Sorry, but it's Monday. It’s also World Arabic Language Day and International Migrants Day. And a few birthdays: Paul Klee, Fletcher Henderson, Ossie Davis, Jacques Pépin. What fragrance are you wearing?
It's dismal here, grey and rainy. I'm wearing Parfum d'Empire Azemour Les Orangers to compensate.
Reminder: 12/22 will be Best Buy Friday...wear your favorite fragrance purchase of 2023. If you didn't buy anything this year, pick a favorite from a prior year. (This is a repeat from 2016)
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2023, where I'll try (but usually fail) to have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image is Festive Flowers [cropped] by Jocelyn Erskine-Kellie at flickr; some rights reserved.
It’s dismal here, too, grey and rainy. Just got back from a trip to the dental hygienist and all is well: flossing and SPF 5000 toothpaste* are doing their jobs. Wearing Lauder for Men, a sophisticated eighties chypre, so good.
* It’s actually called Prevident 5000 and it has five times the fluoride of regular toothpaste because I am, according to the hygienist, caries-prone. It seems to be working.
I am visiting the dentist tomorrow, I’m caries-prone as well (despite brushing 3x daily and avoiding acidic foods), hope this may work for me as well!
And you smell fantastic….
My hygienist would love for me to avoid acidic foods but due to a hideous brush with kidney stones, I drink half a cup of lemon juice a day (converted into almost two litres of lemonade with sucralose and water). She asked if I couldn’t just drink the whole half cup in one go, to avoid exposure to acid during the day, but that was a hard no. I had to tell her, if it’s between my teeth and my kidneys, my kidneys are going to win, because I can get dentures but I cannot go through that again.
If you haven’t been recommended an ultra-high fluoride toothpaste, ask your dentist about it: mine is delighted with the results. You use it for one brushing a day (I use it at bedtime) and don’t rinse, which is weird at first, but you get used to it.
Seems like using a straw might help to reduce the acid contact with your teeth? I used to make my own berry kombucha when I lived in a sticks and bricks. My dentist nixed that for the same reason. 🙁
Rinsing after you brush your teeth is A Thing?
Thanks for the toothpaste info! I’m going to google it and try and find some. I didn’t know until I was middle aged adult that you shouldn’t rinse after brushing. Not sure why dentist don’t tell you this. Do you (and/or any Canadians) have fluoride added to your city water?
Some Canadian municipalities do fluoridate, some don’t. I grew up with fluoride in the water, which may be why I still have my teeth, or at least one reason — half my genetic legacy is weak, chalky teeth, so I think I got lucky there.
I feel you. Asked my dentist about whitening my teeth years ago because I’m self conscious about them. He told me my enamel is so thin that my teeth are this color because that’s the color of the dentin, and it’s not staining of the enamel. Any type of whitening would erode more enamel. *sigh* 😬 I guess that toothpaste is prescription only…
I never knew either! Apparently, the longer the toothpaste remains on the teeth, the more protected they are?
Dismal here too. Ugh.
I’m in Lea. Use it or lose it. Evaporation will not win.😈
I started to feel the first inklings of a cold coming on last evening so I took an emergen c before bed and another one this morning. I think I can take 2 a day without overdosing on vitamin c…?
I tested positive for the plague last Christmas Eve, so I was really looking forward to being healthy this year.😏 Hopefully I can nip it in the bud.
I started a cold last night too. Hope you can knock it out quickly!
Thanks ringthing! You as well!
Hope that works! As far as I know, it’s impossible to overdose on Vitamin C; the body doesn’t store it. I take a lot when I feel a cold coming. 😉
Thanks AnnE! I hope so too.🤞My dad was always a big believer in vitamin c when I was growing up.
My dad was too!
I was feeling a sore throat last night too, took a homeopathic anti-cold/flu tablet, feeling better today. Crossing fingers for you!
Thanks cazaubon! That’s how it usually starts for me- with a little scratch in my throat but this time it’s a stuffy nose.
Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, so if you take too much, it will get quickly flushed out of your body.
Wearing Iris Silver Mist, on an unseasonably warm day. We’re due for high winds and torrential rain all week-bit depressing as Environment Canada issues warning to tie down the X mas Decoration (!!!!).
