Some people will say anything to attract attention to themselves

Like this Cindy person who has her own explanation for the perplexing mass bird deaths being reported around the world. She doesn't explain why God is killing birds in Sweden and Romania to protest the action of the American congress. "Mysterious ways," doncha know.

Meanwhile, Sara Palin makes it all about her while demonstrating that she probably has no idea what the term "blood libel" means.  At least we hope she doesn't, because this would just be really tacky if she did.

Got a coat, but not the one I set out looking for

I never did find a long down coat, except for one horrifyingly ugly one at the Land's End Inlet that looked like the love child of the Michelin Man and Frosty the Snowman. So that niche in my wardrobe is still unfilled. But I found a coat at Penney's (thank you for the suggestion, cowfan* ) that is the perfect replacement for the one I lost. Like the old one, it's a mid-weight poly-fill winter coat with a suede-like texture. However, this one has a more tailored cut, interior pockets, and snaps as well as zipper closure. It also had an unusably large hood with the most hideous faux fur you've ever seen (apparently fake Purple People Eater Fur). Fortunately, with the high neck and dual closure options, I don't need the hood, which at least had the good taste to be detachable. I've thrown the hood into the donation box for the homeless shelter, along with the heavy coats with problematic snaps or small tears and the piles of gardening gloves that my father-in-law always gives everybody for Christmas.

The coat was technically rated for temperatures from 29 - 40 degrees, which is utterly ridiculous. My V-necked leather jacket is comfortable down to about 10 degrees if I wear a scarf. This coat is very comparable to my old black one, which was perfectly adequate down to about zero. Below that, I'll layer in the little black down vest I picked up on sale at Land's End and I should be fine for the remainder of the winter.

Thanks to my friends for the suggestions. I'm now noticing coats everywhere I go. I still would like a long down coat for the depths of cold weather, but it's not a necessity.

My new coat St. John's Bay (J.C. Penney's house brand).

Bento 2011

First lunches of 2011.

First Bento of the New Year (Jan 3, 2011) A pretty, but cold lunch to start off the New Year, using the best of my new Japantown boxes. That's cold chunk salmon from Trader Joe's in the salad tier. I love the animal picks I picked up at Ichiban's - they go nicely with the awkward-to-use but adorable penguin salad dressing container. The contents of the fruit tier are pretty obvious except for the orange thing on the left. It's half a persimmon, not an apricot.

Stew time - break out the Tupperware (Jan 4, 2011) About the only thing I use this big Tupperware box for is leftover stew with cold sides. Fruit and cheese in the removable tray, crackers and yogurt in the other small compartment.