An update: One of the three items I recently highlighted as gone missing from my living space was returned to me. Many thanks (and, seriously, no hard feelings). Two to go!

If anyone can even offer the loan of a small, safe ceramic heater for the upcoming season I'd be so grateful. I cannot afford to replace mine and it simply does not make sense to heat three storeys of living space every time bathing is necessary. My health, my hygiene and I thank you in advance.

MCCC Job Seekers Alert

This from Montgomery County (Pa.) Community College via Facebook: "The Annual West Campus Career Expo, featuring up to 50 employers, will be held in the South Hall Community Room, 101, College Drive, Pottstown, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Oct. 17."

Got Qualifications?

Salon Cuts in Fairview Village, Pennsylvania has a sign out seeking a full- or part-time stylist. Want more details? You'll have to inquire yourself, but I thought I'd put out the heads-up. Good luck to all job seekers!

I (Still) Love To Watch 'Em Roll

In honor of a rebel with many causes -- many of which are now, I'd admit, near anathema to me -- who still left us way too soon. Happy birthday in the hereafter, John Lennon.

More Missing Things -- Help!!

I'm not accusing anyone in particular. I'm hoping it is just general clutter and disorganization that is to blame, because I'd hate to think anyone was messing with other people's property around good ol' 216. I do, however, need to express frustration with, among other things, the fact that I no longer have a front door or a lock for the home where I pay every month for the privilege of hanging my hat and backstopping the person who has control of the actual front door.

OK, here goes:

I am supporting the economy this month by paying to replace both the small box heater I use to warm the dressing room area on frosty mornings and my brand new graduation watch. Mercifully, the latter was not expensive, nor did I ask for an expensive one! The first may set me back a few bucks to get one as safe as the one I had.

Irreplaceable is the Henkel paring knife with a custom-made rosewood handle, one of only three cooking knives I brought into this house. It was one of the sweetest things my ex-husband ever made for me, and -- more to the point -- it is sharp and useful for cooking, and I absolutely cannot afford to replace it. Actually, more to the point, it is MINE, and if anyone pitched or pinched it they ought to be ashamed of themselves.

Again, no questions asked: If you know where any of these things are, please just affect their return.

This Goose Ain't Getting Fat

Yes, Einstein Montgomery is hiring -- and so is the Einstein Bros. Bagels in Trooper, Pennsylvania. Apply for either online, although it probably wouldn't hurt to stop in the bagel shop if that interests you.

In specifically Bateman news, I bought my first 2012 Christmas gift the other day! If I buy for you and you don't want something stupid, PLEASE give me a list. Mine is the same as last year's, as I used up all of what you guys gave me last year! ;) Seriously, though, if you "need" to buy for me it's a good guide, and I did put a few fresh things on my Amazon list. All I need, though, is your love, friendship and devotion, a roof over my head and some food.

Help Wanted in the 19403

Bob's Auto Parts in Jeffersonville, Eagleville, Norristown, call-it-anything-but-late-for-dinner has a sign out looking for inside help. If you're looking for a job or you know someone good who might be please check it out. They're at 2211 West Main Street. Their telephone number is listed on the web, but somehow I think the right candidate might do better just to stop in and ask.

I would like to take some time to really reflect on the news today regarding the foundation that is apparently to take over management of Catholic high schools and special education schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, per The Philadelphia Inquirer via Philly.com. (http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20120822_Philly_Catholic_high_schools_to_be_managed_by_a_private_foundation.html?nlid=4846955), but I only have a moment to capture my impressions of the proposal as it is described in the piece. I would like to note, notwithstanding my obvious frustration with my inability to get simple factual details straight too often for my liking (see my most immediately recent post in this blog), that I feel compelled to write because my immediate reaction is that while the move would serve to shift future liability, perhaps, for abuses by clergy and staff against students, no details have yet emerged in the press to my knowledge about what, if anything, a foundation would concretely do to solve the seemingly unsolvable problem regarding the vulnerability of children and the precarious whole and entire trust for their souls and their well-being that is placed in the hands of educators and clergy.

If anyone has any information in this regard, I open this post's commentary section for them to disseminate it here, and I hope bells and whistles won't substitute for safety and nurturing when we look to the future of our youth. If not here in this comments section, well, then let's just for Heaven's sake be honest about the problems and as direct as possible in communicating possible strategies now and going forward. It *was* refreshing to hear a tone of optimism reflected in the Inquirer's coverage, but I feel that optimism must be more than a house of mirrors or an attempt to appease anger and fear with what could possibly be academic and cultural "goodies." Music, such as the programs potentially strengthened or offered at post-diocesan "foundation" schools, can be a powerful language in which to teach, but its strength is not always and universally a wholesome one despite the aspirations of humanity to make it so. Here's hoping the archdiocese, which is much older than any individual person and has the potential to be that much wiser than any person, remembers to make the emphasis always on the good as well as the incredibly important enrichment programs -- those potentially very nourishing goodies.

Why I'm No Longer a Reporter

The Bark! Bark! Bark! For Our Park! event at the Norristown Farm Park is tomorrow, Sunday, May 20 -- not today. It runs from nine a.m. to one p.m. at the picnic pavilions. Cost is $10 per car (or take a hike in). The weather looks to be just about as nice tomorrow as it is today: Should be a great day for it. Bring your pups, kids and cash, as books and food will be on sale. I regret the error, but I had fun driving around the East Norriton side of the park today -- good fun. No doubt it'll be even more fun for those who are there tomorrow.

This Just in From the Fam

Check out this new blog from my incomparably wonderful goddaughter Lauren. (OK, I'm biased.)

Ending on a Good Note

I'm delighted to end the night with a rebroadcast of Bonnie Raitt's performance from New Orleans this weekend. Maybe it'll still be available for you to watch when you click through to New Orleans Jazz Fest's youtube channel.

Way to Go, Rob and HP -- and Thanks!

Just a quick shoutout to Rob at HP Customer Support who provided helpful, friendly and speedy tech support on deadline. Thanks, too, go out in general for the reappearance of my only functioning power cord not long after the last post.