The other night at the Discovery Museum, I also admired a case of old political buttons. (Rich, meanwhile, was totally mesmerized by the 201-ounce gold nugget.) There were a lot for Teddy Roosevelt, but his collection branched out... "Don't be a "Jack" ass, vote Republican" (that would be for Nixon) and one that puzzled me for awhile...

Yesterday was the SoleMates party. Rich and I took lighting magnifying glasses as presents. We'd had need of them in Pittsburgh trying to read the map, so it was in our minds, and they fit the $7-10 price range. (One gift was a vial of hand cream. Kinda chintzy.)
Before the gift exchange but after the lunch, one of the women, about 70 or so, tap-danced for us. I watched her flying around and said to Rich, "right, I keep walking!")

Rich had an early number in the gift exchange and got a photo album. I had #24 (of about 27) so pretty well had my pick, and I stole "Bruce the Spruce" (which had to be over $10!) from someone else. Bruce is a Christmas tree with a Santa hat, blue light eyes and a mouth, and if Bruce detects motion, he sings "Jingle Bells" in Gene Autry's voice. Tacky tacky tacky. I love it.

We got back to discover that instead of picking up the CPU, our friend had instead dropped off a keyboard and monitor, so the guru came back last night and made sure everything was working. (He also accidently pocketed the keyboard adaptor.) There I was, dozing off in front of "It's a Wonderful Life" (Combine early hours and the glass of wine) and the computer was being worked on. I sure didn't need this 6 days before Christmas. We still need to get all the ornaments on the tree.
Today we packed up the whole thing and took it to church for the owner, but they didn't go to the early Mass today. So (after dropping off ham and soap at Loaves and Fishes, in separate bags, of course!) we dropped it off at their house, and THEN the guy came back looking for the keyboard adaptor. Argh. I like them a lot, but the timing is just awful.

Al claims to be a link pimp, but that's hardly germane except when he's pushing hits my way. We'll have to figure out what a male "hit slut" is.

I discovered that after a six-month hiatus, my favorite train-wreck journal is back. I'll have to read a couple of days at a time, from November 1, to catch up. (Any more is just too painful. MIDIs to turn off and difficult graphics.) Since Sleepless in Seattle 2, that is, You've Got Mail, is out, as this train-wreck was mostly involved with a long-distance e-mail "engagement." (I do think people should at least meet F2F before getting engaged.

Also happily rediscovered, Miriam Nadel, NOT a train wreck. I knew her when we were both RABble (rec.arts.books) and we corresponded some before she went around the world. She had dropped me a nice note while I was in Pittsburgh, to which I whipped off a short reply when I got back, but I forgot to ask for the journal URL. Yay!

I baked a "hugs and chips cheesecake." And Bernadette cleaned the bathroom, especially the little shelves over the tub which have been gathering stuff for at least 5 years. We do still have to finish decorating the tree, however.