I made myself a Manhattan! At home! I feel all grown up and stuff.

I made myself a hot toddy.

Yum! I should have used less dry vermouth and more sweet, but it was still tasty

I want to go to a deviled eggs cocktails party. Preferably with Jesse as apparently she can make a mean drink.

So Franny got on a kick today that she wanted bright colored hair, so we went to pick up some Manic Panic and now she has lovely fuscia highlights, and Isaac--after throwing a fit that it was unfair for Franny to get haircolor--ended up choosing a lime green. Will take and post pics tomorrow.

It got used to buy a bunch of stuff in Chicago

You want I should hunt someone down?

This was said at work today: "Once we get the elephants on stage, we'll be focusing lights to them." Yep.

I can't decide if I want this shirt. [link]

How do you make an elephant hit its spike consistently?

I know this one... foot prints in the peanut butter!

I don't know about you, aurelia, but I sure want that shirt. You'd definitely rock that shirt, though, and the only problem with it would be that you might get tired of all the OH MY GOD WHERE DID YOU GET THAT I NEED ONE JUST LIKE ITs you'd get every time you wore it.

In unrelated news, WE STILL HAVE FUCKING FLEAS. I am about to lose my mind. Our vet so far has only given us pills for the cats to kill the fleas, and Frontline, but they haven't mentioned doing a flea dip. Those who have dealt with fleas in the past, have you done a flea dip? Is that done anymore? If it's still an option, I'm at the point where I just want to bomb these fuckers from orbit.

20 Mule Team Borax for all floors and major furnishings. Leave on half an hour (I'd do an hour or two and just go to the park since I don't know how mobile Rose is) and vacuum up. You can sprinkle just a little on carpets and leave it. Only thing that ever killed an infestation once I'd treated the cats with the yucky but effective chemicals. And it's just boron. Desiccates the fleas and destroys the eggs.

This week, I really wonder what my grandfather actually did at the NSA.

I wonder what my uncle did at Los Alamos. Beyond the "nuclear physics" that is common knowledge. But then we have some conversations and I think maybe I don't want to know. Talking to him yesterday evening about the helium shortage lead to some searches that probably would raise eyebrows. If only because I started out that search very specifically. But it won't be the weirdest thing I've googled so I took a hit for the team.

Consuela, I was kind of watching to see if Mom was eating (she is again) and sleeping (not so much still but if she gets a couple few hours, I still call it within understandable limits) and doing anything involving other people (which she really has and that is a huge step in early mourning of a spouse) like walking with friends or having a meal or even talking on the phone. It is a really rough road. I am glad your Dad has you and your siblings.

I think the transition when the spouse needed really constant care, even when there was other help, adds some guilt too. Because suddenly you can go for a walk or lunch and that freedom was so dearly bought. The guilt part is just my supposition.

And, personally, I try to let any of the answers be okay. Didn't get much sleep? That happens. Ate cereal twice and that was all? Probably an easy way to eat something. A status report more than judging the answer at all.

And, with Mom, she tells me more that way. I'd rather hear that she's really sad and misses Dad even when I can see she emailed me at 3 am and I know she can't sleep. But everyone is obviously different and are willing to open up in different scenarios.

Be sure to take care of yourself too. It's easy to try and focus on other people and ignore yourself. But that leads to things like actually getting the flu. Far better to take a day and watch DVDs before you end up sick or worn out.

That's a lot of hard-won knowledge, Cass.

FTR, I brought French 75s to this party last year.