http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/zara.asp

Is the Zara fashion chain selling handbags adorned with swastikas?

So I'm sitting here knitting an elephant and watching Mystery Diagnosis (rare genetic disorder this time and, actually, nearly every other time come to think of it) when the fire alarm goes off.

I've lived here since January of 1992. The fire alarm goes off once or twice a year. Someone burns toast. The hairdress guy across the hall tried to cook up some new drugs. The idiot down the hall puts her chicken on to cook and goes out for a run... You know, the usual stuff...

I actually evacuated once. My Mom was in town and we went down the stairs to the outside in the cold and dark and stood around wishing we had stopped by a mirror on the way out. When we came back up my Mom asked, quite casually and with no judgement, "didn't you feel funny being the only one out there who left her pets upstairs?" Doh.

So I got carriers for each of them (there were a different two at the time but here were two) and got ready for the next time. But the next time, I was busy doing something and the thought of digging out the carriers and then digging out the cats (who immediately go try to hide from the noise) was just too much trouble.

And ever since, when the alarm goes off, I turn on Front Door TV Network and watch. Sometimes I get up and check the hall for smoke but mostly I just watch like I did tonight. I see who comes out and if they sent the cute fire fighters (no) and how long it all takes. Usually the fire department gets here way faster than they did tonight. By the time they got here tonight, the alarm had stopped shrieking.

We did not burn up, again. And, bonus this time... tomorrow is another Costco run with neighbors, Ron and Ann. They will have all the details so I don't even have to go hunt them down!

This was going around on Facebook and it went pretty well over there so I thought it would be interesting to see where everyone's creative li'l' minds go here on LJ - so here is:

If you and I woke up in jail together.......using only 4 words........what would you say to me??!!

Extra points for reaching past the easy sex answers.

...to my amazing and beautiful friend Connor ubermunkey.
I can't say enough to express how thankful and honored I am to have you in my life, munkey.
You are a force of nature, a complex and intriguing beast, a hard candy exterior with a gooey center, my favorite wooly mammoth, and so sexy you make me dizzy.
Thank you for being you.
Much love to you, handsome.

Namaste

The crop du jour.

This small teddy bear is mainly to ensure I did not forget the pattern that I made up. I didn't. And I'm taking notes. Whew.

This morning's walk was accompanied by Seattle rain... light and gentle and steady. Not really enough to break out an umbrella unless you have a particularly fine one that you want to show off. Brunch was delicious. The new waiter's bloody mary isn't quite as good but his attention and follow through and charm way more than makes up for it.

On the bar, Boka lays out the Seattle Times and the New York Times. Today I grabbed the NYT and enjoyed it thoroughly. The only downside is that it is quite a reading commitment. The Seattle Times can be easily read with one eye on the dining room and one eye on the window.

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The lamp in my bedroom ceiling fan is out and needs a new bulb. I think I'm going to hold off until neighbor Ann can come down and spot me while I change it. I have no clue how to get the cover off but I don't want to fall off the ladder trying and lay in a heap unable to move for days... in the attempt.

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My Google alert for "Susan Dennis" today turned up a disturbing entry... Hateful Rantings of an Abusive Woman: Susan Dennis. Probably the worst part is that I had to read a lot of it to make sure it wasn't about me!!

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But a counter balance of a fun internet thing... Dining Alone. I think one of my LJ friends turned me on to this great website. I have no intention of cooking any of her dishes but I absolutely love every one of her entries.
.

The WeaKnees blog shares the news that TiVo has dropped the price of the TiVo HD from $299 to $249, and of the TiVo HD XL from $599 to $499, effective today. WeaKnees also has some great deals on expanded TiVo units, as well as units with backup drives so if one drive fails, your shows don't vanish.

http://www.wkblog.com/tivo/?p=738

http://www.cartoonlabs.com/comics/index.php?date=2009-11-15&show=sinfest

Sinfest
Tatsuya Ishida

http://www.snopes.com/politics/christmas/soldiercards.asp

How Americans can send holiday cards to service members and veterans through the "Holiday Mail for Heroes" program.

With a hat tip to gryphons_hole, I'm going to go in a slightly different direction. I've been in a sartorial black hole all week-end, and I've come across a bunch of stuff that may be interesting to folks. Perhaps it'll start a meme. I'm going to post items, looks, and links and give some editorial of what I find interesting. I encourage anyone interested to reply, and perhaps make their own entries.

Grey Shooting Jacket by D.S.DUNDEE

I am in love with this jacket. First, the colour is fantastic. It can be worn with prettymuch anything, including jeans (as shown). I love both the ample pouch pockets, and the vertical side pockets as well. The high collar is nice for folks with long necks. As a "secret bonus", the jacket zips, even though the buttons are operational.

Tell me what you think.