It's cool to see all these businesses I used to hear advertised all the time as a kid. I still remember the jingles. "Carpetland USA. Do-do-do do. Carpetland USA. Do-do-do."

Hahaha! I have this image of you embracing your furniture and huffing, Amy.

I can imagine the original model being uncomfortable with that, stock photo or no. Particularly if people were threatening him. Still, you're right that when someone buys a stock photo, they're supposed to be free to use it.

Amy, do not drink it.

We have arrived in Annapolis, and have rendezvoused with Nutty and Nuttybro. Mother expected imminently. Greatest news so far is Nuttybro (who is also fleabro, natch) seems to have decided to dress like a hipster douchebag. He has aviator shades, cultured stubble, and a leather motorcycle jacket. Seriously, he looks like he wants to dress like Dov Charney. WTF?

ZOMG Erin!! Tons of job~ma!

lisah, it bears repeating: congrats!

I am thankful for my family, my friends, my cats, my house, my car, and my crazy yet profitable job. I'm thankful that I've been able to go off my antidepressant and remain undepressed, and thankful for both the good situation and the little super-vitamin med the doctor recommended that allowed me to do that. I'm thankful that the number on the scale has finally started creeping downward instead of up. I'm thankful to live in this beautiful, friendly little city. I'm thankful that I'm healthy. I'm thankful to be part of a community of smart, kind, funny people (that's you all).

Enjoy the freezing rain/snow combo we're supposed to get tonight, Tommy!

F-Morgan, C-Hotch, M-Reid (Natch)

I need to bake my pies tonight.

I can imagine the original model being uncomfortable with that, stock photo or no. Particularly if people were threatening him. Still, you're right that when someone buys a stock photo, they're supposed to be free to use it.

Actually, defamatory uses of people's images are usually not considered to be covered by licensing agreements or the fair use rights of photographers snapping candids in public. So if you want to use a picture of someone in a way that implies they're a racist douche, it's best to get specific permission to do so in writing from the actual person.

Oh! Gotta say this too: I'm also thankful we were able to sell the farmhouse with relatively little trouble and drama (I said *relatively*). I'm thankful for the money I was thus able to put towards my mortgage thus saving even more than that in interest thus bringing me closer to my goal of having my house paid for before I retire.

Thanks, mom, for being thrifty all your life, and leaving us not a fortune but enough to get us closer to our goals of financial freedom, and for teaching us how to take care of money, and why we should.

I'm thankful I specified a lunchtime pickup for the turkey I bought today so we have several more hours of oven time available. I have to wonder how many families of mountain lions are buying these things to qualify them for the "ready to eat" label. It's not raw, exactly, but I wouldn't rate it more than half-cooked.

Ah well, by 6 pm tonight it should be a delicious crispy golden brown, and hopefully smell yummy enough that Mom will have a big appetite.

Amy, I love Liquid Gold for polishing. I am still oyal to lemon oil, but I cheat on it sometimes with Liquid Gold. It's SO SHINY.

Oof. In-law's are almost here in a drizzling rain. I am so excited to get my new dining room set it. I don't remember what it looks like, quite, except that it is all lightish wood, and certainly nicer than my present table.

My ham is done with the first part of baking, my cider-dijon sauce is reducing, and the house. IS. FUCKING. CLEAN!

Woot.

ETA: "LOYAL to lemon oil" Heh -- hilarious NPI.

Apple pies are in the oven. Woot!