Christmas Eve 2004

Drove by the old building this morning—the boarded-up, black-edged windows still make me wince to see, like looking at a nasty bruise. Why does it hurt so much to lose an apartment I was never sure I even liked in the first place?

Quotation

We cannot escape anything by consenting tacitly to be defeated. Despair is an abyss without bottom. Do not think to close it by consenting to it and trying to forget you have consented.

This, then is our desert: to live facing despair, but not to consent. To trample it down under hope in the Cross. To wage war against despair unceasingly.

—Thomas Merton

The upstairs neighbors had a fire

The upstairs neighbors had a fire
Originally uploaded by Yager-Madden.

The apartment we were living under is pretty much gone due to accidental fire (someone left a candle burning is the story we got). Our place wasn’t too bad except for smoke and water damage. We’re moved into a new place just a few blocks away, though still unpacking. Renter’s insurance helped a lot.

It could have been a lot worse, but mental-health-wise, I don’t seem to dealing too well. I’m not sure what’ll become of this blog or pedicel or anything, but I think it all be quiet for awhile.

Chopsticks

I love the instructions that come on the wrappers for chopsticks that you get at restaurants. On these ones right here when you get to the end it says “Now you can pick up anything”! Including, presumably, things like pianos and SUVs. I like utensils that grant me super powers.

I like the design

So, a vanity-search for ‘flocculent’ over at del.icio.us shows that a couple people have linked to my blog here, which I think is just keen. Even better, some dude seems to think I have a ‘nice design’. Thanks, rman666!

Gasoline Smell in Office

From the Office Manager at Work

Many of you have reported a smell similar to gasoline. The outside air valve to the building has been temporarily shut down. The valve was bringing the diesel fumes from the [nearby] construction site into the building air flow. The smell should dissipate within the hour.

Neat-o.

The very best thing about the holiday season

Three words: eggnog ice cream!