Not because it’s my barfday and I am 39 again. Rather, I get to see some very special family and fiends today, then the Js are staying the night with us. What could possibly make today better? Well, having Mr. A (grandson #3) spend the night with us too, but he’s awfully little right now. So I’ll settle for seeing him this afternoon.

But those of you with grown children know what a joy it is to be able to see them all on the same day. With family and BFF Kay/Bob and RD/Bonnie stopping by, all will be aces.

That, and it’s Saturday, and the first week of school is in the books. Oh, and there will be cake. CAKES. Could today get any better, seriously? Hmm. Maybe if you stopped by…

An interesting 24 hours into the 24th…

My sister had an unpleasant visit from an old ailment, and ended up in the ER last night. By the time I left her side and the Thriller took over MavisWatch so I could get up for work today, she was resting a bit more comfortably. Nothing like last year at this time, thank goodness, but a close enough call. I should have more information as the day goes on. I fully intended to be awake when the Thriller got home from the hospital, but either I was extra tired or he was extra quiet, because I didn’t hear a thing. Rats! Now I wait for both of them to wake up and let me know what went on. Thanks to all the cool RtB fiends who posted encouragement and wishes on Facebook. You are all the beast.

Well let’s see here…24 August. That’s a pretty important day. On this date:

• In the year 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted in southern Italy, destroying the city of Pompeii and all its inhabitants. It’s world famous because of the discovery in the late 1600s of thousands of human remains, frozen in suspended, ash-covered animation, and surprisingly intact.
• Terrorism: British troops burned down the White House and most of Washington DC in 1812
• 1989: Pete Rose was banned from baseball for betting on games.
• Pluto was demoted in 2006 from a planet to “dwarf planet” status, because according to astronomers, it no longer dominated its neighborhood.

Well I want to dominate my neighborhood, but it won’t get done sitting here. Have a great Finkday! Off to the races with your bad self.

Update: Just spoke with the Thriller, and he said that as of 1 a.m. when he took her home, she was doing much better after the second round of intravenous diuretics. Good news for the weekend!

Hey, I missed a day. Where was I?

Third day about to begin, and my flight reflex is waning. Always a good thing. But here’s the main issue, which will amuse those who know me: this year, I have to be more organized. Not because I want to be, mind, but because I have to be. That is to say, I have zero minutes in the morning to run and make a copy, or look up a reference or write out a translation, or even visit the ladies’ room. For the last two days, I’ve wolfed a sandwich while performing those tasks over lunch (well, except for the last one), and then it’s off to high school choir. So, at quarter to one in the afternoon, I can sit down for a few.

I have to be more organized.

The last two nights have been full of “I have to get ready for tomorrow!” It’s no biggy, but there is some major restructuring of paradigms going on here. Thirteen years at your job, and you develop some habits, right? Then it all gets reversed, and you have to make some ch-ch-ch-ch-changes. I’m fine with that; I just need to learn how to make them without it taking me until 8:00 every night. Ha.

RtB fiend BoomR should have arrived in Rome this morning. What I wouldn’t give about now…

Well, I must jet. I remembered at 4:08 this morning that I forgot to do something major, and of course, I need it first period today. Oy.

Rat(race) Fink, struggling with the list

zoom zoom

To the school house and beyond.

Of course, to get my mind off the upcoming week, I needed some brainless wandering this morning. Oh boy, do I want stuff.

I know I should want this for my grandsons (I’m sure they would each love one), but with my extremities coming up on their winter of discontent (translation: frostbite in the house because the Thriller insists on turning down the thermostat to the “frigid” setting), I can see myself lounging comfortably on the couch at night with it.

A cell phone pen. ‘Nuff said. Or maybe this cool Green Phone that recycles when you’re done with it. Awesome.

Of course, these two items are just in the concept stage. Who predicts that telecommunication will one day be inside our bodies, and we just speak a command to page someone? I predict this.

I want everything from this site. Yes, I admit it. While I’ve been forced to wait an extra month for my next cake decorating class to begin, I have found a new obsession.

Hahaha. I don’t want a pug, but this made me laff.

SHYEAH!

A meatball grilling basket? Why don’t I come up with these ideas first?

I know Williams Sonoma makes a hamburger grilling basket for people like me who are clumsy and tear apart the meat trying to flip over the burger. But spaghetti with meatballs that were cooked over a charcoal grill? That is a taste I want to test drive.

So if you’re going out today, fiends…