Cleolinda everywhere

Back thataway: the freakishly lifelike Christian Bale/John Connor 12" figure. Seriously, you have got to see it.

( Linkspam )

MOAR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING. I know it sounds like we do nothing but shop these days, but the thing is, we're going out a lot and to a lot of different places, but we're really not returning with all that much. Also, it's really hard to find the right gift for some of the people on our list. So there's that.

Meanwhile, on the way home from our last excursion of the day, we dropped by my grandmother's to bring her some more ornaments. On the way out, I stopped to play with a--I don't know, I guess you'd call it a banner? It kind of looks like a long flat bell pull? I don't know. She has it hanging on her front door, and it's this tan-colored strip of fabric with little decorated felt Christmas trees, edged with shiny gold rickrack. "I loved this when I was a kid," I told her, shaking it a little so the bells would jingle. "Ruth made that," my grandmother said warmly. "She really liked arts and crafts. She made all of this herself, every bit of it. Even the tassels. She sewed everything on it there--the sequins, the little ornaments, she even put the pearls on the trees. She's dead now."

I managed not to crack up until I got to the car. My mother couldn't understand why I was doubled up in the passenger seat crying with laughter. I'm not sure I understand it myself.

Let's have a little linkspam.

( OMFG HE CUT OFF HIS HAIR EVERYBODY KERMITFLAIL )

THIS IS SO IMPORTANT THAT IT IS ABOVE THE CUT:

From sabra_n: My Fair Lady: Thompson Wants Laurie as Higgins ("The only way that could be improved upon, as one genius on the Innerwebs pointed out, is if they cast Stephen Fry as Pickering").

( More movie linkspam )

ETA: Oh, I forgot to mention--someone (I've lost the comment! Who was it?) suggested I claim my author profile on GoodReads, so I'm over there now as well. If you have any idea what I should put under "about this author," let me know.

So on to the linkspam!

Nobel winner Solzhenitsyn dies at 89; Remembering Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn; Putin honors late Solzhenitsyn.

Pauline Baynes, Narnia Illustrator, Passes Away at 85.

Morgan Freeman Involved in Car Crash - Serious But Stable; Morgan Freeman suffers fractures in wreck; Morgan Freeman is gonna be okay!

( MOAR )