Saturday doings

J got up early today to make brownies to take to his retired coworker's gathering at her home, scheduled for 3:30 pm. However, when he got the car started up to go there, it was making a peculiar noise. He called his dad for advice, and his dad advised staying home. I agreed, considering his friend lives at the top of a steep hill. I hope the nearby mechanic will have time for him on Monday and that it won't be raining too hard.

He then had to spend several hours airing out his house so that I could come over in the evening - the amaretto fumes from the brownies are so unpleasant for me. By the time I got there, it was fine.

Meanwhile, his mom was up late sending me panicky emails because she was picturing that the problem with J's car could have started with one of the cats getting stuck under the hood. I wrote back to assure her that none of our cats have ever gone under the hood of a car, and that Ambrose and Azalyn were right there in the room with us and hadn't even been outside today. She can sleep now.

Book completed

The Warrior's Apprentice, by Lois McMaster Bujold. (Vorkosigan Saga #3). Reread. Fun! Young Miles Vorkosigan fails the physical part of the military academy entrance exam - his bones are extraordinary brittle due to prenatal damage. On vacation to visit his grandmother on another planet, he finds himself the owner of a spaceship with a cargo to deliver. If you realize that the title of the book is a play on "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," the music (and Fantasia clip featuring Mickey Mouse) in which the apprentice's attempt to streamline his work, with dubious consequences, you'll know that you're in for a lot of fun here, as Miles's life now becomes extremely complicated.

Sunday fun

Today's highlight was a yummy Thai dinner that DG provided for us this evening. He and J and D were planning a February trip to Chicago to play Magic. Azalyn is finally coming around - she was willing to be in the room with him and although she was never exactly relaxed, she was sociable with us and seemed pretty calm once he'd gone home again.