Hi Raq! Ewww on the shopping adventure. I dislike shopping anyway, but if you added super long checkout times and bugs I'd never go.

I'd totally ignore the bumper nudge and deny knowledge if DH sees it. I'm all hassle avoidant.

I hosted my book club last night. Tiny group of 6 because most of us are still trying to get back to normal schedules and all the stuff in life that was put off for 2 weeks was scheduled this week. I served mulled wine which was a big hit. Also pumpkin bread, yum. We worked like crazed ones to get my new room construction to a reasonable state of completion.

My usual method of cleaning up for guests involves tossing all the crap from surfaces into a big box to be dealt with later. Yep, I have another box in that stack. Someday I'll have no boxes, I just know it.

Ellie and I are up. She is on day 3 (I think) of her 1st cold. I hate hearing her cough. I feel bad for her, but I think she's okay in the grand scheme. Of course, Joe and I are sick too.

juliana, I've been thinking lots about you, sweetie.

Many hugs for juliana. I hate seeing you in this much pain, girl.

Timelies!

Poor Raq! What is it with grocery shopping this week?

Hi, Laura!

Poor Ellie! Poor sickies!

{{juliana}}

So much love heading your way from here. You've gotten some good advice. I'm so sorry this is happening.

Day off for Veteren's Day, yay, I was feeling so run down I'd have probably taken today off anyway and burned off a sick day. Went to the eye doctor guy and he told me that I had a non-ifectious common eye irritation which I can't seem to find online. Though, I sort of forgot the name of it but I'm operating on the assumption that I would recognize it if I saw it. Not conjunctivitis though, whew. I have steroida anti-inflammatory drops though.

So, yes, exciting! My eye squick is high though so it's been taking up quite a bit of mental space with me.

Hoping to hear from GC about the GREs and Maria, how is the house hunt going? Is it a better time to look in the DC/VA/MD area? I know here the housing market has cooled appreciatively and interest rates are only slightly higher. They say it'll be till 2007 till the housing market starts going up again. Insert my standard guilt here about buying at the top of the market, but, hey, I love this house and that's when it was for sale!

hey, I love this house and that's when it was for sale!

This is so much more important than the rest of it. Don't let anyone suck the joy out of that by harping on interest rates and things and ignoring that there's a huge tangible element to this, too. It's not like buying a stock at the wrong time.

This is so much more important than the rest of it. Don't let anyone suck the joy out of that by harping on interest rates and things and ignoring that there's a huge tangible element to this, too. It's not like buying a stock at the wrong time.

Totally. I think I've calmed down a little from the OMGOMGOMG I'm in HOW much debt now? and the subsequent obsession over all the financial stuff, and am trying to just relax, and enjoy my beautiful home.

ION, I got the stones to email my mother and tell her I wanted to do thanksgiving at my house. Whee! So, Operation Holiday Dialogue with Family has begun!

Ooooo! Fun, Nora!

I'm dreading Thanksgiving. We're all going to IL for the holiday. My flight is at 6am on Thanksgiving Day, and it's been oversold, so I don't have a seat. This could be interesting...

Mallory's crabby. He thought we said we were installing the STARgate, not the stair gate.

My sister and I will be doing our own thanksgiving this year, while my dad's off with our usual cast of, well, tens, in Myrtle Beach. Sucks that we couldn't go, but it just wasn't happening this year, and honestly, I think we both need the time to chill out and just relax more than we need the big family thing, even though it's pretty much our favorite holiday with our favorite people.

So, what you're saying, brenda, is that if things get tense at Chez Bug Family, I can escape to your place, right?

ETA: Poor Mal!