to here knows when

So last week, none of us got mail for three days. No bills, no junk mail, not even an appearance by the mail truck. Nothing. This weekend, my neighbour got a package.

Not a big deal, right? Only it's one she sent.

. . .in December.

Apparently there are more packages and some regular mail on the way (and some is for me), all thanks to Mufti the Mail-Hoarding Postman. Yes, we had another weirdo doing our route! I swear we get all the rejects from other post offices; we must be the last stop before they get fired. Our regular carrier said he really couldn't talk about it (no surprise there), but promised there was an investigation underway. We'll see.


On a nicer note, we've been working on the garden. Things there are going well and I hope it will continue in that direction! I have in 20 different types of heirloom tomatoes, some melons, squashes, eggplant, cucumbers and peppers. Good eating.


ETA: Oh hey, the mail came. And I have some patterns for theninth. That I will not be re-shipping with printed postage but will instead be physically taking to Non-Sucky Post Office Across Town. And the package my neighbour got? The mint-condition vintage dish sent out is now in pieces. I am uneasy.

It's a book. About Jesus. I swear.

http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Im-Coming/dp/B0013VDIH2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237860665&sr=8-2

Injured while skiing, she is reportedly profoundly injured at best and brain-dead at worst: http://www3.timeoutny.com/newyork/upstaged/2009/03/natasha-richardson-is-brain-dead/

*Sadly, reports of her condition being dire were true; she has died at the age of 45: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7949195.stm

On b3ta, one of the top answers to the Question of the Week (last week: Puns) was the old 'Are you fucking serious?'/'Yes, that too' -- and it even got a mention in the newsletter! Fandom and b3ta. What a scary combination.

http://www.b3ta.com/newsletter/issue369/

Aaaaand everyone laugh on cue -- I had to use the 'straighten' function to make the image more even. It's still grainy and shiny, but at least it's a little. . .er. . .more level.




Aha -- sources! And even more suggestive pictures.

As found in a recently acquired copy of The Open Door Language Series, North Carolina edition, 1928:

http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2009/03/the_watchmen_li.html

If Watchmen is being marketed to children, what's in the Rorschach (Un)Happy Meal? A can of cold beans and a raw egg? [/geek reference]

Children's books quarantined in Nebraska library to comply with CPSIA: http://www.ncnewspress.com/articles/2009/02/20/news/doc499ed094480fd323904423.txt

Or maybe something at a party that will end in 'You should have seen them!'. Now, it just means I'm having trouble moving my left shoulder. Did my warranty expire at 30 or something?

For the darling lady on my f-list whose SO is/was taking a stop-smoking drug -- was it this one: http://consumerist.com/5155424/why-do-these-commercials-for-chantix-not-mention-the-drug-at-all ? If so, there are some interesting links in the article.

Okay. . .so I'm sick, as I've have been for some time now. With a dreadful cough, among other things. That I caught from a friend's kid. And now on the evening news, there's a story about several reported cases of whooping cough in our local school systems. Whooping cough. Whooping cough. You've got to be fucking kidding. There's no way this could be whooping cough. . .right? Please? Anyone?

At least for now; she's running very slow and is waiting on a part to get her back to normal, but she is computing as usual and ALL DATA REMAINS INTACT! I'm going to buy her a nice new backup hard drive this week to go with her shiny new memory.


(and yes, Wallis 2 1/4 is the name of my computer. Wallis 2 is my Volvo and Wallis 1 was my Honda. She'd be Wallis 3 but that's reserved for the next Volvo and besides, she's rather small.)

Computer dead; poaching neighbour's internet at the moment. Wish me luck with the data recovery (inkgeist -- all of HCoL -- I'm weeping).

theninth, last night I dreamed that the existing members of Torchwood had been captured by aliens, imprisoned and android clones of them sent out to cause harm and you and I had to stop them. It was one of the better dreams I've had this week; we kicked alien android ass.

I'm listening to the snow melt. It's surprisingly beautiful. Sounds like chimes, or like how stars would sound if shining made a noise.

We managed to get the car out of the drive so the spouse could go to work; it took a lot of snow-clearing, some clean cat litter to create traction and a strong foot on the brakes. There was a tense moment when I hit a patch of ice and started to slide, but I got her down safely to the end of the driveway. Between a clear driveway and improved health, there's an excellent chance I could actually leave the house tomorrow for the first time in. . .hmm. . .a while.

moar funny pictures

Vote Pinky + Clare!

That speech! Michelle's dress! New era, I think.

( And snow pictures! )

. . .but there's about four inches of snow (and growing) outside and if I tried to get down the drive, I bet the combination of steepness and snow would leave me in my neighbour's yard. David's already tried to slide down it. Pictures as soon as the camera battery recharges!


Happy inauguration day, everyone!

Hand-dyed and so cute: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5731577

The good news: I've been sleeping through the night.

The bad news: I've also been sleeping through the morning and part of the afternoon. Then, I nap. I'm supposed to avoid non-drowsy decongestants, but I'm reconsidering.

I'm obviously awake today though -- and why? Because despite precautions, we had a pipe freeze last night. Which one? No idea, because we're still below freezing and likely to remain that way. There's no dampness under the house and no visibly ruptured pipes, but the front bath isn't getting any water. Nothing to do right now but wait and hope the damn thing doesn't unfreeze again until Monday, when plumbers are charging weekday rates.