Hampton's Last Hurrah

I forgot to publish this picture before leaving Hampton - it says a lot about how it felt to leave. I don't know what it says, exactly, but it's kind of sad and curious and moist and has a shopping cart in the middle of it. That pretty much sums it all up.

IKEA glee

Many are aware of the wonderful things I will be leaving behind me when I venture forth to the new, uncharted lands of Colorado, not the least of which is living in proximity to IKEA. One element of my parting ritual has been a visit to this Mecca of Swedish ingenuity with my roommate of college years long past. I originally went to buy this bookcase,

which is made of my favorite shape (the cube). But you know how it goes...once you have one cube, you have to have them all. You need cube baskets

and cube hooks

and blockheads.

I also went all out and bought my self a Poang chair.

In Swedish, "Poang" means "Chair of infinite comfort and stylishness." I also got some dishes

and generally had a swell time bonding with my roommate of years gone by. The basic point of this story is that IKEA brings people together. It is, in fact, operating much as the United Nations should, only under the guise of an immense furniture store. I will mourn the loss of my proximity to such a fine institution while enjoying the cubist living space I am about to create in fair Denver.

You know you're famous when people are making jelly bean mosaics of your face. Virginia was the gracious host of the Queen of England over this past week, as she came to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement. She was treated to concerts, a front-row seat at the Kentucky Derby, and an edible portrait of such amazing beauty that it boggles the mind. Boggle!

RANT by Chuck Palahniuk

Some would say that contemplating the spelling of his name would be enough to send you into convulsive fits. The long-awaited Rant has had me moist with anticipation for months now - ever the fan of Palahniuk's special brand of disquieting rhetoric, I am trying to delay my own gratification a few days longer before succumbing to its siren song.

Quite possibly as intriguing is the contest being held to see who can write the best biography, fictional or otherwise, of the aforementioned author. Write the best one, win a book. It's that simple. Why haven't you started yet? I know what you're thinking: "But Laura...if I wanted to write and I wanted a book, I would just skip the middle man and write a book." Well, aren't you clever? Enough of your jibber jabber - get to work already.