amych, Yay for your father's encore career! I think I have a role model, even if I'll be moving out of lawyering. (And into veterinary nursing.)

Fred, that sounds like a fantastic move for you -- I can't think of anything more fitting!

Found the bullet-hole in my sister's car: it's right under the door handle, and I put my finger in it. We don't know if the bullet is inside the door or went through into the car, because it's been dark since it happened.

She's trying to figure out how to change her commute so she doesn't go through West Oakland late -- although it was only 8 PM! The frustrating thing is that there is parking there, and there are more trains there, and it's not noticeably safer than the other station we use (Fruitvale).

She's reluctant to tell her coworkers because they all live in SF and will be all parochial about how much better SF is. Oakland isn't all like this.

Driver's door? Whoa, super scary. I hope she can figure something out commute-wise. I totally get not wanting to tell her co-workers, sounds like there would be not helpful reactions.

Glad you got some treatment, ita, even if it isn't really really enough.

Need time to read about amych's father...maybe this evening...

Yikes, Conseula! Hopefully that week will use up a lifetime's worth of bad luck in one go!

Bac-O-Bits? Those are soy, not bacon.

No, I was talking about the actual pre-cooked bacon bits in a bag. Though I have been known to buy Bacos as salad toppings (or snacks in and of themselves) as well..

In other news, I learned last night that the Japanese place a block from me makes delicious volcano rolls. That coupled with a price increase this week at my regular Saturday lunch sushi place may have me defecting. (They could fight back by seating me in the sections waited on by hot athletic college guys, which the nearer place doesn't have, but I think they turn male customers over to the waitresses as a matter of policy.)

We have VOIP phones. And are using webex for some meetings. Between the quality of the VOIP for people calling in, Webex, people on cells, people...it's just awful.

Today is the first day of spring. In the Persian calendar is is also New Years - No Rouz. The typical greeting is Edie Shoma Mobarak.

It is a day for wearing new clothes and visiting friends and family. It is also a tradition to set up a Haft Sin (seven s's). This is a table setting that includes...
sabzeh – wheat, barley or lentil sprouts growing in a dish – symbolizing rebirth
samanu – a sweet pudding made from wheat germ – symbolizing affluence
senjed – the dried fruit of the oleaster tree – symbolizing love
sīr – garlic – symbolizing medicine
sīb – apples – symbolizing beauty and health
somaq – sumac berries – symbolizing (the color of) sunrise
serkeh – vinegar – symbolizing age and patience.

Other items are often placed on the table such as coins to represent wealth, a mirror to represent honesty, decorated eggs (fertility), and a bowl of water with a goldfish to represent life within life.

I have always loved No Rouz because it is a huge Iranian holiday that has nothing to do with religon. I wish I could travel to visit each of you or welcome you into my home and serve you amazing Persian food.

I hope you're feeling a little better this morning, ita,

-t, where does one get shelf-stable cream? Though what I really want is a source for those tiny creamers you get at restaurants. Those would be best, so I don't open a big thing of creamer, use it for two days, and then leave for a week.

That's lovely, Suzi. And I am coincidentally wearing clothes I haven't worn before, so I feel like I"m celebrating a little now. Edie Shoma Mobarak

Eta: Trader Joe's had boxes of shelf-stable cream at Thanksgiving time, 8 oz each, so I stocked up then. Costco seems like they would have huge boxes of the little restaurant creamers, now that I think about it.

So far 2013 hasn't been that great, so I certainly welcome the beginning of a new year, particularly one with delicious Persian food in it!