LaLaLandia

Went to visit me cousin Ian in Millbrae. He and Yuri had a baby, William James, in December and this was the first time we’d seen him in person. He was defying all stereotypes by being quiet, smiley and pretty interactive in general. Click on the photo for more poses. It’ll still be a few years yet before sita and I move babywards… you heard it here first.
The car had its brake and battery lights lit on the dashboard on the way home and at one point the electrics cut out, so we stopped in saratoga where they checked the brake fluid and changed the battery. The lights stayed on all the while. It’s behaving fine apart from that… ‘ll have to phone click and clack next saturday.
Today was a marathon washing day and then went exploring Pogonip park with Anarchist/Asparagus/Antichrist/Atticus . There’re a few photos here. I’m feeling distictly brain dead at the minute. Time to watch some telly and fold some clothes. Feels like a very english evening. I half expect songs of praise and last of the summer wine to be on when I reach for the remote.

Last few bargains

This morning I got up, poured myself a cup of coffee from the machine, opened the kitchen windows and then entered a world of pain as I jammed my finger between the sliding window frames. Now I’ve got a bruise under the nail and our peas are no longer frozen. Then, cos it’s forecast to get HOT again today I went out with young ‘Cus for a walk but he kept stopping to lick his foot because he too has some kind of paw injury. So we made a detour so he could splash about in the stream and soften his little paddy paws up to get rid of the splinter or whatever. He, and I, seem much better now, though neither of us will be typing at full speed for a few days.

We did a pub quiz last night and fared miserably though I thoroughly enjoyed it. Nice atmosphere and good questions. Though three out of four of us had PhDs (and one of us had a 2:1 in Hispanic Studies from Swansea Uni…) we came last. I blame the Doctors.

Other news, still applying left right and centre for jobs. It’s slow going. The radishes I planted a few days ago have already got shoots. We’ve now got a(n) herb garden going. Going to a faculty barbecue tomorrow. Considering heading for the coast on Friday to escape the forecast 99 degree temperatures. Still haven’t worked out the new recycling rules and how to get our rubbish collected. Learnt a new song yesterday on the geetar… Modern Girl originally by Sheena Easton, revived by Camera Obscura.

Somehow I fell asleep at 8.30pm last night and woke up at the crack of dawn today. I feel vaguely like I’ve stumbled off a transatlantic flight. Anyroad, plans for today: get the Flickr t-shirt into production (a fellow FlickeRo recommended a quality place for around US$15 a shirt), some translation, take M & D to the airport, see Atlas play someone or other in the football stadium with Sita and the Amour Fou crowd and probably a siesta… Not necessarily in that order.

Oh, and Tony Blair’s bowing out? About time too…

Just received this picture in an email from Jesse. Rather than grade papers he’s fired up photoshop and brought us this shot of Klem riding/replacing a horse…

Top-notch work, Sr. Barba. Many thanks. I especially like the way she leans into the curve. {{popup why.jpg why 450×338}}Here’s my attempt…

This link’ll take you to photos Sita took of the bunnies romp around the settees in our house last night. Good as gold the two of ’em. I’ve also just signed up for ‘pro’ membership of flickr.com and minutes after I forked over my credit card details heard it’s being bought up by Yahoo! and there’s going to be all kinds of improvements/ changes/ upgrades. Maybe I should’ve waited. Hey ho. I really like the whole community thing they’ve got going on there. That bloke from Davis who’d been to Santa Cruz and Taunton never got back to me mind, but I found out all about the umbrella man in SC thanks to one helpful flickr bloke.

Other news: I’m never sure how much info to share on this blog about other people (hence ‘self-absorption central’) but i think it’s now public knowledge that Scott & Becky’ve just had a baby boy called Leven and that Meghan and Tewbewks are wedlock bound. Am well happy for all you guys. (if you’d like me to remove this, just email me 😉 CONGRATS.

I’ve also just read Stu’s alternative plan for the 2nd half of his novel, it’s looking really good. I’ve got to let him know me thoughts sometime today before he goes and meets up with the bloomsbury peeps. As per usual I don’t have much to say except, fair bloody play. Shall have to think of something while i start photoshopping those pylons I mentioned last week.