GC, I'm so happy Josie is home!

Abby, I don't think I've ever spoken directly with you, so hello!

So my morning was...yeah. I discovered this morning that my debit card number was stolen at some point (no idea how or when). Luckily, the fraud company associated with the credit union suspended my card over the weekend after the first suspicious charge ($207.85 somewhere in Italy), so I'm not completely cleaned out. But I have to fill out a little dispute form before they can refund that money, so I'm going to be short $207.85 until I get the form in the mail, sign it, and send it back. (I still use my teachers' credit union in CT because I love them and it's just such a PITA to change banks; plus, I do almost everything online anyway. The downside is this type of lag whenever paperwork is involved.) I also no longer have a working debit card; not sure how long it will be until a new one comes in the mail. Argh.

The situation could have been much worse, so I'm grateful it's relatively minor. Frustrating and stressful, though.

And to make the morning even more fun, a landslide on the Westside landed me in 90 minutes of traffic this morning.

but afterwards I could drive a manual.

What a horrible experience Raq! Bless your sheer heroism. And, I think you've proved my unspoken theory that manual is just more natural. More like riding a horse in some ways.

When I first learned, it was via driver's ed and a truly maniacal teacher I learned to loathe. There was no radio in the training car so he'd bring a boombox and blast Metallica at 50billion decibels. Now, I'm all for the banging of the head, but it just ended up being cruel. He'd flash his hand up, knock the rearview mirror out of skew and chirp "oops!"

I suppose he meant well, what with the desensitization, but I honestly wanted to murder him in his sleep. He'd send us up a one lane road up a very steep hill in Niles Canyon and chortle when we met someone creeping down. (the lower car has to back up...so I guess the training worked. I remember that fact, some 30 years later.)

Farmhouse! With fruit trees! And so much else to love.

We had the laundry in the bathroom at the last place we rented and it was actually very practical.

Glad to hear that you are doing well, askye. That all sounds really positive.

but afterwards I could drive a manual.

Good. Lord.

Maybe I just need to poison DH and time myself getting him to the hospital or something.

I have laundry in my bathroom...one of those stacked jobs right, smack up against the toilet. It's a bit awkward, but having the washer roughly 8 feet from my closet is kinda nice.

Ooh, that's stressful, Kristin!

Hmm. I think all the Ethiopian I've had has been pretty good. I'd recommend any of the places around 9th and U, Bonny...though there's one that annoyed me when they were having live music, and jacked the drink prices ($4 for a coke or something)...even though we were sitting outside (so wouldn't be able to hear it), and the musicians were still setting up.

No clue on veg restaurants in Dupont--there's a lot of Thai, which usually has a few options, but although I used to eat out there every Friday, I was never on the hunt for veg.

Hi Kristin! Ugh, sorry about the debit theft. Glad they caught it!

lisah, there's a list here [link] of places -- with names your friend can look for reviews.

Plei, what a great house! Congratuations! Sell~ma to you.

It's great to hear that you're doing so well, askye. May it continue.

c) If I were the quickest wit in the world I would have to watch out every day. Every day I'd know that someday, some time, some young whippersnapper with something to prove would come up behind me and say "All right, Miracleman...QUIP!"

Ha. I've been watching Samurai Champloo, and there have already been a couple plots like that. Except, you know, with swords. Because they're not on Monkey Island.

askye, that's really interesting. I'm glad Second Life has helped you feel better about yourself.

Plei! I missed the house picture, but it sounds awesome, and I hope the transition is as non-stressful as possible!

Kristin, blerg!! Someone else I know recently had that happen, and I keep waiting for it to happen to me. Right now, I'm paranoid that I have a Trojan on my computer just waiting to get into my bank account and steal my money.

one of those stacked jobs right, smack up against the toilet.

Yes, yes it is.

I'd love warm towels right out of the shower. Shoot, I'd toss a clean towel in the dryer as I jumped in the shower just to have it all warm and cozy when I hopped out.