Whatever

Dec 23 2009

11

89 responses so far

89 Responses to “11”

1. # Captain Buttonon 23 Dec 2009 at 10:21 am

   “This one goes up to 11.” – This is Spinal Tap.

2. # GregLondonon 23 Dec 2009 at 10:24 am

   Happy Birthday!

3. # ben (insufferable music snob)on 23 Dec 2009 at 10:35 am

   Birthday on December 23rd? Bummer. You’ve Christmas all elbowing in on your action.

   And only 2 more years until high school, and after that, it’s off to the races. Don’t blink, because when you open your eyes again she’ll be 24 with a career and car payments and the whole bit.

4. # Dave Hon 23 Dec 2009 at 10:37 am

   Happy birthday Miss Scalzi! Do please try to enjoy it.

5. # Salomeon 23 Dec 2009 at 10:37 am

   11 is a wonderful number, and a fantastic age to be. Happy birthday, Athena!

6. # Bearpawon 23 Dec 2009 at 10:41 am

   Mazel tov!

7. # Purple0limaron 23 Dec 2009 at 10:46 am

   Happy birthday, Athena.

8. # Cassieon 23 Dec 2009 at 10:50 am

   Happy Birthday!

9. # Benny B.on 23 Dec 2009 at 10:50 am

   Happy Birthday Athena! Enjoy your youth while you can!

10. # Edward Cheeveron 23 Dec 2009 at 10:51 am

    Happy Birthday! :)

11. # Ryan Greeneon 23 Dec 2009 at 10:53 am

    Happy Birthday Athena! 11 was a great time for me, and I hope it is even better for you!

12. # Kevin S.on 23 Dec 2009 at 10:54 am

    A ‘tween is an exciting thing to be! It’s a good thing she knows it!

13. # MuleFaceon 23 Dec 2009 at 10:56 am

    My daughter is 23 and it hasn’t changed. Well, ok, it’s “changed”, but it’s every bit as special. Enjoy!

14. # htomon 23 Dec 2009 at 10:56 am

    Happy, happy birthday, Athena!

15. # Jay Lakeon 23 Dec 2009 at 10:56 am

    Happy Birthday, Athena

16. # PJon 23 Dec 2009 at 11:01 am

    Happy Birthday, Athena!

    I have to admit to being a little biased about the awesome-ness of this day: it’s my birthday, too!

    Have a fantastic day, and warmest wishes for the year ahead….. :)

17. # steveon 23 Dec 2009 at 11:03 am

    Sounds like you need to go on a disney cruise stat!

18. # Julio Ojeda-Zapataon 23 Dec 2009 at 11:04 am

    Congrats. My son is 11. It is a great age. These are fascinating little sentient beings. (And just a couple of days ago, I turned *mumble* :-)

19. # betsydornbuschon 23 Dec 2009 at 11:11 am

    My kid turns 11 on Dec 29. He was due on Xmas but late (and, unfortunately, continues to run late).

    It is a fabulous age.

    Happy birthday Athena and PJ. :)

20. # Christopheron 23 Dec 2009 at 11:18 am

    Happy Birthday!

    My daughter is 20 but I remember her being a tween and she was a lot of fun in those years (she’s still fun, but in a different way now).

21. # Another Damned Medievaliston 23 Dec 2009 at 11:22 am

    Many Happy Returns of the day to the new tweenie!

22. # loximuthalon 23 Dec 2009 at 11:23 am

    HIPY PAPY BTHUTHDTH THUTHDA BTHUTHDY.

23. # Lauren Uroffon 23 Dec 2009 at 11:25 am

    Happy Birthday to Athena, and Happy We-Have-A-Daughter Day to you and Krissy.

    As time has passed and I’ve watched my 15 year old son and his friends grow up, I’ve come to the conclusion that sons are easier on the nerves than daughters. I hope Athena’s next few years don’t frazzle yours.

24. # HollyAnnon 23 Dec 2009 at 11:30 am

    Happy Birthday Athena!

25. # Annalee Flower Horneon 23 Dec 2009 at 11:36 am

    Happy Birthday, Athena! Now you’re in your prime!

    (hahaha… ha… Sorry. I hang out with too many math geeks).

26. # The Gray Areaon 23 Dec 2009 at 11:38 am

    Big Happy Happy Birthday Athena! 11 is a great age to be.

27. # Rembranton 23 Dec 2009 at 11:43 am

    Happy Birthday!

28. # Lilon 23 Dec 2009 at 11:47 am

    Happy Birthday, Athena! :-)

29. # Tom Gon 23 Dec 2009 at 11:47 am

    Happy Birthday Athena !

30. # adelheid_pon 23 Dec 2009 at 11:47 am

    @23 Lauren Funny, I only have a daughter and I often thought the reverse. ;-)

    Happy Birthday to Athena.