Hope everyone has a good day, and looking forward to reading what everyone chose to wear 🙂
I’m just appalled at the weather here in eastern Canada: unseasonably warm, too (12°-13°C), high winds and rain through tomorrow, maybe a smidge of snow on Friday but above-zero temperatures Sunday and Monday. And a merry Christmas to all, I guess.
Making some coffee with a bit of rose water
Commando this morning, as I am going to sniff around at FUEGUIA 1833
I got a book in today Fourth Wing, this “romantasy” genre has a lot of hype at the moment and I was 879 on my local branch so I just bought the book and will donate to NYPL when I am finished
I’ve done that too-feels great to donate books and dvds. I love libraries. The library in Halifax has won awards-they use it as a hub, too, to reach out to some community members. It’s amazing the range of services that they provide.
If you are talking about Halifax in Canada-I have been there and I loved at the airport you can check out books before boarding a plane. Everywhere I go I visit libraries and independent book shops 🙂
yes! Halifax, NS 🙂 I think the design won some awards. It’s a great place to read and relax-I like the pigeons in the roof garden. Last spring their hatchlings were learning to fly and they were stumbling all over the place 🙂
Have fun sniffing! Let us know what you discover.
Hello.
That’s a very pretty photo Robin!
Sotd is F-ing Fabulous. Not my top purchase but it does smell great in the cooler weather.
I don’t know if that is from a tree…we saw a lovely dried flower Christmas tree last weekend…whole thing covered in dried roses & other things. Must have cost a fortune to do!
I wanted to wear my newest decant, but I couldn’t find it, so I went with Oolong Infini.
Hope it turns up!
I’m wearing a big cloud of Shalimar today.
We’re having one day of winter, with lake effect snow and high winds. It’s pretty to look at out the windows.
Snow and Shalimar -beautiful image.
Wearing Secret Obsession today. I’m not surprised that this one got discontinued as it’s so different than the original Obsession. It’s quite sophisticated, though, and the amphora-type bottle is really cute.
I was surprised that one couldn’t find a place in the CK stable: it’s really nice, and the packaging and advertising seemed of the moment. You smell good, anyway.
Secret Obsession had a gorgeous bottle.
Hello all and happy Monday! Gray and rainy here in the bay area, wearing a blend of China Rain, China Lily, Egyptian Musk and White Tea, perfume oils from Life Perfumery SF. Love buying from local shops and Rika, the owner is such a sweetie. The shop has other goodies like earrings, diaries, vintage clothing, scarves – it’s such a fun store I spend far too much money!
Now off to work, this won’t be very much fun, people don’t seem to slow down when it rains, which doesn’t end well.
Your perfumes sound like a very pretty combination! Your mention of them reminds me of a stint I had working at one of the Body Time shops when I lived in the Bay Area. Ages ago now.
Working in a perfumery like Body Time was so much fun! I used to work at a store in Sarasota FL, called Body Scentsations, located on Longboat Key and another in SouthGate Mall. They also sold skin care and Annick Goutal, Nicolai perfumes, and Henry Jacques perfume oils.
The oils are def. Body Time oils, I think the supplier was Terra Nova/Nectarine, but they closed their doors in 2021 or 2022 after being in business for over 30 years. If memory serves, Sarah Horowitz Perfumes now owns the licensing rights to distribute the oils? I can’t remember where I read that but that sounds right.
Yes, it was fun! It sounds about right regarding the companies. I believe TerraNova was a spin-off from Body Time. Fun fact: their famous scent, China Rain, was created by one of their SAs.
Wearing Hermes Cuir d’Ange.
I saw Wonka on Saturday. Honestly, I was not impressed. Excellent production values, ok music numbers, interesting characters and a very lazy script. I like when characters’ actions make sense in the story, not when they do whatever scriptwriters want them to do to move the plot. Also, they tried to pull at the audience’s heart strings, but, in my opinion, it was so heavy-handed that I was mostly annoyed. Although, there were a couple of moments when I felt bad for the protagonist. And yes, there were some funny moments too – I actually think that the film would work better for me if it was just a silly light-hearted movie. Then the plot holes and inconsistent characterization would not matter that much for me.
