Fire! (Oops. Never Mind.)
Well, this is what my office parking lot looked like when I left this afternoon. Can’t quite see it? That’s three fire engines down there. (And, back over my right shoulder, where you can’t see it, is an ambulance, just in case.) You’ll note, though, that there are no crowds of worried or soot-smudged people. We didn’t have a fire, but there was apparently a “funky” smell in the back, and they figured it was better to call the fire department than not.
I don’t know what, if anything, the resolution was, but I’m sure I’ll hear tomorrow. I must say, though, there’s a whole different feeling to seeing fire engines and ambulances outside your office when you’re not worried about life and limb. One of the fellows in my department is a volunteer fireman, and wandered down just as I left, out of professional interest, and said that that man engines is standard procedure. I just hope that nobody in town had a real fire this afternoon!
I got my issue of Whole Dog Journal today, a magazine I highly recommend by the way. It focuses on “Natural Dog Care and Training,” and is the only dog magazine that I still subscribe to, and which I read in its entirety. I mention it today because there’s an article on common food ingredients that can be toxic for dogs–things like chocolate and onions (which I knew), but also grapes, macadamia nuts, and the low-calorie sweetener Xylitol (which sounds very scary from a dog’s point of view and was, in fact, the first one mentioned in the article–keep it away from your dogs!). You can get the whole article here (for a small fee, if you’re not a subscriber).
Now, for a public service announcement, go visit Emma, who’s dealing with some extra financial agony trying to get an electric wheelchair and other absurdly expensive but oh-so-necessary “toys” for her son, Oliver. There’s a link for a donation via PayPal if you’re feeling so inclined. Also, Kerrie is hosting two wonderful auctions at Ebay UK for luscious yarn, with the proceeds going toward Oliver’s needs. (The button was designed by Jean–isn’t it adorable, and doesn’t it just make you want to give money?)
And, just to get a fibery note in here somewhere, here’s a shot of my current spinning–a deep, wine-colored Corriedale wool–the one I hope to ply with the orange (assuming that they look as good as I hope they will together). You know, lest you think I’ve been slacking off on the Spinning front.
Incidentally, may I just say that the gas prices are getting completely ridiculous? On my drive through the center of town today on my way back to work after lunch, I passed four gas stations, selling Regular unleaded at: $2.51, $2.55, $2.59, and $2.69. (And, my brain still doesn’t want to believe these numbers–it started typing them as ONE dollar plus change, instead of the TWO dollar plus change actual price.) This is up 20 cents in just a little over a week. I can’t decide if I should top off my gas tank out of self-defense of what tomorrow’s prices might be, or hold off and hope they’ll have somehow dropped by the time my tank empties out. I am grateful, grateful, I tell you, of my short commute and my relatively fuel-efficient Volvo. How are people with gas-guzzling SUVs and hour-long commutes possibly managing? I keep flashing back to the 70s when you could only fill your tank on odd or even days depending on your license plate, and long lines at the gas stations. (If it comes to that, I wonder, how will they factor in people with Vanity plates?) I was just a kid, mind you, and didn’t pay much attention at the time, but . . . sheesh. I really wonder how far off from that we might be now?
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Tannenbaum.
House Calls
Glad to hear there was no fire at your office! I love the color of your Corriedale, I always love to see people’s spinning! And gas, here in LaLa land it’s at least $2.79 for regular. I’m always screaming, “But we have a refinery 10 minutes away!” I always remind myself that it could be worse, right?
The corrie is gorgeous. I love that color!
Gas prices. Big ugh. As you know, I have a gas guzzling SUV. It cost me $51.50 to fill up it amazingly huge 25 gas tank last week. Ouch. I’m approaching the refills the same way. Do I top it off now to lock in the lower price or do I wait until I need more in hopes that it will go down.It was an ill-advised lease and I’m only sorry that I still have another 14 months to go before the lease is up. The only saving grace is that while I have an hour commute, it is via mass transit. My drive to the station is under a mile.
I do clearly remember the Odd-Even days of lining up at the gas station. I remember my mom going out early the morning of my Bat Mitzvah to get in line for gas. We had two cars with consecutive plate numbers. Mom was even and Dad was odd. Or maybe it was reversed.
A couple weeks back we were travelling and there was a billboard on Interstate 70. The billboard was for an upcoming exit and a gas station, but they couldn’t put their gas price up because the billboard was only set up for $1.XX gas prices. It’s just insane!
I don’t know how people with big cars do it. We have a saturn, a jeep (wrangler), and a mini-van it’s killing us, I can’ imagine what those huge vehicles are costing.
Gas around here is running $2.75-2.80. It costs us about $30 to fill up my Corolla… I remember it cost less than $10 to fill up my first Corolla when I first started driving. I have to laugh when I fill up my scooter… it cost me $2.85 a couple days ago, and that’ll last me at least a week.
I remember gas lines. I remember one incident in particular when we were in Florida and must have waited for eons. Of course any waiting for a kid is eons. I did move up to a minivan from a cr-v — 6cyc vs. 4cyc. However, I needed more space. I don’t travel much around though so I’m still filling up every week and a half to two weeks. I could never do an hour+ commute anymore. Been there and done that and it’s no fun. We’ll all be driving Vespers before long. (lol). It’ll look like Italy around here… better knit warmer stuff. (lol).