Squirrels, Bees, and Weird Mail

Okay, the squirrel in the stairwell story, sorry I'm later with it than possibly implied. I park on the upper level of a three level parking garage when I'm at work. Wednesday when I was climbing the steps to get to my car I heard a strange noise, which I thought was coming from the light at the top of the stairwell -- they have a habit of operating erratically. The light was working fine, but there was a squirrel perched on top of it, six inches from the ceiling. He chittered while I walked up the steps, but when I got what he seemed to think was too close, he jumped to the windowsill of the top segment of the wall of windows at the front of the stairwell. He only stayed there a second or two before he leapt headfirst down the windows to the second level landing. He looked like he was debating coming back up the steps from there, but went over the edge and down to the first level. I didn't hear any screams, but I imagine he startled the next person coming into the garage.

There was a repeat performance the next day, but I didn't see him yesterday. I hope he got out, but I think I'm going to take the number of animal control with me on Monday, I don't know how long a squirrel can survive on blown leaves and cigarette butts.

(Yes, that was the single most boring account of an event I have ever had the misfortune to put here, I apologize.)

I finished reading The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd last night. I've been trying to get my hands on a copy so that I could read it for a year, and I have to say it was worth the wait. I got drawn deeply into the story, the writing creates an authentic sense of place and emotional resonance. (read: I kept bursting into tears toward the end of the book.)

Everyone on the planet knows that AT&T Wireless and Cingular Wireless have merged, right? Well, today I got a mailing that was basically a wedding announcement for the two companies -- heavy stock paper, my mailing address in "calligraphy", artistic torn edge on the card, and vellum slip over the printing on the invitation. So very, very strange is the advertising industry.

I finally got my hair cut again this afternoon, another wedged bob, a little shorter again than I got it in August, and she blew it dry with a round brush, so it's all straight and face-framing. In case I hadn't mentioned this before, I am the essence of the wash-and-go girl, so I wasn't quite sure whether it was flattering. I have since been informed that it is, and that maybe blowdrying my hair isn't such a bad thing. I'm going to take it strictly as the compliment it was intended to be, and I don't know if I'll be getting a blowdryer, I wouldn't actually be able to duplicate the results anyway, I'm just no good at it.

I worked on my sock cuff while waiting for my turn in the stylist's chair, I'm just about done with the ribbing, but I kept having to pick up stitches because I'd pull too hard on the dpn and drop a bunch of them. I finished the second baby blanket square yesterday, but I still haven't blocked the striped blanket.

Enough is enough, enjoy your evenings.