Brain-Busting Job = Alzheimer's Protection This article says that if you work your brain to overload at your job you have less chance of getting Alzheimer's. That's good, I guess...unfortunate that it's so taxing

There was some question as to whether I would be able to leave work early to meet with the 'rents or not, but luckily I was able to...the Giant Wheel that came here for the 2004 New Year's party for the celebration of the centennial of the 1904 World's Fair and the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase/Lewis & Clark expedition came back this summer but it's leaving this week. It's apparently much smaller than the one at the World's Fair; that one had gondolas that could hold 60 people each and diameter of about 300 feet. Wow. Fun ride, a little bit of a wait, short, because of said line, but nice to be on a piece of history. Sort of. Just realized I left my ticket in the pocket of the jeans I wore yesterday...let's hope I don't wash it accidentally.

Then we went to the zoo, which I've been wanting to do for ages. Finally got to see the Penguin and Puffin Coast, where they've got the animals so close you could touch them, if you were allowed to, of course. And they keep it cold (45 deg F) and dark to match the natural habitat. They're so fun to watch! And funny, really...they have interesting habits. Wandered through the 1904 Birdcage which has been transformed into a cypress swamp, which is cool, but needs more critters, as my dad said.

And we saw TWO cougars, which was just the highlight of my day. Silly, I know, to love seeing a particular animal so much but hey. They've got a special place in my heart and they're just so darn pretty.

Winter Shadows

Buy this Art Print at AllPosters.com

And I got the sewing machine from my cousin yesterday...it's an antique and looks it, is in serious need of cleaning, and might possibly be a little screwy but hopefully easily fixable. It keeps looping the thread up underdeath the fabric which I'm hoping is just a little mechanical difficulty that can be fixed with a screwdriver. Apparently the machine's got a fan club so I'll be looking for that today. Can't wait to actually get sewing for those costumes...hah. Let's see if anything actually gets done before any renfest...

And Kate just called to remind me about a potluck dinner at her place tonight...I feel bad because I almost don't want to go, I want to play with my sewing machine, but yeah. I should go be social and all that. It's so weird how I vacillate between really wanting to be with people and feeling lonely to just wanting to be alone and working on something for me. Sigh. Vagaries of personality. Meh.

Guess I should do some work today.