Could be worse

In fact, things are generally pretty good right now.  I have an enforced two day vacation from my library job at the Jewish seminary -- as it's Sukkot.  A nice chance to do a little writing again, not to mention just have a day off that does not involve a high fever, and there's a lecture tomorrow night I'm going to about the literary and religious influences on Tolkien's life and writing.

Also, the facilities for our building has decided to make an extermination campaign on the cockroaches in the building.  'Bout time.  There's been a known infestation on the first floor for such a long time, and Kaph and I were beginning to fear it might soon get footholds farther up -- we'd seen occasional solitary ones in our apartment (and caught them all, with the significant assistance of our two cats).  But it was making us nervous; hopefully this campaign will set them back enough that they won't trouble us on the third floor anymore, or at least not for the rest of the winter.

Speaking of winter and living conditions, our apartment is also in the happy temperature balance between the heat of summer and the heat of winter -- that is, when they turn the heat on in the building for the winter.  This old stone building seems to trap heat, so since June it has been an average of about 85 in here, until about 2 weeks ago when fall rather abruptly arrived.  And when residents start turning on the heat, it seems many of them like it at 80 or so, because last winter I recall opening the windows in January to try to cool our two rooms down to, well, room temperature.  But right now, it's perfectly comfortable.  We can let the kitties lounge in the sun without the shades drawn, the place looks so cheery, and it's only 69. 

Small comforts, but I'm happy.