I've never had rice turn out right cooked in a stew, smonster. Others' experience may differ, but slow-cooked, even for hours, the rice just stayed hard. Mmm, crunchy.

Laura, that's wonderful news about your brother. From a fraught morning, all kinds of family good. That's a good day!

I just tried some of my wonder woman costume and am pleased that it appears I will fit into everything. Have the corset laces in place and ascertained that I can get it over my head so it can be laced on.

Parades start in less than two days! (Won't be WW during the parades this week though.)

Random: I just realized I'm picturing my aunt in my head at an age younger than I am now. Oops.

Random: I just realized I'm picturing my aunt in my head at an age younger than I am now. Oops.

In about 5-10 years, I want Niecelet to do this. Not crazy young, just kinda where I stopped paying attention to aging. Vaguely "grown up" but nebulous. Because I am never going to be completely grown up, I fear. And she should not look to me for that. I'm good for a lot of things but not being a real grown up.

Glam, I go by the 7 minute rule from uni. Seven minutes in I hang up and an "I guess you need to reschedule" email. Cc'ing higher ups, depending on my level of annoyance.

Laura, I have nothing to add, except that you are awesome.

Bookmarked, Laura.

Nora, where are you headed MG Day? I am not sure, but I may be wandering the Marigny with D. But I really want to see your costume!!

Bev, that's interesting, I was worried it would get too mushy in the slow cooker. Hmm.

Y'all, omg. I spent a good chunk of today researching sacroiliac joint issues, trying stretches and exercises, using a heating pad... I know I need to strengthen my inner quads, and I'm going to do that, but tonight I decided to sleep in a weird position (but comfortable for me) to see if gravity could get my SI joint back where it's supposed to be... and it DID. My leg feels longer, the circulation is better, my weight is better distributed on that foot, my glute muscles have relaxed from tight enough to snap to mildly knotty. It's crazy pants. I think it's been years, maybe decades since it was right.

So now 1) I can feel for sure that my right SI is also out of whack, just not as bad and 2) I'm paranoid I'll wake up tomorrow with it messed up again and won't be able to duplicate the adjustment. But still YAY.

That sounds like real progress, smonster.

Thanks all for the support. When I talked with my parents and sibs prior to my actions it was clear this was the only option and I was the best one to make it happen. My brother is only 11 months younger than me and like my lifelong partner in crime. My biggest fear was that he would be hurt and not forgive me and the exact opposite happened. My mom was a depression baby and a young orphan raised by her immigrant grandmother. She stressed all our lives that our subs wer our best friends for life and we had to protect and love each other. We bought that story hook, line, and sinker! I know they are always there if I or my kids need them and I am there for them and their kids. Mom gave us no other option.

sleep in a weird position (but comfortable for me)

Glad gravity worked for you, smonster...but what was this position? Were you hanging upside-down?

Laura, I'm so glad. Siblings can really be a wonderful system of support and compassion and the occasionally needed reality check.

Ha, Zenkitty. I've often wished for an inversion table. I slept on my stomach with pillows in the shape of the pi symbol, roughly, but with an added lumbar pillow under the edge of my left hip.

I am having some rebound pain and tightness this morning, but it's still better. Now all I have to do is be consistent about rehab... which is not my strong point. But I've got to sort this out, it messes with my sleep and work and mood and even my relationship to some small extent.

Speaking of D, he sent me this link in an email wishing me a better day, so I'm sharing the cuteness with y'all - [link]

Nora, where are you headed MG Day?

We'll be outside Avenue Pub for Zulu and Rex. Don't know where additional wandering will take us. Might try to bike to catch Zulu a second time afterward.

It's crazy pants. I think it's been years, maybe decades since it was right.

YAY!