Anyway, it was nice to go with the friends to see a movie. I have not done it in a very long time! 😊
I heard that this newest take was pretty weak. Sorry you wasted your money on it. 😕
I did not! An old friend had her birthday, and she invited me and another friend of hers (+kids) to the movie, and she insisted on paying for all of us. She admitted that she expected more from this film, but she still rather liked it. Plus, we had a good laugh over the silliness of the plot afterwards over tea/coffee.
This was kind of how I felt with the Barbie movie without the tea/coffee afterwards as we went to the late show – all forced saccharine sweetness meets nasty meets expected girl power wins at the end.
Yes, I was wondering about that. We saw a preview for Wonka when we went to see “The Boy and the Heron” last weekend. It looked like it had sumptuous production values, and sign me up for Hugh Grant any day, but I still love the darkness of the original with Gene Wilder. Sounds like we’ll skip it, but I’m glad you had a good time with friends!
I am embarrassed to admit I did not realize Hugh Grant was in it! Even after I read your comment, I had to go on Wikipedia and check the cast. OMG! That wig and makeup completely fooled me! 🤣 He and Rowan Atkinson had the funniest parts, in my opinion, and I wish they had been given more screen time. Grant also had my favorite musical number.
Sumptuous is the word. A real eye candy.
How disappointing! I hope the chance to see friends made up for it.
The TV commercials for “Wonka” here in the US have not moved me at all. Your post reinforces my decision to give it a pass.
Happy Monday folks, or to put a positive spin on it, Only Four More Days Until Friday! 😉
I’m wearing two hefty spritzes of Shalimar MVP and it’s delicious! Still my favorite of all the flankers thus far.
Non-Perfume News:
We have been toodling around thousands of acres on what was previously known as Empire Ranch. Amazing history, and much of the online info is taken from the diaries of the three men who initially formed and developed the ranch. For history buffs, here’s a link:
https://www.empireranchfoundation.org/empire-ranch/history/
The Santa Rita mountains border the eastern part of the ranch and were home for about four years to El Jefe, the only know wild jaguar living continuously within the US. He was last spotted in 2016 here, but was caught on a trail cam in 2022 in Sonora Mexico, which is where they think he originated. There is a breeding population there that is tracked and monitored by some non-profits focusing on conservation. Here’s a quick 30 second video of him:
https://youtu.be/1o17b00zadg?si=dfSV3gcqu9aMvXhk
They reintroduced Black Tailed Prairie Dogs here. They were completely eradicated in the last century as ranchers thought they competed with cattle for grass and the Prairie Dog holes were dangerous for stock. This has since been proven absolutely incorrect. Surprise, surprise! Anyone can volunteer to help catch, count, and release, which sounds cool to me. Here’s a link if you’re environmentally minded:
https://www.nogalesinternational.com/news/prairie-dog-population-persists-at-las-cienegas/article_847ded04-bd0f-11ed-956c-c3ce955e2cea.html
Cheers! 🎄
Thanks for these links. El Jefe is so beautiful!
Isn’t he?! If you ever bring your camper this far south, I recommend this place. 14 day limit, free, and about 50 miles southeast or Tucson. Lots of hiking and history nearby.
Your post reminds me that I was too busy to even notice the prairie dogs the last 2 times I have been in Colorado.
Well, I’m surprised you’re able to notice anything considering how busy you’ve been. I’m hoping all these big changes bring you big rewards. You’re very brave to pack up and move house halfway across the country. Glad your brother will be near by for moral support.
Thank you Deva. I have some cousins I will be getting in touch with, too.
This isn’t the first long distance move I have dealt with. So I am somewhat familiar with the logistics and the headaches involved. It’s partly why I stayed put for 23 years.
Wearing Traversee du Bosphore on this dark and gloomy day. Rain coming in soon, but not as bad as the east coast.
That’s a good pick to brighten up a gloomy, rainy day.
I’m wearing African Leather.
And you are smelling great in it!
That’s my favorite from their place-leather line — plus the bottle is so good.
I’m wearing a cotton dress with a cactus print, one of those photo-realistic digital prints. I can’t quite decide if it call for a green perfume to match the vegetation, or something desert-inspired.
I think I might land on green, and wear Scherrer. I thought I’d bought it this year, but time flies and I actually bought it last year.
We’re a very forgiving bunch here so we’ll just pretend that “this” year is code for perfumista “year” 🤣
😄 Nice.
