tommy, man, that car is HOT.

I gave SA a ride in it once - she can attest as to how often I get questions and compliments shouted at me as I drive it.

Really, I have never gotten so much attention from complete strangers as when I drive that car. It's almost too much for this poor introverted boy....

Timelies all!

Took my folks to the National Aquarium in Baltimore.(I hadn't been there before, either) Lots of stuff to see and quite enjoyable. Then we had dinner in Little Italy with G's dad and stepmom. Mmmm....

I still prefer writing checks. t /curmudgeon

Actually, I'm not opposed to online bill pay. There are a couple of accounts I do that for, but it's all for online stuff. I'm just not ready to turn my household accounts over to it, damned the USPS.

Devi is being needy, yowlping around.

This is who I spent my week with: brothers, big and little and stern little.

Sounds and looks like a great trip!

My mother just read Vampire People, and her reaction? "Does this mean you won't be coming home for Thanksgiving??" Heh. It's kind of a recurring joke in my family that she always asks me if I'm coming home and I always say, "Where else would I go??"

Spent the day doing house stuff. Like removing the hideous dark mirrored tub doors (yay!) and scraping off the tons of disgusting midewed caulk (boo!) thus revealing the whole tub (yay!) except it's now clear that it was reglazed and the stuff is peeing off (boo!). It was over 100 and it was so damn hot we neither of us thought about eating, so by the time we got home at 4:00 I was very shaky (boo) but have had some food and am sitting in AC and feel fine (yay!).

In house-ma news, we've wanted a daybed for the guestroom but were going to cram in our old double bed because we don't have the money and we need a place for guests to sleep that isn't the couch. Last night as we were chatting before the concert, our friend mentioned their neighbor was asking how to call Goodwill because they were trying to get rid of...a daybed. God bless cell phones--we called from the Hollywood Bowl and they said we were welcome to it if we liked it. We went and picked it up today. They have a spotless house and it is almost brand new and much nicer than we would have been able to afford and FREE.

Great, Robin! Free is good. Do you guys in the US know about Freecycle? Check out www.freecycle.org. I've given away stuff I needed to get rid of and have gained a bonsai through Freecycle.

Clearly you were meant to have a daybed!

Jesse, hah!

Speaking of holidays, my SIL mentioned that last xmas was great, it being just them (my parents went out at TG, her parents were supposed to come down for xmas but weren't able to at the last minute.) I'm rather happy for them, because they were able to carve out a holiday for just their immediate family, and it sounds like they needed it. I can relate, even without a husband and kids. It was just about carving out their own space, with however you want to define a unit of family.

So apparently, in addition to picking up a tan walking tens of thousands of blocks in 100F and full sun in downtown, driving around with my arm out the passenger window of my brother's car has resulted in a slight burn on my right forearm. I'm reminded why I don't try to work for a tan-my skin doesn't like tanning or burning. Even the tanned parts are a little itchy and bumpy. Sure, I look less sickly (I really do look better with a bit of a tan) but... itchitchitch.

except it's now clear that it was reglazed and the stuff is peeing off (boo!).

Robin, I had the same issue with my tub and elected to have it reglazed again. (I couldn't afford or deal with the trauma of putting in a new tub.) I used these guys. It cost me $500 and they did a pretty awesome job.