etc.

I’ve done a very bad thing and only just realised it, goshdarnit. I’ve made plans to go out for lunch with a couple of friends to-morrow and this is a problem because I promised myself a few months ago that I really would observe Buy Nothing Day this year. It’s one of those anti-consumerism movements I have all the respect in the world for but always manage to forget about until it’s too late. And now, I’ve done it again.

Some very intense research coupled with your helpful feedback over the past 24 hours (thank you) has netted an Epson Perfection 1250 with a slide adaptor to take care of all my scanning needs. I hestitated on the slide adaptor for about twenty minutes and once I decided it was a necessity I wondered how I could have hesitated for twenty minutes.

Also recently netted: Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. Many have asked how I could have lived this long and not read anything by Neal Stephenson, and from all accounts, this book is supposed to be a real teeth-sinker and it certainly feels nice and heavy in my hands so I’m looking forward to plunging in. I love trade paperbacks, but there is something so delicious about a hefty pocketbook, and this was selected as reading for the impending trip, but I can’t resist because delicious is just what I am in the mood for.

I came home from my parents’ yesterday armed with food, a camera and another bookshelf for our apartment. I am hoping to settle the bookshelf into the present decor so well that Michael does not notice the addition when he gets back. It’s either that or distract him for as long as possible. He’s convinced that for a librarian, I borrow far too few books and buy far too many, and he’s absolutely right. My problem is that I have never been a fan of the hardcover and since my major library source is the one I work at, this is a problem because we only buy hardcover, and if we buy paperbacks, we send them out to be bound in hardcover. hmph. So it’s an issue, and I know it’s an issue, and I have been trying to work on it, but I’m starting with very small steps (about 2 books borrowed a week) and in the meantime, our bookshelves are being crippled under the weight of all those unwieldly piles of too many books bought and not enough borrowed.

In the caving beneath the pressure of the masses department, I’ve added an about page for this site in response to all those folks who just don’t get what’s going on here.

With my recent low-tech camera purchases, I have decided that it is time for my very own scanner. Trying to get to the one at work during my lunch hour is just not going to cut it anymore. Let me know what you scan your images with and why you love it or hate it.

To whet your appetite for a page that is in the works, have a peek at this. Precious.

Since I am the only pet-disciplinarian in the house right now, it is becoming gravely apparent who has the real authority around here. Heidi sort of respects the boundaries I have set for her, but she certainly pushes the envelope as far as she can just to see how much I will let her get away with. And Sebastian! It is clear to me that he has real issues with a female authority figure because he practically laughs in the face of my mummy-is-doing-the-stern-voice thing. This morning I came out of the shower to find him sprawled on the kitchen counter and even while I implemented the appropriate tone of voice, he still looked back at me with that particularly feline “what are you going to do about it?” expression. I don’t think it is so much a case of cats being un-discipline-able as much as it is about cats knowing exactly who the resident pushover is.

I am making use of this weekend’s alone time by spending it with my parents. The last of the renovations in their house were completed this week with the laying of the new carpet in the basement, which means it is probably a good time for some “after” shots. The comparative side-by-side “before and after” spread, worthy of Canadian House and Home, is being planned. I kid you not, the transformation is astounding.

I picked up a Cybersampler yesterday and it has already provided hours of endless enjoyment. Watch this space for a sampling of what this sweet little piece of plastic can do. Also bought a Holga on eBay recently and I am just itching for it to arrive. Too bad it won’t be here in time for the exchange.

With MJ away, I am getting a chance to flex my culinary muscles a bit. Don’t get me wrong, I love that he does all the cooking. But I lived alone once, and I did have to cook myself the occasional meal (even with Dominoes on speed dial), and I sometimes liked the occasional meal and now I fear that those muscles have atrophied. So I stocked up on all manner of veggies and made myself a nice big pot of vegetable soup, enough to last me well into January. Maybe the cats will like some soup with their avocado halves.

The Soup
4 large green onions (I used “sweet onions” instead)
3 carrots
small head of Broccoli
½ a cabbage
4 cubes chicken bouillon
1 package onion soup mix
many mushrooms
cayenne pepper, seasoning salt and herbes de Provence

cut the onions and toss them around in some olive oil.
cut the carrots, broccoli and cabbage and add them in.
cut the mushrooms and add those in too.
add 12 cups of water.
add the bouillon cubes and soup mix.
add the cayenne pepper, seasoning salt and herbes de Provence.
let it all simmer for about two hours.

Serve it up, dish it out, refrigerate or feed left-overs to cats. Also recently served up: evilkaty, my Holiday Film Exhange partner. Go visit.

Rannie let me sign up a little late for the film exchange. What a champ. He’s sending out the match-ups today and I so can’t wait. Of course I will have to use Michael’s camera because mine is APS.

• both of my cats like avocado. go figure.
• ickle.org
• Roch Carrier is not a librarian
• Segways are finally available to the public
• I’ve been on a low-carb diet for the past week and I didn’t even know it
• an alphabetized list of links is a good thing and definitely worth the effort
• Strange & Unusual Dictionaries
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