That dress sounds adorable! 🌵
I got two job rejection letters this morning so I head into the holiday week with no job offer yet.
Nevertheless, I have my new resume and cover letter ready for action.
Slept till 8:30. It was great.
I did watch Barbie and I liked a lot of it, especially Ken.
What can I say, I have spent a lot of time working at studios so much of the company town jokes resonate with me.
Post shower going with Astir and Villate Delhi.
I wore this yesterday and much to my joy it is not a hot mess of scents meant to represent everything everywhere all at once as often is the case with fragrances depicting India. (looking at you, Mumbai Noise)
It’s a smooth blend of Champaca, cedar, rose, orange blossom and cardamom. Its’ never jangly or sweaty and dries down to a lovely incense, which is what I hoped for. For me, I can wear this year round where I live.
And for Arabic Day:
Ah Salaam alekum, alekum salaam, inshallah!
Your scent sounds wonderful! How did you come across it? I hope your new résumé gets you a bang up offer soon!
Me too, Deva!
Robin posted about Delhi and I ordered a small bottle along with a sample of Cafe Tabac from Aedes.
I love Cafe Tabac as well and my sample is all been used up.
I think Kevin said he likes both of the new AdVs, by the way.
Thank you!!
Delhi sounds great – thanks for your review.
Good luck with job hunt!
Rose, cardamom and orange blossom sounds like a lovely combo.
It’s likewise dismal here, and I’m very much in the mood to pull the covers over my head, or at least just lounge around the house in squishy pants, listening to records. However, Boyfriend wants to take me out for lunch and play some pool, so I’m rallying. I was commando all morning because of my lousy mood, but now I’m in a few swipes of my well-aged Imogen Rose solid. I’ve mentioned it here before, but age has knocked out the powder and replaced it with a deeply mellow, sweet carnation note all wrapped around a very true, vegetal rose. It’s a great one for lifting the spirits.
Imogen Rose sounds very lovely. I’ve tried very few of Lush’s perfumes, since I have a hard time going into their shops due to scentsory overload.
It’s the olfactory equivalent of walking into a casino!
Wait, you have a Boyfriend now?!?
Apparently. 😀
Today I’m in my recent blind-buy, Cardamom Rose by the Gap. Verdict? Nice, but average. I swore to myself I wouldn’t do this anymore, but it was perfume-math free, so I couldn’t help myself. 🙄 A 40%-off sale, plus using points brought it down to about $20, which is about what it’s worth. It’s just what it claims to be, but faint-hearted and short-lived. Happy enough with the buy, all in all.
I’ve done that same thing. And then I swear I won’t do it again, but…
I did wear Lyric yesterday and thought of you!
Never say never!
I thought of you wearing Lyric, too. Thanks for the connection. 🤗
At least your cheap blind buy is a pleasant sniff, and not an Epic Scrubber!
You got that right.
Oh, but it just occurred to me, maybe if I did end up with an Epic Scrubber from a blind buy (and perhaps not such a cheap one), it might cure me of the practice! 😀
Apples and yogurt smoothie
I wore Trussardi My Name which is not a great name but a pleasant floral musk and tonight it’s Angel Innocent which has a spectacular citrus over a Tonka base.
No patchouli in Angel Innocent?
No patchouli, it’s quite different from the OG.
Today is the last day of my vacation and currently in no 22 edt today. My 5 year old Lab ate a lot of bird seed a couple days ago and she is still under the weather from it. Labs eat anything and everything and that is how they get into trouble. Looks like I am going to have to make more chicken and rice for her.
Poor dog! Our labs ate everything too. One ate a whole chocolate bar, wrapper and foil and all, and had to have her stomach pumped. They seem like they’re always hungry, never full!
Raise your hand if your weather is picture perfect, assuming you like sunny weather. Mine is definitely down.
SOTD = Eris Green Spell
One of my favorite perfume purchases this year. While tomato leaf is front and center, galbanum grounds it. ❤️
https://www.instagram.com/p/C1AbSp6xLsB/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Also, thanks to J B who commented previously that bringing a small toy and/or bringing a plant (vs flowers) may be a better option!
Raising my hand!! 👋🏼 Sunny and 74F! Question for a New Yorker:
Is it true the city of New York is going to start charging people who drive in certain areas? Cars are a certain amount, trucks a larger amount, and motorcycles the least..7.50 a day I think. This includes people who work in these areas and are driving back and forth to work 5 days a week..?!
