Outlet mall across the street

Or that's the plan, anyway.

Community meeting highlights included my realtor asking pointed questions about parking, and a couple of dudes who asked self-important pseudo-questions about the architecture. Dude. It's an outlet mall replacing a bunch of derelict buildings. Better it should be a wall of glass than a faked-up pretense of Edwardiana.

After the meeting I fell into conversation with the designer of the Stevenson Street face-lift. I'm sorry to say I let my dubiousness about the micro-vendor spaces show, and then failed to add that I'm all for the project and didn't have any better suggestions. After I came home and looked at a map, I did come up with something: get the city to put a crosswalk with a full-scale stoplight in between the end of Stevenson and the entrance to the San Francisco Center. That would make Stevenson a shortcut from the new shops to the mall *and* to the parking garage on Mission.


Today's earrings: elephants, ebony drops

Bedtime reading: Rituals of the Season, Margaret Maron

I'm proud of myself. Sort of.

The office troll was at my desk on legitimate business. Then he veered off into something irrelevant, and then something revolting. I said, twice, "I don't want to hear this." He just kept talking. I turned to my computer, put on my headphones, and cranked up the music. He went away soon after.

I can't believe I did something that rude. Usually I say I don't want to hear it and he just keeps talking anyway and I don't want to be rude so I end up listening to him with a tight uncomfortable little smile... which is why I avoid conversations with him if at all possible. This time I said I didn't want to hear it and I enforced that. Go, me! But wow, was I rude.


Today's earrings: elephants, ebony drops

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

"I don't think this is safe."

Tonight the cast of Survivor spotted an elephant near camp, and Matty and Ace paddled out across the lake so they could get a better look at the way the elephant was uprooting trees at them. Later, on Ace of Cakes, Duff attempted to climb into the driver's seat of the delivery van while wearing an elephant mascot costume.

Guess who had the wit to realize he wasn't behaving in a manner consistent with health and safety?


Today's earrings: elephants, ebony drops

Bedtime reading: The Fifth Elephant, Terry Pratchett

Appetite for Destruction

You know that fake water wheel in the back yard at the Dancing Square? It's not there any more. We beat it to pieces with its own axle. M was especially good at putting the boot in. Then we dismantled the bridge, to the Bandicoot's dismay. (The Bandicoot had taken to lurking, troll-like, under the bridge.) I am guilt-stricken at not having fulfilled my promise to put a troll under that bridge. And now it's too late. I don't know how to make it up to them...

After piling the rubble, we went back inside and M conquered the world.

In more constructive news, I got a valentine from Tiger. Such a thoughtful child! I wonder what he wants for his birthday.


Today's earrings: wheels, ebony teardrops

Bedtime reading: Die For Love, Elizabeth Peters

Harmonics

The bubble table was up in the Exploratorium.
People were walking around on top of the south tower of the GG bridge.
We looked at pictures of ceremonies and houses while D napped.
I had "ricotta lemon" gelato for dessert. They were kidding with the name - it was really lemon chiffon.


Today's earrings: elephants, ebony teardrops

Bedtime reading: Making Money, Terry Pratchett

John Godfrey Saxe's ( 1816-1887) version of the famous Indian legend

It was six men of Indostan,
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind.

The First approach'd the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
"God bless me! but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!"

The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried, -"Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me 'tis mighty clear,
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!"

The Third approach'd the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
"I see," -quoth he- "the Elephant
Is very like a snake!"

The Fourth reached out an eager hand,
And felt about the knee:"
What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain," -quoth he,-"'
Tis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!"

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said- "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!"

The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Then, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,"
I see," -quoth he,- "the Elephant
Is very like a rope!"

And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!

MORAL,

So, oft in theologic wars
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean;
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!


Today's earrings: elephants, ebony teardrops

Bedtime reading: Carpe Jugulum, Terry Pratchett

Reconciling the seemingly disparate

Plenty of minutia to whine about, but...

...when I left work, my colleagues were watching the Argentina-Colombia match on Al Jazeera live feed. And I just watched the History Channel program on the Star Trek auction at Christie's.

These things fill me with optimism.


Today's earrings: elephants, ebony teardrops

Bedtime reading: Logorrhea, John Klima, ed.

A million ducks and a twelve-inch pianist

Why are they called "shaggy dog stories"?


Today's earrings: elephants, ebony teardrops

Bedtime reading: King Solomon's Mines, H. Rider Haggard