I went late to my neighbor-family meal so as not to leave Bartleby in his straight jacket for too long.

When I arrived, I was introduced to a guest who appeared severely developmentally disabled. Nope. Just so drunk she could not speak. Both she and her husband apparently arrived drunk and went to town from there.

I did not enjoy myself half as much as I might have...which is what made having to get home to the little guy even more of a good excuse.

It's too bad. It was otherwise a very nice crowd with great food.

My annual contribution of fresh cranberry sauce was appreciated. I love the orange/ginger version I make every year and then add something new. This year was cranberry/apple. Have to say it was not awesome.

One participant waxed nostalgic about a cranberry-vanilla version I made about 8 years ago. It really _was_ good. Just wish I could remember how I made it!

I concur with Nora's assessment of DJ, her husband, and her dogs. I'm still here and we're out in the courtyard watching the Back to the Future marathon. New tradition!!

It's the Heady Topper IPA.

t still ded from envy

I had a sip of it, and...I still dislike IPAs.

Send it to meeeeeeee!

I'm still here and we're out in the courtyard watching the Back to the Future marathon.

Nice! We are pretty dead to the world right now. Tom did so awesome today with the socializing, and I wanted to leave before he ran out of steam (I could tell he was starting to). He's still having a hard time, post-funeral. But I'm psyched he did so well for so long! He's decompressing now.

...I still dislike IPAs. I just have an excess of bitter-sensing taste buds or something.

I am with you on IPAs Steph. And I usually like bitter flavors, like coffee, dark chocolate, spinach, kale, etc. But I draw the line at IPAs. I just tell myself it's my gift to the beer lovers out there -- more IPA for them.

I am with you on IPAs Steph. And I usually like bitter flavors, like coffee, dark chocolate, spinach, kale, etc. But I draw the line at IPAs.

Oddly, I don't find spinach to be bitter. Other greens, though, I do, and I avoid them. I also have to put cream in my coffee. And dark chocolate is SO bitter to me. I have too many bitter taste buds, I swear!

ION, Tim is REALLY sick, poor noodle. He got a bad cold last week, and it hasn't been getting better (today is day 9). He woke up yesterday with what is probably pink eye, and he said that today his throat is worse than it has been since it all started last week. And every day that he hasn't been at work, he's slept 12 hours or more.

I think he's going to call the doctor tomorrow. I would normally say less than 2 weeks is too soon to see the doctor with a cold, but the fact that it's spread to his eyes and his throat is getting worse seems to point to the need for drugs.

So far I seem to have not gotten it, but my throat has been a little sore the past couple of days. Nothing has really developed, though, which is fine. I have been using the neti pot and taking extra vitamin C in an attempt to ward it off.

Poor Tim. He never gets sick, and when he does it's usually gone in 3-4 days. This is a total role reversal.

I have been using the neti pot and taking extra vitamin C in an attempt to ward it off.

Go team prevention. Don't forget the peroxide in the ears!

Poor Tim. That must feel awful.

Don't forget the peroxide in the ears!

That's what I was forgetting! I was trying to think earlier of what else to do in the way of prevention, and I knew there was *something* else but I just couldn't think of it. Must go do that now.

Nora, sorry we didn't overlap more. I'm still out! At Turkey 3: Back to the Turkey. About to go home, though.

Frankie barked!! At my friend's turtle. It was funny, he never barks.

That's what I was forgetting!

My work here is done.

Turtles are the things that makes Frankie bark? I'm trying to process what ancestral memory that it harks back to.

Soooooo quiet at work today - all the individuals who live at that house were with their parents. I hemmed pants (for someone there who hates the idea of other people touching their belongings (request from guardian to get the damn pants hemmed when I can in absence of individual - I'm not simply violating the person's preferences for my own fun). And watched tv.