Laura, blown-in insulation? Long sleeves, I hope!!!

Very ancient insulation, like sawdust stuff, plus any scraps of construction debris they tossed in there. Total yuck. Long sleeves, masks, goggles.

Yay Scrappy! And Happy Birthday!

Nice progress, Gris.

Happy birthday, Scrappy! You sexy bombshell of roller skating awesomeness!

Guys, I am still sick as shit, so I sent my boys off to Iowa to meet with the grandparents at their annual ballooning event (yeah, my in-laws own a hot-air balloon, isn't that COOL!?)

I am sad not to be going, and feeling kinda like a shitty DiL/stepmom, but there's no way I'd be able to deal with a 3 hours drive, then being out in the field all day, then getting up at 4 am to prep the balloon, do the launch and drive 3 hours back to KC.

I said a mumbly good-bye, call when you get there, sorry I suck to them at 8 am, and then went back to bed till almost noon. I feel...a little better. Not well enough to do anything strenuous, but well enough to work on some work things, drinking pots of tea with honey and maybe, MAYBE, do a few 10 minutes jaunts of straightening up the office and bedroom. Kleenex, water glasses and tea cup/pots explosion, and I need to put clean sheets on the bed. I've felt so gross for two days that I can't stand the thought of sleeping on germy sheets one more night.

Also, my words are back for a bit, at least! And my fever's down to a manageable 100.3.

BARB! First place! And after your shitastic week! I love you, and am so proud!

GRIS! Thrilled about your domestic bliss and more bliss to come! We've missed your pixels!

BONNY! YAY for resolution with your friend-colleague!

MARIA! SO GOOD to see more of your pixels, even though still love you when they're absent.

I know you said DH is meds-resistant for anxiety, but Lorazpam is a milder version of Xanax, and most low-doses that relieve anxiety don't impair cognitive function or cause drowsiness (in most peeps). You might mention that, and that lessening stress could improve his body's strength in fighting back.

He's former mil, IIRC -- sometimes the best offense is a good defense, and in a fight, you learn to take anything that comes to hand and use it as a weapon. Perhaps that would make a good, rational...er, rationale that's more palatable.

Drs. are doing recon and possible full assault with the heavy artillery -- he can do strategic planning and meds could help to sweep for body booby-traps and establish his body as a battleground with established friendlies as allies before the mission goes live? W/o them, perhaps the anxiety could transform neutral civvies into hostiles that could FUBAR the mission?

I dunno -- trying to be useful; tell me if I'm being a nosy jerkface, and I'll take my nose back where it belongs.

Good (sniff, sneeze) afternoon, y'all!

And becuase it deserves its own post:

HAPPY BAD-ASS ROLLIN' REDHEADED BIRTHDAY, Le Scrap!

Erin, I love you so very, very much. The military analogy is totally priceless.

I hope you feel better very, very soon.

The window restoration thing didn't happen - lack of attendence - but Bill gave me a good overview (wow, did not realize everything involved; related, old windows are so fucking cool). I stopped by a farmer's mkt on the way back over the bridge and bought eggs, then dropped by where StW was studying to say hi and give him a little break, then bought exciting things at the hardware store (air filters, Damp Rid for my car, etc) and then home. Not sure what the rest of the day/evening holds, but a nap is likely and much needed. Tomorrow Bill is having a monthly brunch at his house, so I'll likely go to that. Want to meet his wife, plus there's a solar contractor Bill wants to introduce me to. He warned me that his wife would have out the karaoke machine; I grinned and told him I was pretty sure his wife and I were going to be friends.

smonster, may I just say that your networking, friend making, badass self leaves my exceedingly shy and introverted self in complete and utter awe? You totally rock, lady. (I mean, you already did, which we already knew, but still-- it's extra levels of rockingness.)

it's extra levels of rockingness

I agree

Hivemind, I need help. Today is my baby sis' 30th birthday, and she has no one to celebrate with. My parents are out of town, she doesn't have many friends and is always hesitant to try and organize anything. I want to make her feel special somehow. Here are the factors:

1) I don't have money to spend, really, though I might just say fuckit
2) We don't buy each other gifts any more by mutual agreement
3) Flowers are out because of all the cats

Her card is going to be late - I haven't made one and I haven't found one I wanted to buy - and she knows that (and expects it from me).

Help!?!?! I posted on her wall, and posted on mine, and I'm going to call her in a bit, but I'm kind of at a loss. It doesn't help that she is a badass card maker and gift selector, but NOTORIOUSLY hard to shop for.

Oh, xpost. Thank you, Barb and Laga. I used to think networking was a horrible, nasty thing. But then I realized that if done with genuine passion, it's just talking to awesome people about awesome things! IDK. I am an extrovert, but can be quite shy, believe it or not. I tend to be shy around shy people and outgoing around outgoing people.

smonster, do you have a webcam and microphone? Or just a webcam (you can use index cards to communicate.) Make and send her a vid about all the things you like and admire about her, and how much you love her.