Oh, Sparky. UGH. A generator sounds like an excellent Christmas gift.

Did people know they still make SportSacs?! I didn't. And now I ... kind of want another one.

I had a dream the other night that someone gave me a SportSac! I had totally forgotten about that until just this moment. (I have never particularly wanted a SportSac, so who knows what that was about.)

K had a great time walking around with the lantern in the dark!

My mother's general-use purse is often a SportSac because she likes that they don't weigh anything.

Sarameg, I hope your power goes back on soon and that the day gets better.

Sparky, your 'share' families seem a tad overprivileged. Are you certain you can't drive the cups to their house as well?

Parents are still without power. HKF and DH are in Ohio, and I am enjoying the quiet and missing them.

There was more, but I lost it. For some reason, I needed to be on goodreads today, so if you see a friend req from me, that's why.

Yikes, Sara!

I had a consultation with a vascular surgeon this morning about getting a portacath put in. I really really don't want to get one, but the nurses are nagging, and it does make logical sense. I just don't want something stuck in me for years.

The doctor was way cool, though. And his resident was dreamy.

A bit late, but I noticed that FEMA has an Android app (and probably an iPod one) that runs you through preparing an emergency kit and other things like setting up meeting places. I am very unprepared.

Heading back home now. Hopefully power sooner than 10:30 as last reported by bge... And hopefully I hear back about the car!

Thanks for the sympathy.

Ahem. HPF!

Does anyone know what the psychology is behind people who use BOLD SHADOW ITAL in every piece of text on slides?

People want things to stand out, and if they aren't visual people in the first place, they don't really understand how to do so. And they don't have clear in their minds what is important, so they make everything important.

(Best organization tip I've ever recieved but have a really hard time following is to get your stuff organized BEFORE you buy anything new to help you get organized. Shopping for organization stuff gives a totally false sense of accomplishment.)

The hands down best organization tip ever (for me) is from Julie Morgensterns "Organizing from the Inside Out (which also had the above tip) is to notice what you do, and then figure out how to accommodate it in an organized fashion. So, for example, if you tend to throw your coat/purse on the floor or on a chair when you get home, don't try to make organizational space in your closet and try to make yourself put it away. Instead, perhaps, get a coat tree or a bench that works, and just put it where you usually drop your coat.

Although my house looks like hell right now, I have used this a lot in the costume shop. I also know myself well enough that I have to have a visually stimulated organization system that is out in the open. Anything in a drawer or closet or file cabinet is pretty much invisible to me. So, in the shop I have everything stored in open stacking bins, separated by label ziplock baggies. Storing things in cardboard boxes just did not work.

Ahem. HPF!

Indeed! Good thing you're keeping an eye on me whilst herself is away.

What is the "share families" thing? Can you upgrade for some better, polite ones? It's got to do with childcare, I assume.

Hope you get power back soon, sarameg. What's up with the car?

I remember one time in my life, living in an apartment in VA, when I used a book to help me organize, and every single thing I owned had A Place. And it was awesome while it lasted... several months. Haven't been able to achieve it again. But I culled a lot of crap when I left Baltimore, so maybe when I make it back to DC, I can start out right.

We got power back, but not cable, so I'm at B&N using internet.