i've been asked more questions this morning than i have on many previous sunday mornings. struck me as odd, as usually the only words i speak pertain to my bag choice (paper, plastic or none) when i get my paper, and the dunkin' order (may i help you, would you like anything else, which today was asked twice, usually just once)

but on my way into get the paper, someone stopped and asked me if i knew when the liquor store was opening. (i believe state law says noon on sundays, but could be earlier as this is the holiday season) so i told him noon, he thanked me and off we went in separate directions. but i was wondering why he would ask me what time the liquor store opened, particularly as i was clearly headed towards the supermarket. and what made me look like an authority for when the liquor store was going to open? i dunno. stuck me funny.

then when i got home, KO asked me if i had heard any mice in my apartment. no mice, i did in my last apartment, but that was in part a house in need of updating, living in the woods, and it being a basement apartment. accoring to batlady, there were more cats in the neighborhood, there was less of a mouse problem, but there were less cats to help control the population. apparently, one of the ladies that lived here before i did had a gerbil, and for whatever reason one day let it roam around the apartment. only it found some way down into the basement where it lived for a little while and has since presumably died (stuck in the walls). KO was looking at one of the holes in the walls (the basement is finished, but has access to various cleanout traps) and saw what looked to be more recent rodent droppings. so he thought he'd ask. (i'm thinking greybelly seed snatcher.)

he also asked me about the hot water - the old hot water heater had a fatal leak, so he replaced it a few months ago. told him not a problem, and i've had hot water. the only time i ever ran out of hot water was usually on weekends when KO would do laundry, i'd do my dishes and then expect to take a hot shower. (i figured out shower then dishes to avoid that.) but post-install, things have been fine. plus the new tank is 10gal bigger and has a faster recharge. very nice for those days when i want to take an extra long hot shower. now i don't feel so bad.