Love that Sparky!

A salesperson who just cold called me called me "kiddo" so I hung up on her.

Seriously? WTF. That is not someone who understands how sales work. Rule 1: do not piss off the person you want to buy something.

Good luck on the new job, msbelle! I hope you rock at it.

I feel old today: I did a 7-minute workout yesterday morning, and this morning my back is killing me. Couldn't even run our usual 3 miles.

ita !, I love that dongli shop on Etsy, thanks for the link. I suspect there's a new dress or skirt in my near future.

You're not old, Consuela, but you are under a lot of stress. I know stress makes my back and shoulders seize up. Just do some gentle back stretches today.

Somehow I didn't quite realize the scale of the destruction in Oklahoma last night, but reading the reports this morning, it's hard not to cry at my desk. 91 people confirmed dead so far, and that number is likely to rise. It's so awful.

I'm sure there are hundreds of organizations that will be taking donations in the coming days and weeks, but one I know of right now is the Cimarron Alliance, "central Oklahoma's preeminent LGBT advocacy and education organization": [link] Though now that I read through their last few posts, it looks like they're mostly taking food/clothing donations, as well as checks made out to the American Red Cross. So if you're looking to send money right now, the Red Cross is probably a good place to send it. I will let you all know if I hear of other local orgs that are accepting donations.

Kate, if it's any comfort, they're revising the number downward, because some casualties were double-counted. According to NPR, the official death toll is 24.

That's good to hear, Dana.

Wow, that is really great to hear, and quite the reversal. Not that that's any comfort to the families of those 24 victims, but it's a damn sight better than 91. I am fervently hoping that number doesn't rise any higher.

Somehow I didn't quite realize the scale of the destruction in Oklahoma last night, but reading the reports this morning, it's hard not to cry at my desk. 91 people confirmed dead so far, and that number is likely to rise. It's so awful.

One of our good friends is from Oklahoma, and her (grown) children and grandchildren are still there. One daughter lives in Moore, and her house was untouched (and she and her kids are safe). That's amazing. Several of them lived in the town next to Moore, and others lived about 5 miles away. They're all okay, thank god, but it seems like such a close call, and just plain luck.

I just had an extensive conversation with a woman on the subway who told me that the weather has been crazy since Sputnik! That's what did it -- all the going to space.

In case anyone was wondering.