Last week, a friend shared a cute video of a woman turning herself into a fairy based on an illustration. The illustration reminded me of artwork this same friend once had on her wall. This led us down a rabbit hole of discussing websites we used to go to all the time but haven't visited in ages.

I graduated college in 2006. The "world wide web" had taken firm hold but "Web 2.0" was the new thing. Smart phones were just a glimmer in the distance. If you wanted to enjoy online stuff you had to use a computer - most likely a desktop. These were the days where I could be online for less than an hour and see everything I wanted to see in a single day.

If you want to join me in nostalgia, these were the websites and tools I thought about:

• DeviantArt - A great place for stunning user created art. Most is fantasy or sci-fi themed.

• Netives Marbles - A matching game that was an early precursor of all our mobile puzzle games.

• Hot or Not - I don't miss this one.

• StumbleUpon - A tool to help you find new random websites. This was fun while it lasted.

• The Misadventures of Super Librarian - One of the earliest book blogs. This one mostly highlighted romance novels. The author is still going and I decided to follow it again.

• FanFiction.net - I read so many stories here.

• Akinator - We spent several fun nights playing this in college.

• Homestar Runner - Trogdor!

What early websites are you nostalgic for?

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I’m about a chapter away from wrapping up Chasm by Stacey McEwan. I’m disappointed. The entire plot of this book could have been covered in about half (or even a third) the the number of pages. I think it existed just so the publisher could get a trilogy out of a duology.

*Books shared here are affiliate links for Bookshop.org

• How to get your company to pay for executive coaching. [A Cup of Ambition]

• Gas stoves aren't great for your health or the environment. [NPR]

• Clever. [The Verge]

• Everything I never knew about nasal congestion. [The Atlantic - gift link]

• What marathon runners do when they cross the finish line. [WaPo - gift link]

• Beneath the streets of Paris. [Atlas Obscura]

• Winter thermostat recommendations. [Real Simple]

• The economics of the all you can eat buffet. [Planet Money]

• Walking through what you need to know for open enrollment. [Life Kit]

• A project to vaccinate wildlife. [Short Wave]

• The parts of Supreme Court rulings we don't normally see. [Throughline]

• You need more sleep. [Science Vs]

• On tiny hydra and immortality. [Invisibilia] 

• Brilliant costume is brilliant. [@ocarroll]

• The husband had some time to play the new(ish) The Legenda of Zelda game. I only pay partial attention, but I always enjoy when I do look up. The critters are cute and the music is lovely. I don't play video games, but the good ones are a worth checking out as a viewer. [Ninetendo]

• For my lunch meal prep this week, I made sweet and spicy tahini noodles. This used up a large chunk of the bottle of tahini I had hanging out in my fridge. It also used up some the chili garlic sauce lingering in their too. I used that last sauce in lieu of the minced garlic and hot chili paste the recipe calls for. This was really tasty and I plan on making it again. Even though I did not keep the sauce separate, it still reheated well in the microwave. [Ambitious Kitchen]

• Raiding my kid's Halloween candy haul, as is my parental right. 

This comic is so accurate it hurts. [xkcd]

This is a bit of a PSA. Regular medical screenings are really important. CheckMate is an online quiz which can help you assess your risk factors for breast cancer. It only takes a few minutes to complete and provides you with educational information at the end. And, yes, men should take it too!

I’m presenting at the Library Marketing and Communications Conference this week and I am excited about my content. I might need to tamp down my enthusiasm a skoosh once I’m on the stage.