Jars is in Cork! I've spent more time in Cork than any other place in Ireland.

Which is to say about a week.

This is what I know about Cork: It is sinking; their librarians are useful and nice; you can carve peat from the nearby hills; people drink Murphy's Ale in the south of Ireland; Murphy's Ale is pronounced Marphy's; the students of communism at Cork University will gladly buy you free ale.

See, Laga, what you need is a nice hot Winchester boy to sort out these ghosts for you.

Which is exactly what I was going to say, but Fay beat me to it.

Damn, for a hot Winchester boy investigation, I'd be almost willing to off a neighbor and create my own ghost.

I found the One True Work Shoes! I've been on a search -- every school year, I buy a pair of shoes that are high enough to give me some needed height, cute enough to make me happy, go with most everything, and are yet comfortable enough to wear for teaching almost everyday. It's like a new Grail Quest for me each fall.

This year, I knew the Grail had to have 2" wedges, preferably in a give-y material, and NOT be Mary Janes (I've been in a years-long Jane rut.)

And of course I can't find a picture. But, OTWS!

After finding the OTWS, I went over to a friend's and we had a little BBQ and had grilled corn and burgers and melon and tomatoes and sangria and pie, and played dominoes. And the weather was perfect.

I was in Cork for a few days a few years ago. It was raining. A lot. (I think someone mentioned that, in the two days I was there, it got what's typically the average rainfall for the month.) I ended up at the Butter Museum, after I'd used up all the other options that didn't require walking more than about a block in the rain. So now I know all about the history of Irish butter.

That sounds really fun, Erin!

I have never been to Cork. Clearly, I need to return to Ireland. Sadly, I don't see that happening any time soon.

I am SO sucked in: MTV is doing reruns of all these seasons of Top Model, and I keep flipping past and not being able to turn away. I only wish I'd known they were doing it, and gotten to really pick which ones I wanted to see again. But fun even just randomly.

It was a fun night, meara. There were only a few people -- 6 -- cause so many of our friends went to Burning Man, and other places for LDW.

I'm glad I woke up early-ish today. I gotta clean and do laundry and work on teacher-y stuff.

I found the One True Work Shoes!

I am on that quest. I basically want the same shoe you described except a flat to 1" heel. No heels for me when standing/walking for most of the day. I continue to quest.

TV today sucks when you don't have cable. Jerry Lewis Telethon on one channel, St. Jude telethon on another. Both good causes, but not what I want for my tv viewing.

I found mine -- Steve Madden wedges -- at Off Broadway Shoes, for $49.99.

I think they are last season's because I can't find them on the internet anywhere.

I'm doing a little laundry, but need more quarters before I could really do most of it. Much as freshly laundered sheets are fabulous, there's something not as thrilling about doing a load of sheets as there is about doing clothes. Why is that? But the sheets needed doing...you'd THINK, sleeping with women, I wouldn't have as much of a problem. But noooooo.

I just bought my ticket to St. Thomas, USVI for January. I'll be gone for 17 days. WOOT!!!!!!!

Winter tan, here I come!

I really miss rain. You Pacific Northwestistas are really making me want to move north. I love it up there so very much.

Not going to happen, of course. ND kind of has to be in LA, and I love my school here too. Also, he has a serious issue with being soggy, which might be a problem.

But some days I really wish it were possible.

ETA: Oh vw, I'm very happy for you and extremely jealous. Have so much fun!