt. [subplot - so essential!]

UPON THE RECEIPT OF YOUR ACCEPTANCE of this arrangement to consummate a marriage with a man rumored to have voracious and dark sexual appetites, I WILL SEND YOU BY FAX OR E-MAIL A DRAFT APPLICATION OF CLAIM WHICH YOU WILL SEND TO THE BANK AS THE NEXT OF KIN of that misunderstood blackguard Hugo AND THE NEXT STEP TO TAKE. [characterization!]

I WILL NOT FAIL TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE THAT THIS BUSINESS IS HITCH FREE, well, aside from the marriage to a reckless, dashing, misunderstood devil of a man, your moving to 19th century London, joining the Ton and AND THAT YOU SHOULD NOT ENTERTAIN ANY other men, for I FEAR Hugo, expert knife-thrower that he is, will certainly kill any man who cuckolds him (not that he will fall in love with you) AS THE WHOLE REQUIRED ARRANGEMENT will be about business. HAS BEEN PERFECTED FOR THE TRANSFER. PLEASE REPLY URGENTLY. [nice hard close.]

HOPING TO HEAR FROM YOU.

REGARDS,
DR. OGECHI MARTINS

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

A new twist in my personal wo1f secks mystery & holiday exchange #15

Note: Some terms are intentionally misspelled so as to not further torment the wo1f secks image seekers of the world!
Another note: This is in honor of Kerry Allen's Witchblade boobs post, which is the weird seach term she always gets.

You will probably be surprised to learn that this blog used to be one of the top stops for people all over the world googling in search of an image of "wo1f secks" (but spelled correctly). This used to totally mystify me on a number of levels.

For one thing, the searchers were almost always from far-off (to me) lands like Bangalore, Brunei or Madagascar, and sometimes countries I've never heard of with names like Kipor, with the occasional obscure Idaho town thrown in.

And then, of course, there was the whole question of, what is the deal? Are these searchers interested in it from a wildlife perspective, or is it some sort of human sexual activity? This spurred me on my own search for knowledge, and it became clear that wo1f secks is sometimes a furree fetish, sometimes a term used in the gay community, like you have bears, and wolves, and when a wo1f has secks with somebody, that's wo1f secks, and then you have the Mutual of Omaha version, where actual wolves have secks.

Anyway, here is the image the searchers always landed on. I am sure they were bitterly disappointed. It's from this post about Kelley Armstrong's book Bitten, entitled "Wo1f secks vs. Human secks" (but not spelled like that) and it's about how this one reviewer on Amazon really REALLY wanted the wolves to have secks while in their wolf bodies.

I love a good shape shifter tale as much as the next gal, but I've never been a shifted sex person. But hey! Who knows what 2009 will bring.

As I pondered, I further realized that the reason my searchers only came from distant foreign capitals is that they don't read English well, and thus don't recognize from the snippet of Thrillionth Page text provided by Google that the image they are about to click on will NOT seem sexy to them at all.

The mystery deepens
So today I realized I hadn't had any wo1f secks visitors for a long time and I was sort of bummed. I was like, is somebody else out there offering a seemingly surer route to a wo1f secks image?

So I googled wo1f secks only to discovered this madness at
uncyclopedia.wikia.com. I followed their wo1f and wo1f secks links and discovered these two caption jpgs.

WTF?

I love that coyote picture. The Internet is just so crazy!

Anyway, oh, I just realized, I actually sort of have a Holiday gift exchange cartoon that has some shape shifting characters in it. Though not any wo1f secks.


Holiday gift exchange in Romancelandia #15


Today: The fun of Bingeduckia rages on--there's another big scavenger hunt contest, plus a wee post from yours truly.
Tomorrow: The Italian Baby Food Baron continues at Tumperkin's. Also, this week I got a Bookworm award, AND a Kreativ Blogger award! So cool! So I will be awarding them onward, PLUS if I finish Demon Bound tonight I will have tons to say about it. And, of course, another gift exchange.