We have just (in the last half an hour) received news that the purchase offer we made on a house here has been accepted. It’s in Pasadena, about a mile and a half from here, two-bedroom, with a large garden, and just perfect for us. It’s incredibly good news; we will finally have a place to call our own – REALLY our own – and most importantly I’ll have a garage to build stuff in. The process of inspection, loan approval and escrow now begins in earnest, and then (all being well) we will be able to move!

Since it’s been rainy, it’s gone green! My drive to work looks a little fresher:

… as compared to October:

There are flowers blooming along some freeway embankments, trees are green everywhere, the air is clearer and the dust has been washed off the trees and houses, making everything crisp and clean again.

After hitting a particularly vicious gaping pothole a few weeks ago, I had to get my front left wheel repaired. All I wanted was for them to bang the dent out, but they did a full refurb, so it’s now incredibly shiny and bling-bling. I now have to either wait until it returns to the faded sorry state that the other wheels are in, or try and brush those up myself, or take them to be done as well. This may have been their intention…

(One of the aspects I’ve never really liked about California car culture is the tendency for people to put massive chromed shiny wheels on their cars. It looks so vulgar! Now I am an unwitting participant of the trend myself. The irony has not escaped me.)

This morning I was rewarded for my four months of continued enthusiasm, smiling and Putting On A Good Show: I am officially Employee of The Month! Baking cakes has its rewards.

Jamie ordered some Edible Arrangements for me for Valentine’s Day; these strawberries are enormous and very tasty, and covered in delectable chocolate and nuts.

Mincemeat. Nuff said. Can’t wait till Christmas…