This Just In

Still working - way too slowly - on the book project for my sister's company. So any time I spend here makes me feel guilty, as I SHOULD BE FINISHING THE BOOK. Plus, I have a date tonight at the California Women's Conference (thanks to Lean Cuisine, who invited me to attend as their guest). So this will be short and sweet. 

Late Thursday, I finally got a firm date for my UFE: I report to the hospital at 6:00 AM on November 4. I'm still a little freaked out that I have to do this -- which is weird because I'm less bothered by the 10-centimeter and 8-centimeter growths inside my body. Still, it was a relief to finally have a date. I can MAKE PLANS AGAIN. This is good.

Progress has been made on the house: A nice man named Ricardo has stained the new cabinets a rich cherry. I got news Friday that my new sink and faucet have been shipped. We're finalizing the granite countertops with Costco on tomorrow. And my husband finished the living room drywall on Saturday. So yesterday, I spent an un-holy amount of time cleaning house (the resulting dust was literally an inch deep and it was EVERYWHERE).

But at the end of the day, we were able to move the minimal amount of furniture we've kept inside back where it belongs and now our home is an approximation of normal. The kitchen cabinet shelves and doors will be reinstalled on Friday, which means next weekend, we can empty out the boxes in the dining room.

I'm downright giddy.

In the meantime, I thought it might be fun to share a couple of the things I found in my inbox last week:

From VisitBath.co.uk:

Christmas lights switch-on with Nicolas Cage

This year's Bath Christmas Lights switch-on event takes place with Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage. The event takes place on Thursday 26th November and is the official start of late night shopping in the city and is also the first day of the popular Bath Christmas Market (26th November - 6th December). The entertainment will begin at 4:30pm with celebrity DJ Toby Anstis followed by the main switch on event with actor Nicolas Cage from 6pm.

Bath is one of my favorite UK towns, which I wrote about on our last visit. Has it really been THREE YEARS? This is the longest we've stayed put since we got married. Fingers crossed we'll be able to make it over there in 2010.

From the ASPCA:

1. Meet the ASPCA Cat of the Year Who says shelter cats can’t be prodigies? Nora was just a kitten when she was found gently tickling the ivories of her adoptive mom’s piano. Next week, Nora will receive a rare honor at the 2009 ASPCA Humane Awards, proving beyond a doubt that shelter pets make extraordinary companions. Read Nora’s story...