I can see clearly now the stairs have gone

Yep the broken stairs are finally removed. They were still there when I went to work yesterday and completely gone when I got back last night.

Well, except the railings are still there, and the sheets of plywood chained to the top and bottom so that no one will walk on them.

I was really beginning to wonder if they would ever get fixed.

I kind of like how much more open and airy it feels to walk out the door with out the stairs directly overhead blocking the light.

I imagine that they'll have to replace them though. Seems like a potential fire safety issue for the upstairs apartments and general good idea to have at least 2 staircases. Besides this is apparently proof that it is good to have a spare staircase in reserve.

sushi boat cruise

Ate at one of those sushi boat places tonight.

On my right were a woman and two girls, ages unknown perhaps about 8 & 11.

After they finished eating the older one started saying in an odd voice (I had the impression that she was meant to be doing an impression of a person real or imaginary)
"I've never heard of sushi before!"

Her sister protested at this so she (as whoever) clarified
"I've never seen sushi on boats!"

Then she announced several times
"The sushi boats are sailing for Canada"

She started trying to sing "O Canada" and little sister chimed in.

I'm highly amused and so is the mom, though perhaps she's not sure if she should be embarrased. She said that whenever the girls finish their homework early they get to come there and are there fairly often. Yep, I'd finish my homework early for sushi too :)

And now I know where those boats go when they disappear behind the wall and why it can take so long for them to come back... all the way to Canada! Who knew?