    I hope her “tweens” aren’t too annoying to her parents. I suspect it will take both of your brains to stay one step ahead of her tween and teenage schemes. Just keep telling yourself that it will all be better when she’s sixteen (at least, that’s when it got better with my daughter) and everyone will make it out alive.

31. # Mark Terryon 23 Dec 2009 at 11:50 am

    Happy Birthday, Athena. I have an 11-year-old of the other flavor (boy) and he’s a delight. Here’s his favorite thing to do. Text his mom and say: Mom, you suck.

    Yes, she knows it means “I love you.” Your mileage may vary.

32. # Dave Hallon 23 Dec 2009 at 11:56 am

    Happy Birthday Athena!

33. # Laurettaon 23 Dec 2009 at 11:57 am

    Rock on, Athena! Each age is the best so enjoy it while you got it. I just finished 44 and I can tell you it just gets better and better. I’m looking forward to 45 – so far, it’s been great (ok, it’s only a few hours but hey).

34. # atsikoon 23 Dec 2009 at 11:59 am

    Happy Birthday to Athena!

    Don’t listen to all those silly people upthread, John. This is when the real work starts.

35. # Jeffrey Beumelon 23 Dec 2009 at 12:04 pm

    Congrats and Happy Birthday Athena!!! It is also my Father in law’s Birthday today. But Athena’s is much more important. lol :P

36. # Dr. Philon 23 Dec 2009 at 12:06 pm

    Eleventeen.

    Dr. Phil

37. # Another Andrewon 23 Dec 2009 at 12:12 pm

    Happy birthday!

    (Where does ‘tween’ come from? When I was young the only people who were tweens were hobbits, and their tweens started at twenty.)

38. # Kate Bakeron 23 Dec 2009 at 12:14 pm

    Woo! Happy Birthday, Athena!

    I hope you get double the presents for the holiday and birthday! ;)

39. # Stevenon 23 Dec 2009 at 12:14 pm

    A very happy birthday to Athena. My own 11 year old is preparing to turn 12 in just over six weeks.

    And to Another Andrew@37: tween is a marketing term for those who are beTWEEN their single digits and their teenage years.

40. # Suzanne Mon 23 Dec 2009 at 12:24 pm

    Happy birthday, Athena!

41. # Julia Rioson 23 Dec 2009 at 12:24 pm

    Happy Birthday, Athena! I am sure your Hogwarts letter will be arriving shortly.

42. # Nina Aon 23 Dec 2009 at 12:31 pm

    Happy Birthday, Athena!

43. # MJBUtahon 23 Dec 2009 at 12:40 pm

    Happy Birthday, beautiful Athena! I hope you get many awesome presents!

44. # Nightskyon 23 Dec 2009 at 12:41 pm

    I distinctly remember liking being eleven, and I hope Athena does too.

    And we December babies are all too aware of the birthday/Christmas thing. Right now, it’s combo birthday/Christmas presents; when you’re a grownup, it’ll be people never being able to make your birthday dinner because they’re already out of town for the holidays.

    But I’m getting sidetracked. Happy birthday!

45. # MGon 23 Dec 2009 at 12:45 pm

    Happy Brithday, Athena!

    Eleven is the best age, between ten and twelve.

46. # Linkmeisteron 23 Dec 2009 at 1:04 pm

    Happy Birthday, Athena!

    When I was your age I was becoming a huge baseball fan; I don’t recommend this, as sports breaks your heart regularly. Particularly if your team is usually lousy.

    The rest of my eleventh year was pretty good, so enjoy it.

47. # JD Rhoadeson 23 Dec 2009 at 1:20 pm

    Happy Birthday, Athena! Here’s wishing you much joy.

48. # sam youngon 23 Dec 2009 at 1:25 pm

    hoopy birfday, athena!

    enjoy life before zits!

49. # eviljwinteron 23 Dec 2009 at 1:26 pm

    Happy Birthday, Athena. I met you only once, but you were, even at age 6, one of the smartest people in the room.

50. # Shayeraon 23 Dec 2009 at 1:42 pm

    Happy birthday Athena!

51. # Greg M.on 23 Dec 2009 at 1:44 pm

    In one of my favorite YA novels, Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising, the hero, Will, wakes up on his 11th birthday to discover that time has stopped, and then that he’s been thrust back several hundred years into the past, and it’s the beginning of a great (if occasionally terrifying) adventure.

    I was disappointed when I woke up on my 11th birthday, and time hadn’t stopped, so hopefully Athena won’t be expecting that, but other than that, she should have an excellent year.

52. # John Fialaon 23 Dec 2009 at 1:47 pm

    Happy Birthday, Athena!

    Enjoy yourself. Although you may have a problem with combination Birthday/Christmas presents, at least you’ll get your Birthday off of school a lot of the time.

