I'm still at the office and am hoping to leave by 2. I'm parked in the secured lot, though, so I'm good to go.

I think my dog is going to forget who I am.

Oh, javachik. Good luck.

Thanks, Shir. :)

You know that after you posted that, every NYC-ista simultaneously thought, "That's NOT a bagel!"

Bwah! EAMW is such a good phrase. Also, this just gave me a flashback to when Herself was over in London, and we popped out to get breakfast and she opted for a random generic Bagel place. Which, being random & generic, wasn't up to NYC standards, natch.

(Mind you, I pointed out that we could have got the tube to Golders Green if she'd wanted proper bagels.)

I do hope Teppy's vertigo & ear pain is over. That sounded ick.

(Also, now I crave good cheddar and nice, cold, tart apple pie. Nom nom nom...)

Things that make your heart go !!!!!!!!!!:

Fay returns to school with lunch* clutched in hand. Strides through courtyard staffroomwards. Sees outrageously cute wee girl standing looking a bit bemused.

Fay: Hi Isabel! Everything okay?

Isabel:(whose English is very very limited indeed) No Friends!

Fay: !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Isabel: (looks sorrowful)

Fay: Er....do you know that kid over there?

Isabel: No!

Fay: How about him? Do you know him?

Isabel: (face lighting up) YES!

Fay: Go play with him!

Isabel runs after the wee boy in question. He runs away, in the time-honoured tradition of small boys. So does Miss Fay.

...I like to hope that Isabel and the small boy played together, although I have a sinking worry that maybe they didn't. She's OMG outrageously adorable, bless her - 6 or 7 years old, and she was adopted a year or 2 ago by a Farang couple, but she's originally from Burma. Very limited English, and appears to have fairly major SEN issues in terms of cognition, but she's sweeter than a sweet thing - just the most totally disarming big smile EVAH.

*Vegetarian stir fried somethingorother, from the food court across the road, which is celebrating the Vegetarian Festival season.

I have my grammar book! Thank you, Cathy!

You are very welcome.

I'm glad it got there, Connie! I hope it helps. If there is anything else I can offer, please let me know. Of course it goes without saying that I'm sending you generous amounts of interview ~ma and grammar ~ma.

safe travels Sparky!

Teppy - I hope the vertigo is better today.

I'm at work today -- the vertigo is better, but not gone. Driving was fine, because the vertigo is only bad if I tip my head backwards to look straight up, and of course I don't need to do that when I drive.

All I have to do is just SIT STILL today, and I should be fine. And I can sit still; I'm quite good at that.

Dang- Taz seems lethargic and eating less. He doesn't seem to be in any pain, but he's not confident jumping up to the bed (he does, but after a few dry runs) and he's slow going up the stairs, and he hasn't been in his windo perch, and he just stays in one spot for hours and hours and hours. I mean, even for a cat it's worrying.

Should we call the vet? We are worried.

I posted a note in F2F asking Steph how her ears were - sounds like they've improved (mine have too - yay!).

When I had vertigo I found that when I was walking, if I focused on a stationary object at a distance from me and kept looking at it I didn't get as dizzy walking. It may help.

I called the vet and they said it sounded like Taz should come in.

This is upsetting.