While I was busy straightening out the maitre’d at the Margarita at Pine Creek that we needed a table for three (for Jack, my mother, and myself) instead of a table for five, I looked over my shoulder and saw my sister and brother-in-law, just flown in from California to help celebrate my fiftieth birthday.
Category: Life
Furry Golden Horde
We are hosting my sister-in-law’s dogs, Lily and Lightning, this weekend. They earned the name “The Furry Golden Horde” when they first visited years ago, and actually did constitute a two dog invasion. (After the first visit, I went around muttering for weeks, “She ate my hat. I can’t believe she ate my hat.”) Lily (yes, she has the same name as my mare, but we can usually tell whether we are referring to the horse or the Golden Retriever) no longer destroys things, though she does like to carry soft objects around in her mouth. Lightning likes to bark at the horses, but is otherwise an exemplary Sheltie. The two are getting along with Lody and Mia quite well, and it is very entertaining to watch them try to figure out the hierarchy thing without doing anything so uncivilized as growling.
New Money
I’ve barely got used to the $20 bill, and I find out that there is a new design for the $10 bill. This government site has pictures of the new money.
The Eternal Value of Privacy
Bruce Schneier: in Wired News: The Eternal Value of Privacy
Too many wrongly characterize the debate as “security versus privacy.” The real choice is liberty versus control. Tyranny, whether it arises under threat of foreign physical attack or under constant domestic authoritative scrutiny, is still tyranny. Liberty requires security without intrusion, security plus privacy. Widespread police surveillance is the very definition of a police state. And that’s why we should champion privacy even when we have nothing to hide.
Amazon Wish List
I thought about it for hours, but decided there is just no non-tacky way of stating that I updated my Amazon Wish List.
Cloudscape
In spring, the sunrises become less extravagant, but the afternoon cloudscapes pick up the slack.
I had to take Mia and Lody for a walk this afternoon. I let Mia see me pick up a leash to put away that I had bought earlier in the day, and I find it almost impossible to resist a Dalmatian doing her “oh my gosh we’re going for a walk” happy dance.
Literary Scam Agents
Want to strike a blow against scam agents? Link to the 20 Worst Agents list. While you’re at it, link to Writer Beware and Preditors and Editors. You could even link to Everything you wanted to know about literary agents and On the getting of agents. But the 20 Worst Agents list—that’s the important one.
Driftwood Horses
Heather Jansch makes very beautiful Driftwood Horses.
Live Giraffe Cam
One of the fun things to do at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is to hand feed the giraffes. I just recently discovered the Live Giraffe Cam at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, which allows one to see giraffes (including their purple tongues) on pleasant days.
Plant Project
Jack rescued four plants at work that were due to be discarded, in blithe disregard that we have a limited number of windows that get any sunlight, since our house was built with deep eaves so it would stay cool in the summer. Two of them required immediate repotting because they were falling out of their pots, and two will require bigger pots when I can get some. After wandering around the house for a bit, I decided to use the south facing window seat for the newcomers.