I've been reduced to the not-especially-productive strategy of (a) nigh-OCD levels of recycling and composting, and (b) otherwise curling up in a tiny fetal ball with my fingers in my ears whimpering, "Nuh uh, no no no."

They called out places like Tibet and the Himalayas, and my gallows humor said, "there goes the yetis."

All I have left is gallows humor.

People's worst nightmare at holiday parties -- vegans and gluten-free people. [link] The first story had me rolling my eyes forever. People have to eat vegetables that weren't cooked with meat! The party is ruined!

Things that suck: leaking new toilet, phone thief

Zenkitty, I give a lot of things to Goodwill, but these were either heavy or awkward things that I didn't want to try to take there and things that would be hard for Goodwill to sell, like partial boxes of office supplies. The latter when to a good nonprofit.

I've been reduced to the not-especially-productive strategy of (a) nigh-OCD levels of recycling and composting, and (b) otherwise curling up in a tiny fetal ball with my fingers in my ears whimpering, "Nuh uh, no no no."

I've started breathing shallowly.

We get stuff catered by an asian fusion place and there's a great deal of vegetarian/vegan fare. We're doing mexican this year, and while I know that the vegetarian fajitas are vegan, I don't know if they have any traces of gluten. I should have checked. Do corn tortillas have gluten or is it flour only?

Office supplies? I love office supplies. It's a sickness really. I go into Office Depot, and I'm *certain* the key to order and clarity in my life lies somewhere in their aisles.

Most Mexican places make their corn tortillas with just corn meal and water, though checking doesn't hurt.

Re: the lipstick conversation -- I was getting really hot under the collar and stepped away so I wouldn't get needlessly nasty, not because I was angry at anyone here. It wasn't a flounce; I just needed to chill my own self out. And then of course my job actually wanted some of my time.

I can try to explain my thoughts more if it's warranted, but it seems like the discussion has reached a natural end, and I'm totally cool with that, too. (Super short version -- society/culture/context: we're soaking in it, and damn if it isn't complicated and fraught.)

And then of course my job actually wanted some of my time.

Darn those people who pay us money.

Zenkitty, I give a lot of things to Goodwill, but these were either heavy or awkward things that I didn't want to try to take there and things that would be hard for Goodwill to sell, like partial boxes of office supplies. The latter when to a good nonprofit.

'tis true.

I love office supplies.

I do too. This is why I must at times bite the bullet and get rid of office supplies that seemed like a good idea at the time.

Odd phrase question: In a story about a local city council meeting, one of the city councilmen said, re: a situation he disagreed with, "They are up in the night about X."

I know "up in the night" means "completely wrong like a wrong thing that is wrong", but I think I learned that from British mysteries. What is the actual source of that phrase? I don't know the councilman, but I suspect he's a native Utahn--as in, born here of pioneer Mormon stock, not a member of the Ute nation--and I'm surprised to see that phrase in actual use in the wild around here.