I thought that billytea might appreciate

That reminds me! I need to get some photos of one of the birds over in the park and see if billytea or anyone else can help me figure out what it is. It looks for all the world like a ptarmigan, a tiny, sad ptarmigan, but I hestitate to say it is, because what would a ptarmigan be doing here? I think there are some in the Italian Alps, but that's pretty far.

posted some beer related lists in LJ, from my UK trip for any beer geeks that may be interested:

Pubs and Beer: [link]

Beer and Cheese: [link]

The Deuchars IPA, Abbot Ale and Old Peculiar I drink on a regular basis. I'm not sure if that make sme a good person or a bad person. When I was in Edinburgh recently I (well actually the BF, but I drank most of it) had a lovely ale called Highlander. Quite sweet, with a sort of heather-honey taste to it. Rather yum.

Also, mmm, cheese.

I'm not sure if that makes me a good person or a bad person.

I see no bad here. Lucky, yes. Bad, no.

After a while a lot of them blended together in my memory, but the Old Peculier was really amazing and certainly unique. in a delicious way, of course. Tom, not being wedded to my crazy rules of no repeats, enjoyed quite a lot of the Deuchars IPA.

Maybe they thought they were gonna get to pelt the Shrub with baseballs. I'd buy a ticket for this. ION, I know my brother is trying to help but sometimes I get a powerful urge to kick him in the 'nads for it.

How long should I worry about the apartment before calling? The guy said he would call me.

I think I may be getting out of my apartment just in time. There is a notice up saying they will be coming into all the apartments to inspect them today. Usually these notices say they are for the fire department or whatever, but this time it doesn't give a reason. I think they might be selling this place and turning it into condos. They have already done it with another of their properties.

I'd wait till the afternoon, sj. Maybe after lunch? 2ish?

A good person, of course. Only the very best people appreciate good beer.

t /beer snob

I'm doing the dance of having finished my taxes, which are an awful chore when you're self-employed. I must send the government money, but I expected to.

libkitty, give AnotherAlaskan our best wishes.

I hope everything goes well with E's surgery, Jess.

Has anyone had to move on short notice before and had to deal with the fact that the lease on their apartment wasn't up for a few months and they couldn't find a subletter? Because, well, I have to move to California soon. I told my realtors this, and they said to advertise for a subletter. I did, and a month later, I've got nothing. I need to call them and find out what my options are, but I'd like to know what they should be before they say anything so I have some negotiating power. If they allow me to break my lease or whatever, I imagine I won't get my security deposit back? Which, well, that's better than paying four months of rent.

I have to finish my taxes which are not self-employed complicated, but still kinda tricky with itemizing, a huge Schedule D, and two State returns.

Also, the IRS has sent a letter say I owe a whole bunch of money from my 2004 taxes which is a pain. It's perfectly clear that we don't owe the money (if anything I paid too much taxes upon review), but it's complex enough that it could be a pain to work everything out.

I was hoping this would be a smooth month finanically, but our vacuum cleaner and dryer both broke down this month (not to mention buying the parts to fix the mower now that the grass is growing) so those additional expenses kinda threw things off. Maybe next month.