Don’t make me jealous although 74F may be on the warmer side than I would like.
It is true about congestion pricing although I haven’t paid too much attention to it since I would never be driving in NYC. There are all sorts of rules and exceptions and a vehicle can only be charged at most once per day. I hope it results in desired behavior and not languish in courts for many years.
Horrible weather twins with you today, so I am sitting on my hands!
Ha! I took out my recyclables this morning and got the mail this afternoon! It was warmish!
Still rather wet here this morning, so I didn’t even bother with mail & recyclables.
Green Spell is a beauty!💚
It sure is!
I got sick AGAIN last week and tested positive for RSV, and after being on Prednisone for a few days for the horrible coughing I feel like i might finally be getting past the worst of it. These bugs keep ruining my weekends off!!! I had so much fun stuff planned, and I had to cancel everything. I also have a lot of cleaning left to do before my brother and his wife arrive on Friday, and I haven’t had the energy for it. UGH. But one bonus is, the steroids have also helped my itchy dermatitis patches and my achy left hip, so… yay?
I’m trying a sample of Maison Violet (I started writing Pourpre (purple) instead, haha!) Nuée Bleue. I’m still pretty congested so my sense of smell is off, but I think it’s pretty. It’s faded to a soft powdery iris now.
I’m going to go back to wearing a mask all the time when I’m at work and out and about. There’s too much crud flying around. I hope everyone else who is sick gets better soon!
Oh no, rib-bruising hacking is the worst! Hope you recover soon, and just stick to cleaning the bare minimum.
Thank you! I’m good at cleaning the bare minimum 😉
Get well and take care of yourself!
Thanks Glannys!
Boo hiss on getting sick again! That sucks, hard-core.
But Yay? for the steroids helping out your dermatitis. That’s finding a silver lining in a big, dark cloud.
Thanks! Yes, that’s a nice (and weird) silver lining, but I’ll take it!
I hope you are well soon and can enjoy the holidays with your guests!
Thank you!
Lots of crud around here too! Get better 🙂
That’s awful, socks! So sorry you caught another virus. Ugh. Well, glad the medicine helped, anyway. I hope you feel well enough to enjoy the visit from your brother and SIL.
Oh, poop! I’m so sorry you’ve been dealing with that, and I hope total wellness is just around the corner.
I figure I’ll wear some of my favorite 2023 purchases all week, so today I’m starting with a favorite decant/split purchase, which is Eris Mxxx. Also, I haven’t finished testing all the samples I just recently bought from them, but I will have to give an honorable mention to the brand LVNEA because so far I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve tried from them.
I’m enjoying the Eris Mxxx. too!
Eric’s Mxxx. is one of my Eris FBs!
In a decant of Prada Candy Sugar Pop today, solely because it was sitting on my desk and if I haven’t gotten up to go to the pefume cabinet by 4pm, it probably isn’t going to happen so might as well spray whatever is at hand. This is an extremely easy wear; much cheerier and sunshiney than the drab rainy weather going on outside my window.
I’ve been out of pocket on here for a few weeks for ~reasons~ and mostly commando during that stretch. I’m looking forward to some quiet time off for the holidays and perfume & NST are part of my decompression plan.
A shy but potentially friendly six-toed orange kitty has taken up residence outside our house. We set up a heated shelter and have been feeding her. I’m hoping to get her to the vet this week to check for a microchip but if there is none, Mr. Vee and are I going to need to make a decision on bringing her in vs treating her as a TNR that we take care of. My current orange boy is going to be jealous.
Tea today is Snowball tea, which went quite well with an afternoon treat of sea salt caramels from the very kind and generous mrs. darcy.
Sounds like The Cat Distribution System has pegged you and Mr. Vee as potential adopters.
It is my own fault. No more than two days before she showed up I said to Mr. Vee: “I think three is the perfect number, if one of them (always the orange one) needs a playmate, chances are good one of the other two will be game, even if the third is sleeping”. (We previoulsy had two and going up to three was a big decision). I should know better than to say such things out loud for the Cat Distribution System Overloards to hear. 😂
I think the orange kitteh is your new owner 😂!
