Found on Facebook

This week I was befriended by Dave S., who many of you may remember from high school. He's married with two kids, and living outside Sacto. Which is very odd, since I still think of him as a teenager.


Today's earrings: squirrels

Bedtime reading: Slow Dollar, Margaret Maron

Still playing with computer security

I really hate this stuff.

I mean, I had a nice enough day, totally unbusy at work, talked to T&S and we're having dinner tomorrow (we're meeting at North Berkeley around 6; just call if you can come), I went by Green Apple then stopped for Thai on the way home. I'd be in a good mood, if it weren't for my computer's insecurities raising my blood pressure...


Today's earrings: squirrels

Bedtime reading: Longitude, Dava Sobel

The Knitters are playing Slim's in January

Who's with me?


Today's earrings: squirrels, teaspoons

Bedtime reading: Busman's Honeymoon, Dorothy L. Sayers

Busy like bees

Tiger and S went to school, and K and I went shopping in NJ. There was a Target and an Ikea, then K decided we'd had enough & we headed back to the city. (Tiger has a new hat! Most cute.) K and I had a very nice late lunch at the local branch of Cafe Pretentious. I took a nap and she did workish things. Then it was time to collect Tiger and head for the lake. Tiger and I passed the time making pictures for each other. Once at the lake, K turned on the heat, ordered pizza, and we hit a grocery store on the way to meet S. On the way back we collected the pizza and Tiger fell asleep. (So cute!) They tucked Tiger in, we ate yummy pizza, and now, my friends, it is bedtime. Sleep well.


Today's earrings: squirrels, basketweave

Bedtime reading: One on One, Tabitha King

Spent the afternoon with my old friend

I didn't recognize him at first. I think I was looking for a 25-year-old kid, and there was this 40-something businessman standing there. He recognized me, though. It was just like old times, really, except he talked more than he used to about his wife & kids. (The kids are most cute.)


Today's earrings: squirrels, leaves

Bedtime reading: Interesting Times, Terry Pratchett

Meeting of the Planning Committee

...delayed slightly, d/t my failure to set my alarm. We finally convened at noon at the Dancing Square. It was an extremely productive meeting. The Lead Designer produced two working plans (one with a big wide stretch of window, one with a big wide stretch of counter) to be presented to the prospective contractor for costing. The meeting broke up around two.

On the way home, I said, "It's a really nice day. We should go look at the ocean." So we did.

There were kites.



Today's earrings: squirrels, coins

Bedtime reading: Howl's Moving Castle, Diana Wynne Jones

Logic puzzle

Today my job required a little research, a little typing, and a series of increasingly complex Venn diagrams. I'm still not sure that I've documented all the contingencies...


Today's earrings: squirrels, leaves

Bedtime reading: The Daffodil Affair, Michael Innes

Constructive

I did nothing all day while the contractors loaded in the new kitchen cabinets. Early afternoon, the Lead Contractor Dude came and said, "I got a question."
"Um, OK," I said, "I don't know how much help I'll be."
"I thought she said her sister designed this."
"She did. There are four of us."
"Oh. Well, we seem to be short one 24" cabinet and have two extra 30" cabinets."
We stared at the plans. We re-counted the cabinets. We stared at the plans. We stared at the cabinets. We put in a call to K, who was in a meeting and would call back.
Finally I said, "Would any of the cabinets already attached to the wall fit the description of the cabinet we're missing?"
A lightbulb went on over his head. The specs for the cabinet over the sink had changed, and been penciled in, but they'd followed the old specs instead of the new. A feeling of general enlightenment and relief filled the kitchen. K called back and had a productive conversation with the Lead Contractor Dude, incidentally solving the mystery of the two extra 30" cabinets.
I went back to doing nothing.

At eventide, everyone came home and S hung doors while K placed shelves and Tiger and I got in the way. I took pictures. Then we all went out to dinner.


Today's earrings: squirrels, kangaroos

Bedtime reading: _L. Frank Baum_, Katharine M. Rogers

Saving

The individual serves the industrial system not by supplying it with savings and the resulting capital; he serves it by consuming its products.

- - J.K. Galbraith


Today's earrings: squirrels, dimes

Bedtime reading: The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents, Terry Pratchett

The Trees Under the Protection of the Gods

THE GODS, according to an ancient legend, made choice of certain trees to be under their special protection. Jupiter chose the oak, Venus the myrtle, Apollo the laurel, Cybele the pine, and Hercules the poplar. Minerva, wondering why they had preferred trees not yielding fruit, inquired the reason for their choice. Jupiter replied, “It is lest we should seem to covet the honor for the fruit.” But said Minerva, “Let anyone say what he will the olive is more dear to me on account of its fruit.” Then said Jupiter, “My daughter, you are rightly called wise; for unless what we do is useful, the glory of it is vain.”

- Aesop; George Tyler Townsend, trans.


Today's earrings: squirrels, leaves

Bedtime reading: Aesop's Fables, Townsend & James, trans.

Workplace hilarity

[Extended conversation spanning the past week about how Turkish Customs posts info elided.]

Boss: Something is funky with Turkey.
Me: Yeah. Why should chickens get all the fun?


Today's earrings: squirrels, leaves

Bedtime reading: The Danger, Dick Francis