Actually, two black cats:

Note from CLuser:

Check to see if the ear is notched. IF it is, then it is part of a program the SPCA has implemented for pest control.  These are feral and semi feral cats that have been let loose in the community to catch mice and rats. All of them are are neutered, micro chipped and vaccinated. They tend to find a territory and stay there to keep other non-neutered and non-vaccinated animals out. The SPCA ask that you just watch to make sure it is not ill or injured.  If it appears to be in need of medical treatment, then let them know so they can give instructions on pick up.

Tokyo is 150 miles from the Fukushima nuclear-power plant damaged in the recent earthquake, but so far no one seems to think that current radiation levels in Tokyo pose much risk to human health.

Ice on the car windows; had to scrape off. Uncomfortably-low temperatures in the Bay Area this morning.

Our first Early Girl. Notice the next one will probably be Wednesday’s.

I took a shovel and cut into the grass around the edge of the depression when suddenly whoosh! The circle of lawn disappeared. It was a sunny day and all I could see was a dark black hole. I must have turned completely white because all I could do for a while was stand there in shock.

That’s why they call it a “yardstick”, right?

Marleigh wants to know what I’m doing down there.

This deep, brick lined hole was the overflow for an ancient septic system. All the bricks were completely clean, with just one dry nasty pipe poking into it from the side.

One time I surprised some visitors by hiding in our “stink hole” and lighting my face with a flashlight when they peeked into it.

We eventually filled it completely with concrete slurry.

On another note, this humble creature is living under our backyard sliding board:

Not to scale (except perhaps in one’s imagination).

More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasp

On Curtner one sunny afternoon looking east toward the Diablo Range.

Can you see the park?

Wednesday’s presentation at the Willow Glen Branch Library by Dan Mackey, past president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, was very informative. He gave us a list of steps to take before signing a remodeling contract.

Your choice of contractor can make a big difference. You don’t want someone who is never there to supervise the work; just hands it off to his day laborers.

For instance, when adding a room to your home, after the foundation’s been dug, you might find it aggravating to have hired someone who has no care about construction except getting paid.

Yes, the job will probably take longer than expected, and you might have to supervise everything closely. The contractor could hand the job over to a lesser, who will hand it down to a lesser, etc.  At one point you might find the trash pickup guy down in your basement by himself with a power saw, having been assigned to cut a water line which is still filled with water. It will make a mess.

Plan to evacuate one evening when they break the valve to the main gas line. Later, watch in horror as they remove and plug a gas line in your basement without turning off the gas first.

There are things that get installed upside down, and things that get ignored.

The building process need not be stressful, however, if you don’t short shrift the selection process.

Make sure to especially contact their LATEST, FINISHED job. An unprovided reference is NOT a good reference.

Good luck with your construction.

Lincoln Avenue & Malone