Liese inspired me. I just emailed the sustainability people at the MTA. I got a ridiculous mailed response to an inquiry from them a few months back, it was like 4 pieces of paper and 2 envelopes and some of the paper was like specialty stock.

So I should email Apple about sending my Nano and it's extended warranty in two separate package, with two different courier companies. Not only was it ungreen, it was a pain in my ass. To be fair, the Nano came form Ontario, and the warranty came from Tennessee, but the warranty is a disk, can't they have a pile o disks in the place where they send out the Nanos?

I think I've talked myself back into going to the Inauguration. Just pray 95 and the teeny bit of 495 I might use aren't a clusterfuck. I'll be taking my map in case I decide to backroad it.

Of course, this means I need to gas up the car. At least it is supposed to be almost 40 on Sunday....with the gas door broken, I have a locking cap and it sucks to have to be that dexterous in the cold.

You should go, sarameg. You don't get these things back. Go early.

Well, the earliest I can leave is 7.

eta: basically, what changed my mind is Taylor. She needs to be there. I'll call her tomorrow and tell her it is a go.

I think it will be worth it sara.

The world is officially insane -- you know the legislation that is out there to keep kids from being exposed to lead -- well, it isn't just going to effect ye old toymaker craftsman or clothing designer - but libraries

To ensure that children are not exposed to lead and phthalates, non-regulated items designed primarily for children--including books--will be subject to the same testing standards as toys or clothing. In a worst case scenario, school, academic and public libraries will be forced to either remove all children's books from the shelves, or ban children from entering libraries completely.

from the CLA website [link]

Lead causes brain damage, right? Do we seem noticeably smarter as a people since they stopped painting houses with lead paint?

Home from work. Am unthawing. My eyeglasses actually iced over like a car windshield this morning. Currently am deciding if I'm hungry enough to get out of bed and make a real dinner, or if I'm just going to microwave a Lean Pocket. Which I normally don't buy, but they were on sale.

Lead poisoning among low income kids, and the resulting brain damages, is kinda something that gets talked about a lot here. A lot of shady rentals violate the lead abatement laws.

beth- I know there is a group asking one to write to ones congressperson regarding the handmade toys/clothes-- is there a similar one for libraries? I would be happy to write if it could help... the whole thing seems well-intentioned, but really not well-thought out!

sara- I think you will be happiest if you go to the inauguration

Everyone- Doers anyone have a good black bean soup recipe-- I an cobble one together, but I'd love recs

I just made an itinerary for myself this weekend, and everything seems doable Too bad I would rather sit in my livingroom watching TV, but I think I can pull costumes, do laundry, go groery shopping, finally give my BF some belated X-mas gifts, and manage significant knitting time.

I can do so well if I plan, but I seem to have this mental block where having things planned makes me angry, and I resist it. Not in work life, where I am all for planning, but in home. I almost think that I am so afraid of beocming manic and overplanned that I opt for being a lump.