It just seems wrong for $1.98 to be a good price for gas. I remember when gas went over $1, and thought that was terrible. t /old fart

Wait, I can't really end that, can I.

Do you have a Ford Minivan with that 26 gallon tank? Ours is always painful to fill too, but at least it lasts awhile. The last time we filled up we were able to get gas at $1.98 a gallon.

Yes ma'am. And it'll take a month before we go through it. I basically just use it to drive to daycare, to the train and then home again.

Aimée, do you have good lumbar support in your work chair? I had an ergonomic eval at work after I injured myself, so now I get to whine officially if anyone gives me a slacker chair. Also, I have a little inflatable one for the car, and it helps -- you can carry it on trains/planes, etc, and then deflate it and put it in your purse.

Can I bleach it to a more even color and then redye in the sage green I am looking for? ( the fabric is in really good shape)

If the lighter areas aren't much different, dye can often even out the color. If it doesn't come out right the first time, you can just keep adding dye. At least that's what my mother, the mad dyer, does. Her best transformation was turning the ugly green wool throw into the attractive rust-colored throw.

I can remember gas wars and 10 cent gas

t really old fart

Aimée, do you have good lumbar support in your work chair? I had an ergonomic eval at work after I injured myself, so now I get to whine officially if anyone gives me a slacker chair. Also, I have a little inflatable one for the car, and it helps -- you can carry it on trains/planes, etc, and then deflate it and put it in your purse.

Fortunately, I do. It's a schmancy ergo chair. I'ma look into the inflatable one. Where did you get yours?

But I got a nice spa basket for Secretaries Day. I'm not even a secretary.

We had our annual Admin Assistants lunch, which generally consists of individually ordered things from Jae's. But Jae's is primarily various Oriental foods, and some people didn't really like the options, so we went with something else.

This something else turned out to be cold grilled chicken and disgusting vegetarian lasagna. The strange new woman who's sort of in charge of the office told the painter to keep working while we were eating and also said that we were having the lunch in honor of the outgoing Acting Dean. All in all, it was strange. Not that I think the lunch ever made any of us feel terribly warm and fuzzy, but it is in fact supposed to be the Admin Assistants day Thing.

I really can't figure that woman out.

Aw, just missed Chikat earlier- I'm staying in Lincoln Park, off Diversey.

I just got back from making my way to the Art Institute all alone, and I had myself a grand old time and bought lots of prezzies. The boy will be home from work in an hour or so, and has confirmed some sort of surprise plan that I get to know nothing about. I lurve Chicago.

JZ's grandfather died this afternoon. He'd been in failing health for the last two years, and recently they had to ampute his foot. I think he just let go after that.

He was sitting in the backyard in sunshine, with a breeze and just passed on. Not a bad way to go, really, and it was time.

But she's pretty sad now. He was the strong core of that family, and she's missing him.

Oh no, David, I'm sorry. Please convey my condolences to Jacqueline, too. May he rest in peace.

{{{JZ}}} I'm so sorry.