Also, the Internets are totally hugging you back, Raq.

Oh yay new computer, which results in more Raq presence!

Work on the dining room alcove progresses. The rewiring's almost done. I will spare you the exciting details. As with most projects, there have been minor injuries, but none that required stitches or medical intervention.

Seska, I recycle sock cuffs. Both my hands are problematic. The left thumb still slips partway out of joint just above the wrist simply by turning the hand over, but only sometimes. Keeping them warm is necessary, but using a brace, or fingerless gloves, or even arm warmers is problematic because anything between the thumb and the palm eventually sets up its own ache. The sock cuffs (I wear out sweatsocks on the treadmill at an alarming rate) have been the solution. They're like sleeve extenders, come down to the knuckle and keep the palm and thumb warm without restricting the fingers' or thumbs' movement at all. If I need to wash my hands or get them in something dirty, they strip off easily and fit in a pocket, or I can just turn them back and push them up my arms, again like sleeves. They go in the washer and dryer, and I have several pairs, wear one or both, as needed, and best of all, they cost nothing, and are a use for socks that would otherwise be tossed out (because goodness knows neither of us would ever *darn*). Maybe they'd work for you.

Yay new computers!

I would watch either movie--the one with the ghouls or the coke-vanquished vampire one.

I just came back from a wine tasting at the local hippie grocery. There were seven tables with 5-6 bottles each. Mmmmmm. Feeling very charitable toward the whole world right now.

I'm glad you got your new computer, Raq.

the coke-vanquished vampire

After all, Coke adds life.

Beverly, the sock cuffs idea sounds interesting (I echo your 'darning? hah!' type sentiment). Presumably you cut off the toe end? I can see that giving me more movement than fingerless gloves do.

HA. Got a wild hare, and changed out Dan's "nighstand" (one of those plastic 3-tier drawer things, with a wooden stool with books on it right by) for a sturdy stack of my 2 vintage leather hatboxes, and hauled one of the two dresser drawers in out TEENY bedroom in my office here.

Office is a bit crowded, but the closet with all my hanging clothes in in here anyway, and the bedroom looks SO much better, I cannot believe.

I hated that nightstand setup with a fiery, burning hate, and although I would still like to have matching nightstands with drawers one day, this set up is worlds. better. The room feels neater and much less crowded and slapdash.

This is the method my mother taught me for darning socks:

1. Pick up sock.

2. Examine it carefully for holes.

3. If holes are present, say, "Darn sock!"

4. Put in stash of dusting cloths.

I probably could've fixed the old computer, but it pre-dates Mal, and over the years everything's failed on it. I've lost a hard drive, replaced the RAM, replaced the graphics card and audio card, only one of the two DVD drives still works, and it only reads, doesn't write. And the case is trashed.

So since I no longer need a top of the line gaming machine, I ordered a Dell outlet refurb which got here right away. It was the easiest computer setup ever.

seconding windsparrow's mom's method. i also sometimes cut off the toes and small bit of heel in order to make a washable liner for wrist braces that i wear at night during flareups. Man, about a month after my first bout of tendonitis that wrist brace *stank*. I apparently have very malodorous wrists.