I was up until after three a.m. Not really a problem as I have the day off today. When I woke up this morning, I looked over at the clock nd it read 12:47. I thought it was odd that I actually slept til after noon, but then I saw that the clock was flashing, indicating that the power had gone out. It was actually some time before ten.

I have to pick up some movie passes today at four, and I think I am also going to go do some shopping down in the Rice University Village shops. There is an awesome bead store there, and I have a few necklaces I want to restring, so that is one of the stops I will make to see what they might have to supplement the beads I will be redoing.

There is also a small store, a house actually, called The Blue Hand. It is an eclectic mix of gift items imported from around the world. There are a lot of artist items, jewelry, gauzy clothing, folk art, tribal stuff...you get the picture. I have been there only once before and I got a string and bead necklace, very delicate, for $4.95. Now you know why I am anxious to return.

Also in this shopping area there is a 10,000 Villages store. "Ten Thousand Villages provides vital, fair income to Third World people by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America." Go to their website to see if you have a store near you. The stores are staffed mostly by volunteers and there are often appearances in-store by touring artists. Most of the artisans are women and the prices are pretty reasonable.

If there is still time, I will also browse the Half Price Books location in the village as a girl can never have too many books!!