alright already...

Finally ordered the CAFT baby tee. I've never ordered from CafePress before, so I'll wait to see the quality (or lack thereof) on one before I order another.

It is worth noting that CafePress has a fencing t-shirt store, with lots of funnies and goodies. It is also worth noting that if you type "serenity firefly" into their search engine you'll come up with 160 pages (!) of (mostly) fan designed merchandise (damn!)

Edit: Just realized that some of the shirts under "fencing" are about fencing the U.S.' borders and have a racist tone - the tragedy of keywords is that such expressions get lumped in with all the swordsmanship tees :(

speciality food items in organic packaging

"Discovered" a couple of new gourmet/organic food shops this weekend. In quotes because I'd seen them in passing and been told about them, but never took the time to actually go in before.

One of 'em is almost like a cross between a Whole Foods/Trader Joes's and my regular vitamin shop; a nice one-stop for bulk spices, fresh veg, vitamins and organic beauty products. I went specifically in search of Dagoba chocolates - they had them AND HOW - I'll definitely be getting this [swoon] for serious winter chocogasm!

The other is stuffed to the gills with imported wines, cheeses, crackers, and other imported goodies from everywhere. Didn't need anything this go so didn't get anything, but next time I'm looking for really unusual tasty things I'm going there.

Between the two I've got a local approximation of the Addictive Deli/Liquor Store from Heaven (or at least Cloud 8) next to the Yummy Indian Restaurant in Kalamazoo this past spring.

Yeah, I never did do a K. Zoo post, and it feels like striking while the iron is wet, melted and gone to do so now. Short version: 5 days of high-pressure medieval study and socializing. Medievalists tend to be a very smart, stimulating, and attractive bunch. The coffee sucks but the book room should be illegal, and chocolate martinis facilitate conversation like mad. Go, go, yes, we should all go!