chirpy the cricket

Have you all heard about the new molecular motor? Pretty cool, with shades of Neal Stephenson's The Diamond Age.

Many congrats to Jinny and Andy Eigel, who were married on September 11th!

Apparently there are a ton of movie stars milling about Toronto these days, particularly across the road; sadly, I haven't seen any because I haven't been paying proper attention. Stars in town supposedly include William Hurt, Ralph Fiennes, Miranda Richardson, Sigourney Weaver, Jason Priestly, Forest Whitaker, Lawrence Kasdan, Alec Baldwin, Dave Foley, Peter Gallagher, Ethan Hawke, Daniel Baldwin, Minnie Driver, Catherine Deneuve (sp?), Susan Sarandon, blablabla (sorry, I got tired of typing).

More significant news: My nieces Sara and Annie are coming to the cottage this weekend! They are bringing their parents. Apparently Sara asks every day how many days are left until the cottage visit. Last year, Sara went fishing for the first time in her life and caught a fish.

Apparently Sara really enjoyed going to Bug Camp this past summer. The camp's theme was bugs, and children learned a ton about insects (more than I know, anyway). Sara brought home a bottle with a snail and a cricket in it, covered with netting. She named the cricket Chirpy. Chirpy was very Loud. Sara asked to keep Chirpy in her bedroom. One day Chirpy escaped, having chewed through the netting. Apparently Chirpy had made a home for himself somewhere in the walls, chirping very Loudly late at night and waking up both Annie and Sara (Sara was delighted; her parents were not). Ruth says they are never getting mice.

I am astounded that Flounder the Fish is still alive.