Laura

Back at work after a four-day weekend, but hey, I survived it, and even got some stuff done. And then we got Scott's car back. It was the fan, jenett - I am SO GLAD. Still not cheap but much better than most possible alternatives, anyway. Once the fan was replaced, the AC was fine again, even. We stopped it shy of actual damage. Then, in a truck borrowed from a friend (hi, Elaine, thank you, Elaine! very much!), we went and got nightstands from City Liquidators that we thought would match our bed and brought them home.

THAT was an adventure. We got there at 10 minutes to when they close, having NOT realized they close at 6 so not allowed adequate time. That's cutting it real close.... Then, we paid, went to the loading dock, and waited while he brought them out. By then it was after 6 and the actual store was closed. And he gets out there and says, hey, check the color on these. Your order gives the item number - and the color - but that color isn't this item number. (Both were copied down from a single label on a single nightstand that was the shade we wanted.) I looked at it and finally said I had no clue, it looked like maybe, but I didn't have my color patch WITH me since I'd just intended to get something already selected. We took them, knowing we could return if we had to, but AIE. The longer we drove, the more certain I was that they were both too light and too red, and we were TOAST.

We got them home, popped one of the box (they come fully set up), deposited it next to the bed...they match. They match SO CLOSE it's astonishing, like they were made to be a set. (They weren't: the knobs on the drawers don't match the bed, but they're close, you have to be looking for it or be very visually-responsive to be bugged by them.) I took some photos but in the light I had it's hard to really see. (The problem in judging color when we picked it up, I think, was seeing it in full sun - light we seldom see the bed in! But they very clearly go together and I can probably get a good photo when there's more daylight involved.)

WHEW.

Then we returned Elaine's truck, which was just super-funny. Scott pulled into her apartment complex, then neatly parked in a space. VERY neatly. The truck is large and he was being careful of the car in the slot to the right, so he was left in his space but still completely in it. He had to back up a little, however...because there are support posts and he was too far forward to open his door. Fixed that, got out, looked at it, and we started laughing. Elaine is, fortunately, tolerant. I say this because I think he had that thing within 3 inches of the posts - I know he had it within 6. She'll have to be careful getting it out. O.o Eeep. Or oops. Or something like that.

WE HAVE NIGHTSTANDS. And one in place. The other is not yet. We have to move the bed first, snug against the one nightstand that is in place, so there's enough room on the far side for the other. And won't that be fun?

First day back at work, but only part of the day. Mostly just got email read and got prepped for getting back to work, rather than accomplishing much. I still have errands to run and things to get done outside of work, hence the late start.

Today was car-related things day, mostly. See, I'd originally meant to renew my driver's license (which expired two weeks from today) and get my car serviced last week, when last week was planned as a vacation.... Well, I still needed it (I was over both the time AND the mileage since my last oil change, yes, did more than 3000 miles in a month - very unusual for me, normally). So it got done. My driver's license is now good until 2015 or so, my car's oil has been changed, and the tires have been rotated, removing the minor but annoying vibration/twitch (hopefully, in theory, and based on the tiny bit of driving I did after it, anyway). I love Les Schwab tire centers - the rotation was free. I knew flat fixes were, but I didn't know tire rotation was! Still have to get new windshield wipers, and check whether I do in fact need to get a service from the dealer (or from Jiffy Lube, but I pretty much have a personal policy against that). I remembered to check my locks after getting the car back from Jiffy Lube because they usually return it with the doors unlocked. They returned it with the doors locked. Bless them - I get really tired of finding out (when I get home, or worse, a day or two later) that all my doors are unexpectedly unlocked (and since I don't have power locks, I have to look at each one and then lock it - can't just smack a button and have them all go). So they didn't do that to me this time - here is hoping it's a new trend! (I have complained, the last couple times, so perhaps they are being more careful - it's the same one every time that I go to, because it's so near to home.)

Scott and I went to the bank - got a larger safety deposit box and other assorted fun. Well, not really, but the bank was very helpful and efficient so it didn't take nearly as long as it could have (and for the one wait we had, because the guy was busy with other customers, they were quite apologetic - it was not that long!).

Tomorrow morning, the cats go to the vet. I'm sure they'll love that...okay, really I'm not. But it needs to happen. Going to get them microchipped. Also a general check-up. And a review of the last vet's records to find out what I need to be doing for Basta's arthritis. I know it is something she gets every few weeks and I believe it was a shot, but I couldn't find anything out at my parents' house, so at this point I'm just going to hand over the records from the previous vet and find out what she needs and so on. If I'm lucky it's an oral medicine but I believe Dad had no luck getting her to eat that and I would swear it ended up being a shot - maybe not. We'll see.

They've settled in fairly nicely although right now, neither one will go upstairs. (Roomba is vacuuming the upstairs hallway, you see. They don't care for that strange noise.) On the other hand they don't seem to mind much - Babe is over by the fancy cat tree next to the window (neither uses it, except as a stepping-stone to the window-sill, but oh well) cleaning herself. Basta has come to rest right next to me on the little sprawl-on-the-floor pad in front of the gas fireplace in the living room. (Which isn't lit at the moment, though it was earlier. Interestingly, neither seems to care to be within a couple feet of it when it's lit - a bit too hot for them, maybe. Basta will curl up next to me as long as I'm between her and it, Babe won't even do that.)

Babe let me put her upside down in my lap for a bit and pet her that way. I think she was dubious when I picked her up but she seemed very calm and content once there. When she rolled over, I helped her right herself and she still seemed pretty calm so hopefully that's an okay experience from her point of view....

I've been baby-talking them and saying they're pretty kittens, then pretty kits, then prettykits. Which became predicates, as sort of a joke. So we have grammar kitties now, apparently.

kayre is doing a project where she tries to take a photo every day of this year. That sounded like a neat idea to me as well, so I am starting in. I am committing only to try to do that in January (starting today, obviously, instead of yesterday). If it goes well I may commit to more of the year, but I figure a one-month attempt is a good start and will tell me if I can stick with it. I have a few photos but (of course) haven't moved them to the computer yet. Scott is home and has made pizza, so I am going to let the photos wait until after that's been dealt with....