Hec, have you looked at ModestNeeds.org?

I have not! But now I will - thank you.

So sorry about the river of suck, Hec. Glad you found a comfrtable place to stay and regroup.

So sorry about the river of suck, Hec. Glad you found a comfrtable place to stay and regroup.

I'll think about it tomorrow. t /Scarlett

I went to the posh bar, with all the good looking bartenders downstairs and asked for a Rye Manhattan.

"Rye? Is that a brand?"

Seriously, they had never heard of Rye. I offered them musical mnemonics: "Them good ol' boys was drinkin' whisky and rye / singin' this'll be the day that I die..."

So I schooled them a bit on cocktails.

"If any assholes come down here from San Francisco, you're going to know how to make a Negroni and an Aviation..."

This hotel was a $22 million dollar investment and it's the fanciest thing in Bakersfield in any direction for about 100 miles. And all of the staff here are very good looking kids in their twenties, with chic hairstyles and they're all single parents.

The handsome guy who was just 32, divorced with three kids. (He does home loans and when that market collapsed and he got divorced he had to double up. Works 5 days a week full time, and five nights at the bar.) The gorgeous gal with the Karen O. bangs and the big blue eyes with the 4 y.o. that she stays home with during the day. The barista who's into scooters, and wants to do the Scooter rally up to SF, just divorced with a 2 y.o. and a single dad.

It's just interesting seeing how the economic collapse affects folks, plus all those busted marriages and single parents. I mean, these are sharp looking, smart, motivated kids stuck here in Bakersfield.

msbelle, the Texas house looks wonderful, and those salvaged tiles are gorgeous!

Hec, good luck with the Car O' Doom.

Hec, good luck with the Car O' Doom.

Well the Manhattans were good even without the Rye.

Plus, baseball season starts tonight.

Ugh. Tomorrow looms ill.

Yes, those tiles are to die for!

It's just interesting seeing how the economic collapse affects folks, plus all those busted marriages and single parents. I mean, these are sharp looking, smart, motivated kids stuck here in Bakersfield.

Huh.

Bakersfield always makes me think of the Camper Van Beethoven song "Come On Darkness" - does Bakersfield have some honky-tonk they call the Wagon Wheel?

Very interesting.

I would think that Bakersfield could be a stopping point on the way to and from LA/SF. When we went down we left at night planning a stop in Bakersfield. ( good thing to - there iwas snow in the grapevine that night , but not in the am ) . A stop isn't necessary , but it is nice. I like my travel leisurely when possible. So if they can learn a bit about presentation and making things that are a little out of the norm ( for Bakersfield) there might be a chance. Esp. If their rates are competitive.

I'm sorry, Hec. That all sucks big-time.

I knew he was vocal about political and environmental issues but I didn't realize that he was in government. Good on him.

I personally agree, but there are many on the left who were outraged and have accused him of being a turncoat. He's joined one of the major parties, and our party discipline is stronger than yours. As environment minister, he's approved a number of projects opposed by environmentalists, such as a new pulp mill in Tasmania, expanding a South Australian uranium mine and dredging Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay. The Australian Greens' leader, Bob Brown, accused him of selling out for campaiging for Labour and against the Greens. Most recently, he's copped flak (and a demotion) for his handling of a rollout of a home insulation program, intended to make Australian homoes more energy efficient. It's been claimed it was pushed out with insufficient training for operators; there've been four deaths by electrocution in separate instances, and 93 house fires.

I think it's good he's willing to have a go; but honestly, I'm not sure he's that good at politics.

So might could just do it until then.

I wish you lived closer, Hec, because we could help backstop some of the daycare in the summer. Ugh. Lots of stress for you.