stef_tm | Hello, my name is...

Attended a South Bay business networking event tonight for LBT women where I was the featured speaker. I spoke for ~ 5-10 minutes and there was ~ 10min of Q&A. Received positive feedback and exchanged business cards with a half dozen women. I also won a door prize - a 25.00 gift certificate to Catch restaurant in the Castro. I'm allergic to seafood but I'm sure there are other options.

Best business name there: Lady Parts Automotive Services. They're in Redwood City and hold educational workshops monthly; the co-owners and a staff member attended - funny, committed folks. I plan to take my car there for 120K service.

Work is good fun right now; hope we get to keep the doors open. One of my employees had to leave work early today because his parents experienced a home invasion; fortunately, they're safe. Just terrifying. He was so nonplussed when leaving, I thought he was off to an appointment at first and just being funny. It took me a second to notice tears in his eyes.

After the talk I came home to find 2 dead rats in the back yard. The poison I placed under the house is working (some rats decided to move in - yuck.) I am no fan of dead rodents so I called

peters67 to help me dispose of them (would hate for a stray cat to have them for dinner.) He was bemused to see me dashing around the yard going "ewwwww" and "eeeeek". Afterward we stopped off at Lowe's and I bought a lamp to replace one in the bedroom and then sat on the couch and told stories and laughed.

A nice day. My coworker's family is safe, I met some new acquaintances (and a few old ones) at the mixer, and got to laugh with my dear friend.