Nice to see you again!
Seriously yucky & nasty weather here today… the town I live in got over 3 inches of rain from late yesterday afternoon to this afternoon. So glad I changed my return flight when I did!
Speaking of my flight, well, that was an adventure. The first leg left Denver without much fuss. It was a red-eye, so I figured I’d get some sleep on the way to my connecting flight in Tampa. Nope.
About 60 – 90 minutes into the flight, I heard a rather loud KA-THUMP. Someone had passed out in the aisle. All the lights in the plane came on, and the flight attendants were asking for doctors, EMTs, or first responders to render assistance.
Never have had that happen before.
I was dozing at the time, and did not see the incident. But I certainly was awake after that! The other passenger either did not completely lose consciousness, or was very quickly revived (not sure). Some of the flight attendants kept close watch over that person. The flight continued on to Tampa, and EMTs met that passenger at the gate. He was able to walk off under his own power.
Layover in Tampa was 4 hours, so I was able to get a nap or two in while I waited.
Both flights were some of the bumpiest I have ever been on.
SOTD = commando, except for Korres Grecian Gardenia body butter.
A medical emergency in flight sounds so scary! I’m glad the person was ok enough to walk.
There was an air of Unreality about it. I remember thinking “Hey, this stuff happens on TV or YouTube.”
But stuff like that is why the last 2 or 3 overhead bins in a jet are filled with medical equipment.
Yikes, how scary! I’m sorry for all the turbulence too, that’s nerve-wracking. I hope you sleep better tonight!
I slept great last night. The saga I related was Saturday night into Sunday afternoon. But I wouldn’t be upset about another good night of sleep, ha!
Oof, that’s always an event! When I was about nine, a man had a heart attack on a plane that my mom and I were flying on. She was the proverbial ‘doctor in the house,’ so while they diverted the flight she took care of him. He seemed stable when he left the plane and I remember being so proud of her.
I’m just relieved that it was more or less resolved by the time the plane landed. At least three passengers volunteered to assist that guy.
Yay for your Mom! She sounds like she was an amazing person.
Ugh! Glad the person was able to walk unassisted afterwards! At least you got some rest!
Then I had something happen on the train into NJ that reminded me of your Commuting Woes (TM) stories.
That’s a tale for tomorrow.
Wearing Dior Addict. Perfect for a cloudy and gray day.
Yesterday I made another batch of shortbread, mostly for giving away. We did eat a few already, mostly for quality control testing. I’ll also be making an artichoke/spinach dip to take along for Christmas Eve.
Sometimes my entire batch of cookies become quality control testers…
Same here! ..lol
Artichoke/spinach dip is one thing I routinely ordered as an appetizer in restaurants when I was dining out regularly.
It’s pretty tasty! When a former co-worker mentioned that she blended hers in the food processor, it was a game-changer. The texture is perfect. There’s a few more dishes to wash but it’s so worth it.
I’m starting with the most recent happy purchase of 2023 and working my way back. Sotd is Tauer Lonestar Memories.
Perfect, and you smell great!
Thank you😊
That one is still being made?
Yes, thankfully!
I’m working the last of my super late nights ( for now) I am tired and grumpy. I also discovered that my amazon account is compromised and they were not very helpful on the phone today. I’m calling back tomorrow and will probably never shop with them again.
I’m wearing No.19 for the above reasons. Lol. I’m not as big of an iris fan as most of you but this is a glorious perfume.
My son is doing the opposite: working a super early morning shift. So he is your grumpy twin!
Very sorry about your Amazon woes, that’s terrible.
I hope you get the Amazon issue sorted out. I read a recent story about a fellow who bought an expensive watch; the watch itself was missing but the box arrived, obviously tampered with. He mentioned the same thing; not very helpful to resolve it.
Plus I hope you get a few days off. You smell great, lillyjo!
Yuck. Account hacks/breaches are a total PITA. And it’s even worse when the supposedly responsible party doesn’t do squat.
You’re gonna need more No. 19 tomorrow,
I’ve had issues with Amazon as well, avoid them as much as I possibly can. Hang in there!!
Ouch! I hope you’re able to resolve it soon! And, need I say anything about your SOTD?
I’m glad this is the last late night for now and I hope that you are able to get some rest over the holidays (and Amazon comes to its senses).