In Which I Recommend Funny Websites and Give a Kitten Update

So, here’s the thing. For reasons that elude me (but probably have to do with serious personal flaws or some childhood trauma or something), I find certain snarky things highly hilarious. (Yes, that’s more than ordinarily hilarious.) Not truly mean stuff or anything, but when something deserves laughing at, I really like it. Below I list two websites with snark that has left me wiping tears from my eyes or even literally choking with laughter. And one that I think will follow suit.

First, due to a small dust-up on Ravelry, someone mentioned that if people thought anyone on Ravelry was unpleasant or mean, those people should spend time on baby naming websites. This was a surprise to me. Since I am out of the reproductive business, I was not even aware that there were baby naming websites. And I would have thought (erroneously, it turns out) that such a site was a place where prospective parents could go to get kind advice and sympathy from fellow prospective parents. Evidently this is not the case. Without having actually ventured into the websites, I gather that basically people go to these sites to have their possible baby names made fun of and to have themselves called unfit parents, illiterate, cruel, and lacking in sense of humor and understanding of phonics. Or something. Anyway, I have no intention of perusing those sites themselves. I’ve lived through more than my fair share of flame wars already, thanks. However, someone has gone through these sites, chosen some of the worst ideas and trends in baby names, and put together her own website complete with wonderful snarky comments. Baby’s Named a Bad, Bad Thing: A Primer on Parent Cruelty. (Note: The owner of the website is named Diana. She is not me. I am not worthy to kiss her mouse.) There are 15 parts to the list, plus a forum and other things. I am reading a part a day, just to make it last longer. Lovers of snarky humor, enjoy!

Second, this one came to me via my friend Pat, who was directed there by her daughter. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude! This is a blog, so there are presumably going to be many more entries. Cake Wrecks. This blog features professionally made and decorated cakes that are just very, very wrong. Two of my personal favorites are the bride clone cake and the fireman cake. None of these are amateur productions, so I think it’s perfectly fine to laugh at them. I laughed harder at this site than I have since I read the chapter on apostrophes in Eats, Shoots and Leaves.

Finally, one I just found that I haven’t yet waded into: Etiquette Hell. From looking at the site, I’m pretty sure this is not a Miss Manners thinks you should never call co-workers by their first name kind of thing. (Cause if I spend eight or nine hours a day with someone, you can bet I know them well enough to be on a first name basis.) There is a big section on wedding etiquette, as well as more everyday sorts of things, and an area on business etiquette. I strongly suspect this will also be quite hilarious. I’m saving it till I finish the Baby Name list, and will probably go through it slowly as well.

On a completely different note: All of our foster babies are now two pounds or over, so they’re nearly ready to go back to the shelter. They will finish their antibiotic treatment on Thursday morning, so I’m just waiting for an appointment on Thursday afternoon. There is already another new singleton girl I’ll probably pick up. The little disabled baby won’t be ready until at least Friday – she’s so scared (and who can blame her?) that they’re having trouble giving her a thorough examination. I do hope I won’t just have a singleton to bring home – they do better if they have friends close to their age and/or size. Willow and Xander, while they are excellent Auntie and Uncle and co-parents, are too big to be really good playmates for a little one. But we’ve had singletons before and can do it again!