Moms visiting. Was supposed to be two nights. She decided to add another day. And the cool gardens I found and wanted to take her to are closed this week. Ack. But we did spend the day checking out Leisure World (retirement village). She sprung on me "I'm 66 1/2, I'm getting too old to work. I wanna retire". But didn't bring any paperwork to come up with a plan. Uggg.

Eek, omnis. I'm glad that I'm not too worried about my parents financially. About their health, definitely, but I'm worried about funding my own retirement, I don't want to do theirs!

Dinner was indeed fun! I don't think I'd ever met Tom in person before. And I was glad to get another nice meal in (rather than all the late night breakfasts I'd been having this week!)

Yay buffista dinners!

So I was sitting alone in my bedroom (ok, not alone but boy and dog are both asleep, work with my tale of woe here) thinking to myself, "I really hate cramps, but I have no one to share my misery with..."

And then I remembered, I have Bitches! So. I am here to tell you, I hate cramps. I mean, really.

And call the kitty Mozzie!

Hee! I thought about renaming Darby Mozzie when I first got her. But she was really quiet and shut down and it was hard to get a sense of her personality and I wasn't sure it would fit.

Now? She's incredibly sweet, but suspicious as hell of anything new or different than the established routine. If she had higher-level brain functions she would be all about conspiracy theories. And she has a goofy side that comes out at random moments. Totally a Mozzie.

It's pouring out there. Lots of streets around here are starting to flood, but so far, it looks like it's more annoying flooding than dangerous or damaging flooding, although we've got to drive really carefully. Also, I was wearing a raincoat, but the part of my slacks that were exposed below the coat got completely soaked through while I was walking from my car to my office. I'm debating the wisdom of going to the bookstore and buying a pair of sweatpants to wear while I hang these up and let them dry off. On the plus side, dry legs. On the minus side, I'd have to go out in that rain again.

ugh, Hil, hate that kind of rain- I think you are getting the aftereffects of good ole Tropical Storm Lee that came to the Gulf Coast over the weekend.

Dinner was both fun and nom. And I'm eating Tom's birthday cake for breakfast.

Cramps. Bah!

I get to meet three of my five minions today!

eta on the way in, my coworker and I were commiserating over the fate of low-slung cars in NOLA. Her car flooded this weekend like mine did in July, I showed her the bungies holding my wheel well mud guard in place, she told me about how she nearly lost her oil pan and engine mount to a pothole. I never thought I'd say this, but I might have to get a little SUV next time I buy a car.

We've had pretty good luck with the Versa, except for when the exhaust pipe broke off from the muffler from the potholes- but that was because it was weakened by several New England winters and salting the roads. Since then, it's been OK.

You're welcome to park on our block of St. Thomas next time it storms- we've never had an issue with flooding between first and second...

That said, I am vaguely interested in perhaps getting a Jeep or a small truck once it's time to replace the Versa.

I remember many times at Tulane I would walk across campus and get so soaked by the rain that, as soon as I got to my dorm, I had to totally change my clothes and hang everything up to dry. I didn't expect to have to deal with this in Pennsylvania. I checked the forecast, and the rain is supposed to last all week. My basement is starting to take in water.

My basement is starting to take in water.

Eeeee! Did you tell your landlord?