behold the power of gnomes

I called the jeweler today, and the mystery of the suddenly revived gnome is somewhat more explained.

Turns out they did repair the tomte, and since I had asked them not to I wasn't charged for it. The lady on the phone was apologetic about it, which I found a little confusing. I just got a free 90-dollar (with tax) watch tune-up, this is not really an apologizing moment, it's a yay moment.

Merry Christmas to me, my gnome hath returned!

In other news, Riley's present, which I ordered on the second, apparently got lost in a post office in California. The manufacturers are looking into it, which is nice, because I don't feel like driving over there to collect the thing. The USPS is completely insane, as things I mailed out over the past two weeks all arrived today in Canada, California, Oregon, and England.

Also, you know you're dog people when you find yourself doing your post-shower combing and detangling with a flea comb because it's the only one you could find and you honestly don't see anything wrong with it. I am pleased to announce that I do not have fleas, though I shed like a Malamute.

(All of you iconistic folk: I think I need a gnome icon, don't you? A proper wild European one, not a tame North American garden one. Ideas?)

"here it goes!" "shut up!"

If I can carpe a diem half as well as these two.....