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HOLY CRAP. We just had an earthquake here! It was my first one ever. I was actually sitting in the company founder’s corner office having a big important meeting. I suddenly felt the room bouncing a bit. It was like being on the end of a diving board. I actually looked up at the ceiling at first, convinced that someone on the floor above us was jumping up and down or moving furniture or something. That’s when I remembered that I was on the fourth floor of a brick building, and brick buildings don’t BOUNCE. The three of us just looked at each other for a second, and I went, “What’s going…?” And Shaun went, “Earthquake! Actually, this one’s going on for a bit. We should probably get in a doorway or something.” My legs felt like jelly. We opened the door to see the rest of the office on their feet, wondering what to do. Somebody suggested we should evacuate. That was all this Hoosier girl needed to hear! I hit the stairs and didn’t stop moving until I was on the street. Lots of people from the building were milling around out there. Most of them were laughing, trading stories of other quakes they’d been in. People were trying to call friends and noticing that they couldn’t get connections. A few minutes later someone said that the building manager told us we didn’t have to leave, so we all headed back up into the office. My legs still feel a bit wobbly. I haven’t felt any aftershocks yet.

But DUDE, what’re the odds? I’m here for one friggin’ week and we have an EARTHQUAKE? I should buy a lottery ticket.

Update: Wow! It made the SMH website. I didn’t feel any of the aftershocks… but then again, I was frantically running down four flights of stairs and worrying about getting squished by a falling bit of masonry.

Money Button. Neat! Finally a use for all these damn pennies. (Seriously, America. You need to get rid of these NOW.)

Pocket Espresso to Go. Snookums needs some of those.

On Saturday morning, we went for a walk around the neighborhood and spotted a garage sale. They had a sweet plastic kids’ slide for $8… and after some haggling, I bought it for $7. Then I had to lug it three blocks back to the Carbo house. We set it up in the back yard with some foam mats for protection. Penn… LOVED IT.

Scuba Cat! I saw that cat on a Discovery Channel commercial last night and I just about fell over. He looks just like our Dr. Amy Jones!

Believe it or not, I actually did know that Chippendale boasts some bondage parlours. We actually got invited to a party at one of them by SOMEBODY. Apparently once you get past the fact that it’s a dungeon, it’s supposed to be a really fun time. We’re just not sure it’s our scene. (Link courtesy of Life in Chippendale.)

SNOW?! You’re freaking kidding me. And I missed it.

Visiting the babies
Last night I caught a flight from Los Angeles to Oakland to visit the Carbos for the weekend. The kids were all asleep by the time I got here… but this morning we’re all getting to know each other. My sister had the excellent suggestion to bribe Penn with some new toys and he seems to be warming up to me. Indie is just the sweetest, happiest baby I’ve ever seen. I’ll be sure to take lots of pictures…

Compatto Yarn Salon
Last night I left work and walked a few blocks over to Compatto Yarn Salon. That’s the knitting shop I found on my first day, and I knew they were having a sock knitting night. I’d brought my long-neglected Rhiannons along. There were five ladies sitting on the sofas in the back, happily stitching away. I introduced myself and a couple of them recognized me from a question I asked on the Ravelry LA forums. Everybody was really friendly and I had a great time. (My favorite bit: One of the girls who works there was like, “Maybe while you’re here we can teach you to knit continental!” I chuckled and explained that I’m perfectly able to do continental and use it whenever I do two-handed fairisle, but in general I just prefer my silly old inefficient method of throwing. I think that threw her for a loop, so to speak.) I was surprised and fascinated to learn that one of the other knitters works on political campaigns, and she happily whipped out a photo of herself with Barack Obama. Cool! We debated the merits of the Australian electoral system as opposed to the U.S. Of course, sitting in such proximity to such gorgeous wool made Stash Acquisition inevitable. I managed to escape with only a ball of hot pink variegated Cascade Fixation (for making a hat for my niece) and a gorgeous golden skein of Pagewood St. Elias, a scrumptiously soft sock yarn made with Blue Faced Leicester wool. I’m going to try to make it back for next week’s group too.