I'm kind of hoping it will be like the Five Stages of Grief and she'll settle down after cycling through it a bit more, at least until the New Place becomes more familiar. Given how much any change in routine can deeply unsettle the elderly in the first place.

Friends of my aunt's with an elderly demented mother decided to ride out Superstorm Sandy in their home in Lavallette (just down the coast from my aunt's), which really wasn't the right decision -- they spent most of the storm huddled in their small second story bedroom praying the house wouldn't come off its foundation like the others on their block.

I got a nice Hanukkah email from Gov. Cuomo (not sure how he got my email or why he doesn't know that I moved), but it reminds me I forgot to put a holiday picture on the Good Stuff. I'll look for a two-light pic to put up tomorrow night -- that's right, right?

I got a nice Hanukkah email from Gov. Cuomo (not sure how he got my email or why he doesn't know that I moved), but it reminds me I forgot to put a holiday picture on the Good Stuff. I'll look for a two-light pic to put up tomorrow night -- that's right, right?

Yep. (I first thought, "No, it starts Sunday night," but then I checked, and found out that I apparently can't read a calendar.)

I spent 4 hours in the infusion clinic this afternoon getting loaded up with iron. There was a couple there for her first chemo treatment. The husband seemed to still be in shock over her diagnosis. They were both in so much anguish over the whole thing and there I am in the corner with something so mild in comparison. I felt like a fraud. I wish there was something I could have done for them to ease the situation.

I am exhausted. I haven't been able to sleep all week, not sure the cause but I'm hoping that tonight I can zonk out and get some refreshing sleep.

Note to self: Cheesecake Brownie ice cream is very soothing.

Tomorrow is the first night, so the menorah should look like this:

[link]

Scrappy, sending your mom lots of recovery and good outcome vibes. So glad you get to be with her soon.

Dag, I thought tonight was the first night. Will revise!

My brother is threatening us with disembowelment and mystery gifts unless we send him wish lists. Is it wrong that I'm kinda excited about the mystery gifts? My brother's humor is so weird, I'd expect tumor cell slides or used lab equipment or who knows what!

So far all I've come up with are impractical for having to bring home in luggage- ladder, rechargeable multi-speed drill/screwdriver (I have a drill, it's just not so good as a screwdriver.) Meh.

I think I've discovered the recipe for my department's white elephant / bakeoff - eggnog cake.

(ita, the recipe says the trick to a tender crumb here is whipping the eggnog into a foam before folding it in - might be the muffin fix you were looking for?)