that schnauzer has a hamster toupee...weird.

december 22 this year is the winter solstice..shortest day of the year-which means tomorrow will be a little longer!

i got a lot done today! but i also spent more than i had planned. when i went to drop off the books that my students are publishing, i saw this sign

no schnauzers...tarantulas, snakes, elvis memorabilia, urns with ashes....please notice the hamster on top of the schnauzer's head.

today i finally got the thing in the mail that i needed to send my last package! woo hoo! so when i opened the package from denver pete, you can imagine my surprise when i saw that the playing cards i had ordered were in some foreign asian language.

and being that i not learned in these languages, i don't even know which country it's even from...but i'm guessing not north korea, because they are not kim jung il cards...sorry, i cannot yet reveal what they are because it will take a few days for someone to receive this, and i don't want to ruin it (just in case that person reads this post). and even once i do share it, not many people will care very much, but you might understand why i was surprised to see the asian writing.

while i was at the post office, i had to wait in the line for the real person because the machine was totally out-figures. and as i was standing in line, a lady with her crazy code gun that looks like a sci-fi weapon kept popping out and saying, "is anyone in line just picking up a package or needing a round date?" i guess she wasn't really popping out-not like a jack in the box or something crazy like that, although it would've been entertaining if she were wearing a silly outfit and popping through the door from different angles like a snl skit...but i digress. i knew what she meant by picking up a package (obvious), but i wasn't quite certain about the 'needing a round date.' my thought was if i need a date, i am not coming to the post office to find him...besides, i don't know that i want him to be round either.

i continued through the line until i was next and i saw this change of address ad,

i guess they are now having yoda help with changes of address-bad economy.

when i got up to the lady, i got what i needed, plus an extra book of stamps, and then i lowered my voice and asked the lady what a 'round date' was. she explained that it was for businesses that just needed something stamped. no mystery there.

now i am home and the boys wanted to show off their matching 'jackets.'

i got them cheap at walmart because i was having a difficult time with chaco's sweater. this one is cool because it velcros in the front and on the bottom. it may take a bit to get chaco used to the velcro- he is not a fan of new sounds.

and right now i am waiting for some coats and blankets to finish in the washing and drying cycles! yippee!!

well, no round date for me tonight...looking forward to the extra minute of light tomorrow!
julie