I searched on the Internet

For April Fool's, Google replaced its name with Topeka's. This image from the press release amused me to no end -- proper uses of the new company name. I particularly like the last one.

The Census

One of the best parts about my last job was the fact that I got to write about Census data as it came out -- how much the county was growing, whether there were more minorities in a particular city, etc. And although that's something I find interesting, the true reason it was exciting was the hold music.

You heard me right -- the hold music. As noted here, the Census Bureau records facts and figures about Americana and plays then in lieu of tunes when you call their answer line.

Fascinating and funny, it always made me happy to be put on hold.

Icelandic humor

Certainly, the volcanic eruption and subsequent ash cloud that stopped airline travel across Europe this month wasn't funny. But some of what came out of it was.

For example: This story about Iceland's reaction to the eruption (after all, it is their volcano) has a couple jokes in it that made me chuckle.

My ability to post them has been somehow compromised by uncooperative technology, but it's certainly worth a read.

Of April

I certainly didn't mean to neglect the spreading of joy in April; it was certainly a very joyful month. In brief, some things that made me smile:

I went to the wonderful wedding of a wonderful friend, had a mini-college reunion and met several of the bride's friends, all of whom are fantastic. I ate a lot of delicious Austin food, snagged a Nancy Drew Mad Libs and found a pretty snazzy gift for my sister and a good friend. Eventually, they'll go in the mail.

I learned my parking attendant's name. It's Ray.

I went to the Cleveland Orchestra with friends. The orchestra is amazing. Severance Hall is beautiful. And jaunts to see Avenue Q and August: Osage County were similarly (if separately) fantastic.

I used the word tintinnabulation in a story. I scooped the competition in another (big) story, and the big bosses noticed. I managed to start a running joke, of sorts, that's made it into the paper three times now. It has also garnered me many pens and left me amused.

I reconnected with an old friend. I spent some quality time with an older friend. I had super, if all-too-brief, moments with more recent friends who went out of their way to say hello.

I hope your Aprils were as sunny.