53. # viola blackon 23 Dec 2009 at 1:48 pm

    happy birthday, Athena!

54. # Yuhrion 23 Dec 2009 at 2:05 pm

    Happy birthday, Athena!

    As a side note, best girl’s name ever.

    I spent four years thinking that 11 was pronounced ‘eleventeen,’ thanks to my enterprising and insidious younger sister. As a teenager, I should have known better, and yet. It’s astonishing what persistence and aggressive marketing can do to alter reality. Before I managed to break the habit, half my high school class was convinced.

    Strangely, she had no strong feelings about 12, so we were allowed to continue pronouncing it ‘twelve,’ as dictated by tradition.

55. # Mitchell Burnside Clappon 23 Dec 2009 at 2:12 pm

    Happy birthday, Athena. Today’s my 47th birthday, so I have three dozen years headstart but I’m sure you’re catching up fast.

56. # Andrew Hackardon 23 Dec 2009 at 2:19 pm

    Happy birthday to Athena and all the other folks celebrating a Discordian birthday today. Alas, I missed by a day, and will be celebrating my birthday tomorrow in traditional fashion: playing lots of board and card games with my family, then going out for a steak dinner. Good times.

57. # Kathryn from Sun'valeon 23 Dec 2009 at 2:32 pm

    Happy Birthday from another Festivus/ Discordian bday baby!

    The good news is that it’s easy for others to see gift guides and shops filled with interesting items when shopping for a December birthday… not so easy for those June babies.

    And your birthday candles burn all the brighter when sunset is at 5pm.

58. # Jasonon 23 Dec 2009 at 2:33 pm

    Happy birthday Athena! Live long and prosper!

59. # crayonbabyon 23 Dec 2009 at 2:47 pm

    Happy Birthday, Athena. Don’t give your parents too much grief.

    Unfortunately eleven year olds nowadays already act like teenagers. Hopefully Athena is in the minority. Boys at eleven think they know it all. I’m hoping that girls at eleven (I have a four year old girl and two teenage boys) seem to be as sweet and great as Athena is.

60. # MarkHBon 23 Dec 2009 at 3:28 pm

    Happy Birthday!

61. # delenn13on 23 Dec 2009 at 3:35 pm

    11 years ago? Seems like 44 years ago. Oh, yeah, it was.

    I digress……a lot.

    Happy Birthday, Athena!

    Don’t blink, John. She will be 20.

62. # Craig Sunderlandon 23 Dec 2009 at 3:46 pm

    Happy birthday Athena. I hope you get separate presents for your birthday and Christmas. :)

63. # PixelFishon 23 Dec 2009 at 3:49 pm

    11 is a good birthday. (For me, I kept hoping, silly me, that I would find out I really did have magical powers, a la Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising, where Will comes into his power on his 11th birthday.)

    Happy 11th Athena!

    …

    ETA: I see I’m not the only Dark is Rising fan here in Scalziland. :)

64. # PixelFishon 23 Dec 2009 at 3:50 pm

    *high fives Greg M at comment 50*

    Me too!

65. # TheMadLibrarianon 23 Dec 2009 at 4:54 pm

    Hippo Birdies Two Ewes, Athena!

    And count me in on the Susan Cooper enjoyment list, but definitely the books, not the HORRID movie.

66. # Juliaon 23 Dec 2009 at 5:03 pm

    The thing is that you really do have magical powers when you turn eleven, just like Will and Harry Potter.

    The secret is that you had them when you were ten–you just didn’t know it.

    The bigger secret is that you still have them now, no matter how old you are.

    And the biggest secret is that everyone else has them, too.

    Happy birthday, Athena!

67. # PixelFishon 23 Dec 2009 at 5:10 pm

    TheMadLibrarian @ 64: The movie is dead to me, from the first iPod encrusted trailer that made Will an AMERICAN! (Yes, take a story that is about Britain’s greatest legends, like Arthur and Wayland Smith, and make the hero an American kid! BAD IDEA.) Also it made me sad when Ian McShane said he hadn’t even really bothered to read the books before playing Merriman/Merlin.

68. # Bethon 23 Dec 2009 at 5:24 pm

    I wasn’t aware that tweens were defined so strictly. Around here they start at nine or ten, or later if you are enjoying your childhood.

    My eleven year old is still a delight, and I expect him to stay that way for at least a few more decades.

69. # Tim M.on 23 Dec 2009 at 5:34 pm

    Happy Birthday Athena!

    Just a few fun facts about your time around this world of ours. Give or take a few hours, you’ve been alive:

    * 132 months
    or
    * 574 weeks
    or
    * 96,432 hours
    or
    * 5,785,920 minutes
    or
    * 347,155,200 seconds

    I hope every second of every day is a good one for you.

70. # Kirstieon 23 Dec 2009 at 6:36 pm

    Happy Birthday Athena! You are very lucky to have a daddy that loves you so much!

