Oh, Jilli, I wasn't able to return the hi because we'd left. We were at a wedding where the bride was from SLC and I guess she was there for her. (The groom was a good friend from the bar, and he knew the bride while they were living in Pittsburg, but married to other people. They started talking again and after a few visits she moved here and they decided to get married. The cousin of another friend we met from the bar was the bride's roommate in college. Crazy coincidence wedding).

Connie, I didn't mention it here, but yes we got them late last week. My DL came in too. So relieved!

Yay for India trip! So exciting.

Last load folded and put away. Except that I ran out of hangers. Eesh.

So, despite being on prednisone, zyrtec, Zantac, OTC painkillers, and topical anti-itch gel - I'm still itching. And now I'm getting hives on my forearm where the worst of the poison ivy is. Not pleased, y'all.

Urgh, smonster. That is suckitude of the highest order.

Very exciting happenings with sj eloping and DJ going to India. Love watching the plans come together.

Ugh, smonster. Maybe a break for a cool shower is in order.

Watching the Dolphins on slight delay pausing as I alternate football and unpacking. Bobby made some box mac 'n cheese with extra cheddar and red pepper flakes. Tasty.

we leave for freaking India on Wednesday!

I leave for Milwaukee on Wednesday. That's...not as exciting.

DJ, let's exchange addresses in email so we can send each other postcards. I still have the postcard from your last trip abroad!! And Maria's from Italy, too. I love postcards. I got out of the habit of sending them because Steve doesn't think it's fun to sit in a cafe and write them, but this next trip I have several days before and after Steve's overlap, so I will have time to indulge.

I really should do laundry. Really don't want to. I guess I'll at least do dishes, since that's easier, and I've got enough clean clothes for another few days, but don't even have enough clean dishes for dinner.

I'm glad the visas and DL came through for you, DJ.

smonster, I sure hope the poison ivy itchiness stops soon.

The raised beds were finished last night so I've spent this morning trying to transplant the plants I bought way back on Oct 2. I hope they survive. I bought them all as small as I could because I suspected there'd be a delay on the raised beds but I didn't know it would be this huge a delay. So all of the plants are rootbound now and some, like the poppies, aren't looking that healthy.

I also dug a hole and emptied my bokashi bin into one of the beds and covered it with soil. Bokashi is a Japanese composting method that basically pickles the waste. The advantage is that you can compost things you can't do in normal compost like meat. It doesn't reek the way you'd think it would. If you do it right, it just has a mild pickled smell. Plants are supposed to love it. The beneficial bacteria used in bokashi are also good for the soil flora.

We went put and got cheap breakfast at Ikea, along with a bunch of black-and-white stripey boxes to organize stuff into. Now the second load of laundry is in and it's time to throw more shit out and put the rest into the aforesaid boxes.