I defeated the box! Or at least, I got the thing open. It probably won't ever close all the way again, and I'm not convinced the timer part works, but I did get it open.

I also got and passed a smog check (which is good because my registration is due on the 12th), went to Whole Foods, and then made two trips to OSH for gardening supplies and plant sacrifices, which have been planted.

Soon, I am going to grab a beer and go read out on the patio.

I also got and passed a smog check

Ooo. I need to get my brake tag. Here they don't give a hoot if you pollute, just that your lights and horn function.

I went skating, dealt with a teenager who was on our wall taking oranges from our tree ("Hey, these oranges belong to EVERYONE," he said, before getting into his MERCEDES and leaving) and have done fuckall since. About to shower, walk doggies, tidy up and get ready to go to the movies with my friend Nancy.

She says up front it's a complicated recipe, but I thought I'd share the [link] anyway to a gluten free vegan caramel apple pie.

That looks realllllllly good. But I wouldn't even make pie crust from scratch before I went GF, and I'm not up to making it now.

My dad is racist and my grandmother is and my grandfather was. And much of his side of the family is. I grew up around it and the few times I tried to challenge it I was either out right dismissed and patronized "you'll understand when you're older" or got long lectures where I got emotional and just couldn't say the right things.

It was one of the double edged swords about going to the beach, (my dad's extended family all has houses together), the branch of the family he was closest too and we spent the most time with are really racist. Well the older generation.

Huge Rush Limbaugh fans, Fox news only, 2 of my dad's cousins are Southern Baptist Preachers that boycotted Disney. I was given Gone with the Wind as a gift and when I didn't think it was just the best ever and think the South was wronged I got mini lectured.

Then as I got older it seemed to get worse it got to the point I just spent as little time with them as possible.

Dad I've called him on stuff, but he hasn't changed. Mom, on the other hand, has gotten more accepting and open minded.

I did ask about what would happen if I ever dated a black guy and Mom pretty much said "I don't think you'd want to bring him to the beach or to meet parts of your Dad's family."

Although my dad's parents really liked and respected (according to my grandmother and to Mom) Mom's dad. Who was half Comanche. And I don't remember ever hearing racist comments about Native Americans - just almost ever other group that wasn't white, Protestant, and straight.

Besides the racist stuff I grew up hearing a lot of Anti-Catholic comments. Southern Baptists (and Southern Baptists raised Calvinist) Do Not Like Catholics. My great aunt was scandalized when she learned her future granddaughter in law is Catholic and that the wedding was going to be in a Catholic Church. At first she refused to go.

I'm Zappo-ing for the first time and have a question. I need these by Wednesday--has anyone ever ordered the free shipping and had them actually take 4-5 business days?

I think I would order the faster shipping, just to be on the safe side.

That's what I figured. Thanks!

I have always had the free shipping from Zappos the very next day. It's almost terrifying; once I ordered shoes at 8pm and they were on my porch at noon the next day. I was like, "Are there magical shoe GNOMES doing the delivery?"

Yeah, I think I've not had free overnight shipping one time, but if you can't risk it, don't risk it, you know?