Afternoon notes

[missroserose]

• Paperwork done with; or at least, put off until tomorrow. I'm starting to get an idea of why it is some folks' desks are never clear. But hey, it means I'm keeping busy, which means I'm earning the salary they're paying me, which is definitely a plus. Especially given how I was complaining about the lack of things to do at my last job.
• I was browsing the incense at the local Trade Winds and asked the clerk about the lack of sampler packs of my favorite brand (I burn incense infrequently enough that those are usually just right for me - lots of different flavors and just a few sticks of each). She said the company had gone out of business (sadface!), but that they had done so a couple of times before and come back after a year or two.  I hope that's the case this time as well.  But, just in case, I got a few packs of nifty sweet-smelling stuff.  Hey, it's cheap and it smells nice.
• Heard on KXLL today - the usual afternoon news roundup, featuring Andy and local newscaster Weld Royal (who has one of the best names ever) BSing about local and state headlines.  Amusing to listen to, especially given that said headlines prominently featured Sen. Stevens, who (in addition to being behind Begich by over 3,000 votes at this point) is facing rumblings that the Senate Republicans may well vote to strip him of his committee posts and other such duties.  (Current official line:  "We want to see how his reelection results turn out first."  Current unofficial line:  "We don't want to be the ones responsible when someone else could do the job for us.")  After finishing with the news and weather, Andy bowed out Ms. Royal to the strains of "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'", which made me giggle - it seemed an appropriate song for Stevens from both Alaska and his own party.
• I have been purse-less for about a year now, ever since the strap on my last one broke.  I've made do with a backpack or coat pockets, because the purse I really wanted was $150 off L.L. Bean.  And now I've finally bit the bullet and bought one, and it's even better than I anticipated - fantastic quality, plus it's got about a bazillion pockets!  I'm way happy with it, especially given that it's backed by their unconditional guarantee.  So if the strap breaks in three years, I can send it back for a new one (seriously).  Most of the reviewers have claimed theirs lasted upwards of seven years, though, which seems pretty reasonable.
• Okay, time to go make twice-baked sweet potatoes.  Curse you, Robs, and your delicious journal entries...