Updatey Thing

Thing 1: Been making progress on my Japanese.  I've got Katakana down nearly as well as I've got Hiragana.  This means soon I can start on Kanji and things will really get fun, then.  I'm going to make it my goal to know 50 symbols in the first six months, and have decided to try to expand my vocabulary by 10 words a week.

Thing 2: We had a really fantastic storm, last night, with some of the best lightning I've seen in ages.

Thing 3: My mother's appetite for junk food is starting to worry me slightly.  Today at the grocery store:

Her:  *walks up to the overflowing cart with a box of doughnuts* 
Me:  *giving her A Look*  Didn't we just get brownies?... and three kinds of chips?... with dip?... and cookies?
Her:  You'll help me eat them.
Me: .You know I won't...
Her: *resolutely puts it in the cart.*  Well, it's been a while since I've had one.
Me:  So get one!  What do you need six for?
Cashier:  How are you, today?
Me: She's mad!  Mad, I tell you!

Thing 4:  Seriously, how fun does this look?