Instant Gratification

My own nature is at odds with my desire to teach my daughter a lesson. Harumph.

In my prayers.

The true miracle of that horrible day is that they weren't an hour later when they probably would have killed 10-50 times as many people.

I have a bat sleeping in my shower drain.

That is all.

Edit: So the maintenance guy comes to get the bat. He has no gloves, no tools, no brain. I tell him he'll need some gloves - bats have rabies. He asks me for a plastic bag and closes himself into the bathroom. When I open the door to give him the bag he's got a hay-OOGE screwdriver in his hand and asks, "Jou wan me kill it?"

The level of absurdity is running very high.

Let this be a warning to you! 

I had to run an office errand and my radio was on in the car. I just heard about the shootings at Virginia Tech and am sadder than words can say.

My sympathy and prayers go out to the families and students there.

That in my efforts to find out what was gong on with the radiator in Claire's room I tugged on the footboard of her bed and snapped it clean off? The brand-new, big-girl bed we just got her. I am no superhero but that wood cracked like cheap balsa.

ME NO HAPPY!

And it looks like the flood was a broken pipe in a vacant unit 2 floors above us, which is why no one came for 3 hours after we reported water streaming through our ceiling. *sigh*

My daughter is dancing around the room singing, "I'm a pretty nutbag!" to the tune of Rhinestone Cowboy.

That is all.

On Sunday, I was scheduled to meet some friends for tea at a local tea room. My daughter and I were the first to arrive and the first to find that the place was closed for a private party. The manager was very nice and let us wait inside until our friends came and we decided on an alternate plan, since it was chilly and windy outside.

While we were waiting in the main tea shop, a gruff middle-eastern man came in. I thought he was very rude in that he pushed past me and almost knocked Claire over while looking around. He then barked at the manager, "What is this place? What is this?"
"It's a tea shop."
"Tea shop? What is this? Tea shop?"
"We sell tea and tea items, and you can also have tea here with sandwiches and scones, pastries..."
"You Jew? Are you a Jew?"
"No sir."
"What are you? You not Jew? What are you?"
"I'm Indian, sir." He was very polite but clearly did not want to reveal anything to the very rude man.
"But what are you? Not Jew? What religion?"
"I'm a Christian, sir. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"You own this place?"
"I'm the manager."
"The owner is Jew? Is the owner a Jew?"
"I don't know, sir."
"You don't know! How can you not know if you work for a Jew? Owner is Jew. I'll bet owner is Jew." And he left muttering to himself that the owner was a Jew.

I know that anti-semitism is on the rise again around the world, but I must say I rarely see such racism of any kind in Los Angeles. It was extremely disconcerting to witness, and I also thought as I left the place that it was a very nice tea room and would probably be burned down within a week. The idea that I thought that at all makes me very sad indeed.

Or not...

My original plan for 4 days off in a row was to do NOTHING but be a slug. Then I really got to itchin' on the PDSvN dress which I can't do anything further on until I finish my new farthingale. Which I don't have ribbon for the channels yet. humbug.

We had a wonderfully relaxed Thanksgiving dinner. Don did most of the cookin' and it was fabulous - his stuffing is the stuffing of legend. We had a couple of stray neighbors over and chartreusekitty and her hubby came for dessert (she's getting so round and cute!). Claire wanted nothing to do with any of the fancy food and had a traditional Thanksgiving waffle. Good food, good company, and pleasantness lasted 'till 1am and all was right with the world. 

Friday was spent kicking around and planning to sew Saturday & Sunday. But Saturday came and I was struck horribly by food poisoning. Anyone who's had it knows what it's like, anyone who hasn't doesn't want to know, so I won't elaborate other than to say Saturday was horrible and Sunday was spent sleeping. I am still rather weak and unwell but ok enough to sit at my desk and work on things that don't require too much concentration.

I am absolutely determined to find the ribbon I need today at lunch, though I don't know where because the only fabric place around Pasadena I know of is a horrible Joannes on Lake. They have nothing I can use. I need silk velvet ribbon or real milliner's grosgrain. I wonder if I can make it downtown and back in an hour? I really want to get this damned thing done so I can get back to working on the dress itself - hopefully by the WASABI meet on Wednesday.

It's Friday and I made it through my first week at my new job! *whew* I'm sure I'll get used to getting up before the sun again, but it's been rough. Cool company, cool bosses, things look promising. :-)

Now if only we could find a better job for the hubby, we'd be all set. :-)