It was a pretty week.
I managed to break Movable Type (my weblog engine) late last week, so I upgraded to the new release. That started me down a path of snafus and frustration. The good news the new release comes with tech support! I've been taking advantage of that Tech Support!
I started with server errors and difficulty logging in. Then, when I finally got those fixed, it turned out the upgrade script had not, in fact, upgraded some of my data files. 😦 It took till Tuesday of this week to get everything back into working order (and a few things are still FUBAR. 😦
At least I can post; that's a good thing! I've been posting some back-dated entries that had to wait during the "down" period.
So… back to the week in review.
On Monday I discovered a wonderful bracket fungus at the base of a tree behind the Company. It's yellow and orange and most knobby and wonderful. I took a camera with me on Tuesday to photograph it.
The Camry was in the shop again on Monday, this time having the headliner replaced. It's been falling down for months now; we finally checked on the price and, at $225, decided to get it fixed).
We were told the shop opened at 7:30; we were there at 7:40. It turns out the guy never arrives till 8. Sigh. First price quoted was $200; second price quoted was $250. Most recent quote (and we put it on the Master Card) was $225. For a place that's been in business since 1977, they don't seem to have their act together.
Rich took the Tonka, loaded with computer parts and old software, and drove down to WeirdStuff after dropping me off at The Job. He picked me up at 1pm. The Camry was done by late afternoon so we drove down and got it. The new ceiling is nice. It's not vinyl like the original; it's fabric.
Tuesday we had a second Junior Achievement meeting, this time to meet "our" teachers at the school where we will be volunteering. I am… a bit nervous. I shall endeavor to channel my mother 😉
On the way home from work on Tuesday night, Rich reached up adjust the angle of the rear view mirror and it came off in his hand. Apparently the people who did the headliner didn't install the mirror properly 😦
So, on Wednesday morning we called the toyota Parts & Service department. Yes, they could order the part. $5. It should be in by Friday morning. As Rich has been planning a trip to Santa Barbara for the weekend, Friday morning would work.
On Friday morning, Rich called the Toyota Parts Dept. at 7:45 am. They were still "checking in parts". Apparently Toyota sends the parts in a huge crate. Rich asked the receptionist if she could ask if his part had been found because he was driving south for the weekend and he preferred not to be held up any longer than necessary. The receptionist promised to look and call back.
Rich decided to go do some Harry Homeowner stuff while he waited; he needed to do something active. I stayed home to be sure that Harry wasn't in the garage when the Toyota people called back (which they did at 8am). Yes, they had the part; Rich could come in anytime. Rich was relieved; I went off to the Job feeling confident that Rich would be able to get the mirror and fix it before his trip. (He called later. There was a minor difficulty but he overcame that and thinks the mirror is solid.)
I spent most of Saturday reading or snuggling with cats. Along about midnight I decided to set all of the clocks back and then go to bed. Right about that time, I heard a car pull up at the curb in front of our house. A car door opened; I heard voices. I continued to hear voices. Wondering what was up, I went to the window to look and… What are they doing out there?
There was a man in the front seat, talking, while someone else stood on the sidewalk by the back seat fumbling with… what _is_ that? I went into Rich's office to get a better look and the person in back was putting on a costume. It was white with black spots… a horse?… or a cow? The back end with butt and two legs was attached like a bustle. Then he shrugged into the head and neck and draped the back over the rest. Then the man in front got out of the car and joined the … cow?
As they started down the street I decided I had to get a better look. I went out on the porch and said "What is it?" They laughed and said "It's a cow". I said "It's delightful!" This cow had a rather long neck and a smallish head with little yellow horns. (It could have been a giraffe 😉 It was very cute. Off they went, down the street and around the curve, the back end of the cow following the front, but swaying a bit. They occasionally stopped for the other man to adjust the back end of the cow. I assume there was a party.
After that, I went around the house turning back clocks, then went to bed. There were lots of noises (cars and voices) last night. From the sound of things, last night there were several parties in our neighborhood. Thinking about it, I guess a Halloween party staring late Saturday night on Daylight Fallback night is a great idea. You get an extra hour of party for free.
I finished Designer Knockoff, a murder mystery by Ellen Byerrum. We enjoyed the first in the series, Killer Hair. I think this one is even better. The protagonist, Lacey Smithsonian, is fashion reporter for The Eye Street Observer, a small paper in Washington DC. She doesn't want to be on "the fashion beat"; she wants to be "a real reporter". But she has an eye for clothes and hairstyles, a witty way of writing, and a growing set of people who read her column. The editor likes her right where she is. And sometimes, the "Crimes of Fashion" she investigates turn out to be the real thing – crimes, that is!
I'm still reading Exile's Honor (Mercedes Lackey) and started Death at Glamis Castle, by Robin Paige, late on Saturday night. I'm one of those people who often keeps two or even three books going in parallel.
I woke around dawn on Sunday morning, Squirrel snuggled into my right arm, Bebop tight against my left hip. It was delightful so I lay there enjoying it, gently petting furry heads and soft tummies. Then I drifted back to sleep for another few hours. After all, not only was today Sunday, I got a free extra hour. Too bad we don't get any interest on that hour!
In between and around the rest, I've had several naps, good meals, and interesting conversations with Spouse and friends. I've chatted with my dad and also with a friend in Texas (the friend who was responsible for our adopting Raven!). I've had lots of good snuggles with the cats. I did three loads of laundry and have the diswasher mostly loaded. …
Onward and Upward.
Slightly Off KIlter 