So I'm home, cleaning, and my phone rings because someone is at the door and I didn't hear them knocking.

It is neighborgirl T. She made me this over the weekend: [link] Spoiler for those who haven't looked she fell all over herself apologizing for the H. She didn't realize I used the other spelling until she was done. Know what? This is one time I don't mind at all.

I hugged her to pieces and just maybe teared up. Maybe.

I'm so very lucky.

Aw!

Sara, that's amazingly sweet, and go you for earning every bit of it.

I never took geography and it was never offered as a class in my high school.

Huh. Huh. No, I don't get it. But I did take Latin O Level because it would force me to think.

Today is not a good day. I think I'm going back to sleep.

I hope you wake up much better, ita.

The flower she drew is amazing.

I never took geography and it was never offered as a class in my high school.

I never had a class that was all geography all the time, but geography was always a part of Social Studies and History classes.

She made me this over the weekend

That's so sweet!

For framing, I recommend the MatMaster #101 Bevel Cutter for do-it-yourself mat cutting and the sectional frames from a place like Hobby Lobby. Once you decide on the size frame you want, they can cut a piece of glass to your specifications (or sell you a piece of thin precut plexiglass if you're using a standard size).

New temp roommate is not home. Don't know when she'll be here. I'm...not stressed about it. More not stressed than I would have thought. People less solitary than me might not get that that's actually kind of a big deal -- generally, I can live with whatever, but I need to know so I can...plan, or maybe anticipate, what my alone time is. Alone is sometimes not restful if it could end at any minute. So, anyway, not stressed is a good thing, an unexpected thing, and I'm starting to think it wouldn't be a bad thing if Big Non Prof decides not to put her up but to give her some kind of housing allowance. I could probably stand to be shaken out of my solitude.

Does this take the whole steampunk thing too far? Steampunk taxidermy

There's an alternative taxidermy movement with a strong following in San Francisco where they bypass the naturalistic taxidermy of the 20th century and harken back to the fanciful taxidermy of the Victorian era (which favored wacky tableau).

sarameg, that's wonderful.

brenda - don't make me come there and rattle your solitude! Or maybe I should. God knows I'd love to see you and go to Chicago too.

lightning - thunder - did we just shift to the east coast?

Happy birthdays, Beverly and Benno!

Plus the head of the moving crew was this insanely tall black man with an oh-so-posh British accent who called one of his guys "Number One" (the other guy was just John) and said "Engage" as the cue when they were team lifting things.

I would make it so.

Good one, tommy!

Afterward, all can have Earl Grey (hot).