What I learned today

The Malaysian government is very, very (very) interested in lumber. Very interested.


Today's earrings: turtles, other turtles

Bedtime reading: The Atlantic, January/February 2008

Striped Maple

Image from http://mareltrout.net/gardens/Plants2.cfm?PlantID=22


Today's earrings: Moose, wood rounds

Bedtime reading: The Atlantic, January/February 2008

It's a jungle out there

Poor Kit. I do hate these team challenges.


Today's earrings: monkeys, alligators

Bedtime reading: The Atlantic, January/February 2008

Forward Planning

I think I've decided what I'm going to do for Lent this year. I think I shall resolve to eat breakfast every day. With luck, this will start a chain reaction that ends with less insomnia. It'll be a major change, though. I haven't eaten breakfast regularly since grade school.


Today's earrings: bees, typewriter keys

Bedtime reading: The Atlantic, January/February 2008

In which I prevail upon the kindness of familiars

Got most of the way through today's work. Got most of today's errands done. Completely forgot to print out a copy of the hotel reservation. Can someone print out a copy of the hotel reservation?

And we must schedule a dramatic reading of that popular epic, Katy and the Big Snow. Sunday, yes? I've got the text; can someone bring the props?

Kisses!


Today's earrings: scarabs

Bedtime reading: The Atlantic, December 2007

A little at sea

After a long and completely unproductive day at work, I went to Stacey's. [New Atlantic time.] I found myself in the basement, holding a bunch of books about trucks and staring at a copy of Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton. I remember staring at that title before. But I can't remember whether I actually bought a copy. So I bought the one in front of me. If they've already got it, I'll keep this copy to enjoy, and as a reminder not to buy it again. Everyone needs the story of the heroic and versatile Katy, right?

In less addle-pated news, I get to take the world-famous guided tour of the fabulous Dancing Square on Sunday! Woo-Hoo!


Today's earrings: compasses

Bedtime Reading: The Atlantic, December 2007

We are here

Today's earrings: tree frogs, blue & green swirly beads

Bedtime reading: The Atlantic, November 2007

Work Without Hope

All Nature seems at work. Slugs leave their lair--
The bees are stirring--birds are on the wing--
And Winter slumbering in the open air,
Wears on his smiling face a dream of Spring!
And I the while, the sole unbusy thing,
Nor honey make, nor pair, nor build, nor sing.

Yet well I ken the banks where amaranths blow,
Have traced the fount whence streams of nectar flow.
Bloom, O ye amaranths! bloom for whom ye may,
For me ye bloom not! Glide, rich streams, away!
With lips unbrightened, wreathless brow, I stroll:
And would you learn the spells that drowse my soul?
Work without Hope draws nectar in a sieve,
And Hope without an object cannot live.

- - Samuel Taylor Coleridge


Today's purchases: Games, December 2007
The Atlantic, November 2007

Today's earrings: bees, crows
Bedtime reading: The Atlantic, November 2007

*Waves*

Finally called C. He's out of the hospital. He had gone out to supervise a plant delivery this morning, and was home enjoying lying flat when I talked to him. Pain is not so bad, he says, and he's already eating better than he was before surgery. Dude is a total Zen Master about the whole thing.

I send these healing vibrations in his general direction:

~h~e~a~l~i~n~g~~v~i~b~r~a~t~i~o~n~s~~~h~e~a~l~i~n~g~~v~i~b~r~a~t~i~o~n~s~~~h~e~a~l~i~n~g~~v~i~b~r~a~t~i~o~n~s~~~h~e~a~l~i~n~g~~v~i~b~r~a~t~i~o~n~s~~~h~e~a~l~i~n~g~~v~i~b~r~a~t~i~o~n~s~~~h~e~a~l~i~n~g~~v~i~b~r~a~t~i~o~n~s~~~h~e~a~l~i~n~g~~v~i~b~r~a~t~i~o~n~s~


Today's earrings: scarabs

Bedtime reading: The Atlantic, October 2007

it seemed like a good idea at the time...

...but I think it just means I haven't been getting enough sleep.


Today's earrings: deer, Inca dudes

Bedtime reading: The Atlantic, July/August 2007

Summertime, summertime

All day, the voices in my head have been singing Gershwin:
Summertime,
And the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin'
And the cotton is high

and then The Jamies:
Its time to head straight for them hills
Its time to live and have some thrills
Come along and have a ball
A regular free-for-all

a dash of the Lovin' Spoonful:
Hot town, summer in the city
Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty
Been down, isn't it a pity
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city

then back to Gershwin:
One of these mornings
You’re goin’ to rise up singing
Then you’ll spread your wings
And you’ll take the sky
But till that morning
There’s a nothin’ can harm you
Don't you cry.

Hope everyone had a good solstice.


Today's earrings: strawberries, peapods

Bedtime reading: The Atlantic, July/August 2007

Lucky woman

Was innocently browsing the cheap racks in the window at Stacey's when I realized the office troll was peering over the case in front of me. Gave me quite a start. I go to some trouble not to trip-trap over his bridge, and here he was regardless. He started telling me about Strip Clubs He Has Known as I edged away... and then he asked to borrow the book that I hadn't bought yet when I was done with it.


12:10 am: called Mauritius Government Printing Office. Was transferred to Contact Person. I told Contact Person why I was calling; Contact Person told me she was on another call, I should call back in ten minutes, and hung up on me.

12:20 am: called Mauritius Government Printing Office. Asked for Contact Person, got Someone Else. Someone Else said that their fax number had changed, which explains why I haven't been able to get through, and gave me the new number. Someone Else gave me an estimate of how much the subscription would cost and agreed to fax it to our office. Someone Else didn't hang up on me, not once.

I think I like Someone Else better than Contact Person.


Today's book purchase:
The Atlantic, June 2007
Logorrhea, John Klima, ed.


Today's earrings: horseshoes, estrogen molecules

Bedtime reading: The Atlantic, June 2007

Tangled webs

Spindles and spindle flyers, spinning ring and ring travellers
Shuttles
Reeds for looms, healds and heald-frames
Sinkers, needles and other articles used in forming stitches
- World Customs Organization


Today's earrings: spiders, webs

Bedtime reading: Atlantic, May 2007

Spring is here

Summer makes me drowsy
Autumn makes me sing
Winter's pretty lousy
But I hate Spring.
- - Dorothy Parker

Today's earrings: bees, flowers

Bedtime reading: Atlantic, May 2007