Sorry life is so stressful right now, brenda. The universe really should have spread those out so you only have to deal with one or a few at a time.

Glad Gracie is doing ok and you got extra info.

I'm wiped again. Got to work early, then had to leave to meet the furnace guy; system pronounced hale and hearty. I should get at least another 15-20 years out of the furnace part. Guy said the visit was unnecessary, but I pointed out earthquake and he did have some advice on the internal operating temp setting that was useful and should save some pennies. Then back to work, party for our Nobel Laureate. Then home to swim and 8 laps in, a kid barfed. Wait that out until 6:15, and just start over.

Then home.

BUT (and this may be helpful to Brenda): I've had a growing list of things I've needed to follow through on and it had gotten so daunting, I was procrastinating more. So I've just been picking out one or 2 to do every day. And the net result is that it lessens the guilt and angst and suddenly I am no longer avoiding ALL of the list. See about getting the ceiling fixed (hm, need to follow up on that,) take the car in for an oil change, turn in the contract on the gutter, get the furnace inspected. All that's left is make vet appointments. And suddenly, the list is gone and no longer taunting me.

I think everyone can see these pictures: [link]

They're of our visit to the Alabama. I really wanted to have someone get a picture of us standing in front of one of the main battery turrets and its 16" guns, but there was no one around to take a picture of us while we were on the main deck. Oh well, next time. (Yes, we've already talked about seeing the Alabama again, to see the parts we missed. Yeah, we're both geeks.)

There are a few pictures with Monica in them--the first one (inside one of the turrets) is the best, even if it's hard to figure out what everything is in the pictures. Those things are cramped! My shoulders were rubbing against both sides of the hatches in the turret.

So happy for you, tommy!

New crown is in and looks pretty. Ended up there for 6.5 hours. The length of time was a combination of things but getting the root canal and a crown done at the same time made it worth it. I go back next week for a deep cleaning, scaling and planing. I'm going to get my teeth fixed up one way or another. I will also be broke, broke, broke, broke.

So happy for you, tommy!

Thanks. I'm happy for me too!

She's just Sara's age, right? Third grade?

Yes. She just woke up so she's dripping with groggy, but at least she says the headache is gone.

Monica is cute!

Suzi, but once you get to maintenance mode...oh, so lovely.

I ended up with a root canal post-crown (there was a 30% chance this might happen) and while that meant less continuous time in the chair, I had to go to a different facility that could drill through the crown. I might've proposed to the endodontist (I was in a lot of pain that went away like MAGIC!)

Sara is adorable!

I concur, Burrell - Monica is cute! So awesome, tommy.

There will be Korean fried chicken there.

How is Korean fried chicken done?

Good dental -ma, Suzi. Surprise root canal is not a phrase that sounds like much fun at all.

I just ate remarkably good cold fried chicken -- from Food Lion!!?! I was expecting eh, but the crust was yum, tasted homemade.

I have been searching for Peach Cobbler B&J ever since several of you were talking about how great it is, and I still haven't found it. Annoying. I settled (heh) for something else. I think I'll be OK.

My claim to fame this week: [link]

(And I've dealt with the other 2 when I ran the helpdesk, back in the day.)

How is Korean fried chicken done?

Um...it's not breaded, it's very crisp and not at all greasy. And it's got a sweetish sauce. We had a spicy and not so spicy kind. And it came with pickled daikon. And was delicious!

Now I am watching Downton Abbey (which is very anxious making!) and just had some apple crisp and vanilla ice cream. Who was saying fall is making them ravenous? Me too! SO HUNGRY!

Monica is very cute! And she looks like she was having a great time.