David, I don't know what to make of the news of your weaselly ex-boss -- except that somehow it makes her seem even weasellier.

I intended to do ALOT of laundry. I prepped for the mega-laundry doing by buying a roll of quarters, some non-chlorine bleach for colors, sorting the dirty clothing. . . sadly, I neglected to check whether my building's washing machine was in good working order. You can imagine my chagrin upon arriving in the (unattached) basement of the building (attached) next to mine to discover the "Machine out of order" sign on the washer.

Sigh. MOST of my clothing and towels are in various color-ordered piles in my bedroom.

Since then I have done NOTHING useful.

You know how crank calls can be really annoying? When they are Em, they are the funniest thing ever. I wonder if the Empress knows that her heir has mastered the phone?

Hah!

now aimee is running around in Natter- she still has no idea what her daughter is up to .

Yeah, I was going to motion her over here but I am more amused just waiting.

ditto

Hee.

I went to the Farmer's Market in Vallejo which had extra Earth Day booths. I was going mainly to g et info on composting, which I was unable to get, but I did get a bike map (which I lost before I even got home) and organic strawberries (which I still have and will enjoy eating tonight). I could smell the strawberries from across the street, that's how full of strawberry deliciousness they are.

Then we went to the dog park and now I am too tired to go to John Muir's house. I aways overbook holidays.

Em making phone calls is hilarious, but Aimee not knowing about it is comedy gold.

You know how crank calls can be really annoying? When they are Em, they are the funniest thing ever. I wonder if the Empress knows that her heir has mastered the phone?

BWAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

She answered it yesterday when Kristin called, said "Hello? Hello?" and then hung up.

Also, I'm at work! She's home with Joe!!

Today was A Very Nice Day, spent with people I love. (NSM with the Enviromentalism, though.)

Mum and Dad and I went to The Four Seasons for the jazz brunch - eating sushi, and poached pears with watercress, and all manner of other mouth-watering goodies while listening to most excellent improvisations on familiar jazz standards and looking out across the Nile.

NOT sucky. And The Four Seasons is far and away the poshest hotel I've ever been in in my life. Crazy.

And then through the chaotic back streets of Cairo in a rattletrap black'n'white cab, to the Ibn Toulon mosque, the oldest mosque in Cairo, and then to the Gayer Anderson House next door. There are fantastic legends about the Gayer Anderson House (aka The House of the Cretan Woman). I may just have to go and do some research, because it really could be the basis for a genre novel...amorous wells and the Sultan of Bats and all manner of fascinating things.

And we were going to hit the Citadel this evening to catch the Sufi show, but my dad's feeling a wee bit under the weather. So instead we spent the evening drinking mint tea and smoking sheesha in a fabulously OTT courtyard before heading upstairs for delicious dinner.

I wish you all days of equal niceness.