I am realizing the downside to living in a semi-fancy neighborhood: there's no bodega close by with cheap spices and dried hibiscus! I need some agua de jamaica. And paid a million dollars for cumin the other day.

I have finally seen a census worker! I sent mine in but it was very confusing (because I lost one, and the address was slightly different (upper vs. #2).

I would just hve to say, as a census worker, perhaps you should wait a second after ringing the bell before walking away. By the time I panic because of the bell ringing, decide to answer, find clothes to put on, and get to the downstairs door, he was always gone. Today I went braless in my nightgown and he still was at another building and I had to wait for him to come back!

I am still afraid I have been counted twice.

::high-fives Zenkitty::

I love us, too.

Jesse, that is sad about your coworker.

I'm watching Order of the Phoenix and I want to reach through the screen and strangle Umbridge. Loathsome nasty toadish vile miserable vomitous mass.

I just read today's posts and it is so lovely to read everyone's adventures, large and small. On Saturday I cleaned the house and had a barbecue for 25 people, which went late. Yesterday I cleaned after the party while J went out with a friend to help him buy a new car, did a ton of laundry and then went to see Flight of The Conchords at the Hollywood Bowl (Bret + Jermaine = AWESOME).

Today the only thing I did was go to the camera store and watch Jason spend a huge wad of money on a new camera. He has to take zillions of pictures of each car or bike he reviews and the sites he writes for now want video as well, so he got a camera which does that too. He is going to try it out on his motorcycle trip through Oregon this week. If anyone wants to meet men, a high-end camera store is the place to go, I tell you what.

Ooh, jealous of your seeing FotC, Scrappy! I laughed out loud in the park yesterday when "Ladies of the World" came up on my iPod.

Ha! And last night I felt very sara as I had spinach and strawberry salad.

I had spinach and strawberry salad for lunch yesterday. Mine had walnuts, too.

If anyone wants to meet men, a high-end camera store is the place to go, I tell you what.

Hmm. Noted.

He is going to try it out on his motorcycle trip through Oregon this week.

We should have excellent weather for him too.

Mmm, I bought strawberries today, as well as some brats and veg to grill (squash, zucc, red peppers and onions) but Dan was already making some tuna casserole when I got home. I shall grill tomorrow. And I will have to make a spinach salad with strawberries -- that stuff is always good.

I went to Target and got a Swiffer Sweeper, which is charging right now. I will report back on it later. I went with a girlfriend, and we walked around and chatted and I used the zapper and put stuff on my wedding registry. Fun!

Also swept off the back deck (mostly, washed off the charcoal grill, 3 tables and a chair. And watered the seeds I planted earlier this week -- it stopped raining when I planted them, of course. Which is fine!

I am drinking a large glass of iced tea now - mmm, iced tea, like blood in my veins -- and will shower, then take the laptop outside, and look at gardening websites. It has been such a nice weekend.

Timelies all!

Back from Balticon. Am as tired as you'd expect after a 4-day con.