71. # shaneon 23 Dec 2009 at 6:47 pm

    Happy Birthday Athena!

72. # MasterThiefon 23 Dec 2009 at 6:50 pm

    Happy birthday, Athena! May you continue towards your inevitable role as Empress of the known universe, and may death come swiftly to your enemies on that day.

73. # Бобсънon 23 Dec 2009 at 6:57 pm

    Happy Birthday!

74. # mythagoon 23 Dec 2009 at 7:29 pm

    Happy birthday, Athena!

    And don’t tell your dad about that whole thing where he blinks and you’re in your 20s.

75. # Macon 23 Dec 2009 at 9:06 pm

    Happy Birthday, kiddo. And many many more.

76. # vianon 23 Dec 2009 at 9:17 pm

    How lovely – many happy returns, Athena. You share a birthday with my little sister, so I have incontrovertible proof fantastic people are born on the 23rd. Make sure your dad gets you that pony/iPod/half-pony-half-iPod you so richly deserve.

77. # timewastedon 23 Dec 2009 at 10:00 pm

    Watch “Slither”, then go rewrite your column on decade’s scifi blather whatever.

78. # Justmeon 23 Dec 2009 at 10:06 pm

    Happiest of birthdays, Athena!

79. # Jonathan Vos Poston 23 Dec 2009 at 11:59 pm

    11 is the last repunit prime age (base 10) for a long time. Until she’s 1111111111111111111 years old. And then again at 11111111111111111111111 years old.

    http://www.research.att.com/~njas/sequences/A004022

    My high school students, each semester, by majority tell me that 111 is prime. But no.

    111 = 3 x 37
    1111 = 11 x 101
    11111 = 41 x 271
    111111 = 3 x 7 x 11 x 13 x 37
    1111111 = 239 x 4649
    11111111 = 11 x 73 x 101 x 137
    111111111 = 3^2 x 37 x 333667
    1111111111 = 11 x 41 x 271 x 9091
    11111111111 = 21649 x 513239
    111111111111 = 3 x 7 x 11 x 13 x 37 x 101 x 9901
    1111111111111 = 53 x 79 x 265371653
    11111111111111 = 11 x 239 x 4649 x 909091
    111111111111111 = 3 x 31 x 37 x 41 x 271 x 2906161
    1111111111111111 = 11 x 17 x 73 x 101 x 137 x 5882353
    11111111111111111 = 2071723 x 5363222357
    111111111111111111 = 3^2 x 7 x 11 x 13 x 19 x 37 x 52579 x 333667
    and 1111111111111111111, as I say, is prime.

    She might want to check some of those multiplications on a calculator. Then appreciate 11 even more.

80. # Astarython 24 Dec 2009 at 12:58 am

    Hope Athena has a Happy, Happy Day!

    It has been a joy watching her grow up on the pages of your blog. She is an amazing child… you have every reason to be proud of her!

81. # Leslieon 24 Dec 2009 at 1:09 am

    Happy Birthday, Athena. My granddaughter Kahlan (yea, that Kahlan) is 11 too.

    Here’s a pocket history of interesting world facts from The Year You Were Born:

    http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1998.html

82. # Mary Robinette Kowalon 24 Dec 2009 at 1:26 am

    Happy Birthday, Athena!

83. # Kendallon 24 Dec 2009 at 2:32 am

    Many happy returns, Athena. You share a birthday with my mother, who turned 3/4 of a century old. Yowza–talk about serious! ;-)

84. # hugh57on 24 Dec 2009 at 3:37 am

    Happy Birthday Athena! Being 11 is the best job in the world!

    John and Krissy: Hang on tight. From what I hear, the ride gets pretty wild from here. ;-)

85. # Lilithon 24 Dec 2009 at 4:41 am

    Happy Birthday, Athena.

    Isn’t it annoying having a birthday so close to Xmas? Mine is the 24th (today).

    Enjoy being 11. It’s a fun age.

86. # Nikittaon 24 Dec 2009 at 5:59 am

    I was visiting my mother on her 68th birthday yesterday, but I hope you had a happy birthday, Athena!

87. # Steve Buchheiton 24 Dec 2009 at 9:07 am

    Happy belated happy, Athena. I hope you soak up all you can while being a tween.

88. # Thenaon 24 Dec 2009 at 9:26 am

    Another happy belated, Athena – this is what I get for not being an internet addict and checking compulsively every day.

    Also, Mr. S -

    a) This means I’ve been reading your blog for more than half your kid’s life, because I seem to recall a post declaring Athena’s 5th birthday; and

    b) Damn but she looks like her mom. :-)

89. # Elaineon 24 Dec 2009 at 3:20 pm

    Sorry I missed this yesterday, but I was off baking Christmas cookies.

    Happy belated birthday, Athena.

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