Not to worry...I've sort of been exploring tag polyamory of late...you should have plenty to point out. I had all these intentions in re Book group thread and I just keep slumming in the mystery ghetto...maybe when the draft is done in a few weeks. The opus is 180 pages big today...I remember when it was an evil twinkle in my eye. Ion, I think I need to trim my hair again...the top is becoming aggressive.

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Also? Unlike candle wax, sealing wax dripped on the skin hurts like a mofo. I made sealed parchment letters as part of Christmas presents one year. Another year I sent a presents nested one inside the next, each sealed with a different stamp from my collecton: turtle, owl, first and last initials, nautilus shell, mushroom, snail, unicorn in captivity (hey, gift, what can I say?), rose. And the wicks in the sealing wax sticks never work right. Someone gave me a pack of sealing wax beads and a tiny wood-handled spoon for melting. I use a small oil lamp to heat the wax in the spoon, and pour the wax directly onto the envelope. With candle flames I was always mixing and spattering candle wax. So now I chip bits off the wax sticks and melt them in the spoon. Much neater, less waste, less frustration with the wick not staying lit long enough to melt enough wax to take the seal, and much less danger of getting spattered with gluey dense foil-powder laden sealing wax.

I still use sealing wax occasionally for a special card or letter. I just put the sealed envelope inside another envelope and write "hand stamp" on the outside.

Jen, I'm so glad you're safe and snug at home. I'd think if your presence had been crucial they'd have taken you up on your offer to stay overnight.

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I'll have you guys know that I've had "19th Nervous breakdown" running through my head since seals and wax were first mentioned today.

...and your father's still perfecting ways of making sealing wax.

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"...shoes and ships and sealing wax, and cabbages and kings."

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I just put the sealed envelope inside another envelope and write "hand stamp" on the outside.

I don't understand. Is this for mailing or giving? I don't get what writing "hand stamp" does.

I suddenly want to buy some sealing wax and find some sort of cow seal.

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sj, thanks for asking that. And Kristin, thanks for pointing out that not everyone likes having their tag change acknowledged.

Jess, Snapfish wants me to sign up. Are they good about the non-spamming thing?

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Nora, is there no way you could pull it off now?

Sadly, we do not have 40K for a down payment. We have kind of close to that, but not all that. I don't know. It might be an excellent investment, depending on the work on it that needs doing. A shade over 400K for a single family in Somerville is pretty good.

And, yeah, that's why we're looking outside of Somerville, too.

Traisping to a neighbor's bearing pie. Whee! It's my Somerville cab driver friend, he said he did great on the streets last night- but is taking tonight off.

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And Kristin, thanks for pointing out that not everyone likes having their tag change acknowledged.

I was not aware of this. If someone doesn't want their tag change acknowledged, I need to know so I won't do it. I'm sorry for any uncomfortableness I've unwittingly caused.

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Dude, you do not need a huge downpayment, as a first time home buyer, there's often programs where you can do it with 5%--or even nothing! I mean, sure, better to have more, but if it's a house you'd want and a good price? TRY!

(Also....damn. That's a lot of money saved. I'm never gonna afford a house, am I?)

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I miss the days when people sealed envelopes with hot wax and a pressed seal. Well, I can't really miss them since I wasn't there, but I see it in movies and I think it's cool.

Oh I love wax seals. I used to have a set but no more. Of course I also used to write actual letters too. I should prolly start the letter writing before I buy the prettifying things.

"...shoes and ships and sealing wax, and cabbages and kings."

I heart Bev. And am earwormed. "And why the sea is boiling hot..." ( global warming!!!! ) I don't mind. Well I mind the global warming but not the earworm. It is comforting actually. Like mashed potatoes.

After weeks and weeks of torrential rain here, it is strange watching the weather woes from afar. Because it is freakish weather in San Diego. Gorgeous, but this isn't supposed to be January even in paradise.

Hi there. I think I made it through the weekend. But I will check again in the morning just to be sure.

Because I took DxH to the airport earlier and he is officially gone now. In every sense.

However in the interest of being good to myself, I went to the farmer's market for some fresh flowers (I splurged -- some very-early-in-the-year yellow freesia that smell like I think heaven must, pale pink Gerber daisies, deep purple tulips that haven't opened yet but likely will by morning and some red roses).

And I walked along the ocean for a half hour or so. The water is still very January, choppy and cold and rather inhospitable to people. I love the ocean in winter. It looks wild still, not at all tamed.

Now I am wishing I had a good book to read. Curl up on the couch with some tea, a book, a light blankie and fall asleep reading with a cat (or two) next to me...

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