erika, much health~ma.

Anywhere they can

Hear hear.

I still didn't watch Sherlock, but for now, I wanted to share here one more reason why I love my city and its people. [link] (link to FB event)

(Edited because I forgot I read back a bit)

I am paying someone to shovel the walks and driveway. I feel nothing but pleased about this.

bonny, perchance was there a princess asleep in the midst of those bushes? They sound malevolently enchanted.

This is what I'm saying. They are like an Edward Gorey illustration, with none of the charm.

If there was a princess, I did not see her. What I did see, however, was a series of pods growing in the brambles that, when I yanked at a particularly persistent branch, burst open. Out drifted these beautiful seeds with big, fluffy, parachute-shaped puffs that were carried on the breeze. A young man happened to be walking by in that moment and burst out, "Beautiful!" just as I was exclaiming, "Well, that was unexpected and delightful!"

I think bonny is the princess but with agency.

Aw. Thanks, Suzi. I certainly was all UP in my agency with those clippers.

Anywhere they can.

Pretty much.

Today, I keep glancing out the window, thrilling at my handy work. The landlord hasn't said a word.

Good thing, my satisfaction over a good thing, well done, does not hinge on his approval...or even notice.

Among the many weird things that happened tonight when I visited my grandfather's widow (his second wife, not my grandmother) to get some of his belongings, I also received a cheque for my wedding.

It's OK, you're not wrong - I'm not married and never have been married.

You see, she waited and waited for me to get married, and when she realized it's not gonna happen anytime soon, she just wrote down what she had planned to give me for my wedding.

I am verklempt. The money is very (very!) welcomed, and I realize that that is her way to give me some of the inheritance (that was very messed up and nearly nothing of it got to my dad), but the subtext... woah.

(Obviously, I thanked her for it. I was quite surprised to receive anything from her, I didn't stop for a while to think of her words when she gave it to me).

2014, you're gonna be a funky year, aren't ya. Also, it pays to be single.

Shir that's very sweet.

I have a computer again, after much anguish and trying to get the base on the monitor. It also hits home how much I think I need some sort of computer glasses. I have vision insurance now so I can figure out where to go and stuff.

OH MY GOD I missed having a computer. The phone wasn't cutting it. I think this is the longest I've been involuntarily without a computer/internet access in well, since before 2000. There was probably times when I was voluntarily without it, like on vacation.

Put a chunk of it to one side, Shir. You never know when a windfall is meant to be.

Hubby's going to have his pre-chemo bone marrow test on Monday. Apparently full sedation. This is going to involve large invasive needles, isn't it.

At least one large, invasive needle, anyway.

He called teh cancer center. They didn't recognize his name, but the recognized the type of cancer. It is apparently that rare. So tests on Monday, results up to the center on Wednesday, he goes up for a consult on Thursday. Treatment probably starts the week after. He's been fast-tracked. His coping abilities are cracking. I'm sure not for the first time. Weirdly, I'm the one feeling optimistic. It's going to be bad, but we've seen bad before. For a change, it's a bad with an end date (at least for the chemo). And if it works, he'll probably feel better.

And if my supervisors give me grief on taking time off, I will be going over to HR.

Wow, Shir. That's very sweet and nice of her not to wait. Are you going to splurge a bit or save it all?

Connie, I'm glad he's getting fast-tracked. I hope he can lean on you a bit until he regains his composure.

sj, the cookies are delish! I just got them today and have been nomming. Thanks for the other wee gifties, too.

I think there was more but I dunno. Oh! Suzi, backflung.

bonny, I'm glad your landlord's indifference extends to the positive as well as neglect?

I feel like I've been on the go non-stop since I woke up at 5 am. I've updated my budget, deposited checks, paid three bills, scooped litter pans, taken out the trash, changed the air filter, sent a couple of work emails and talked to my boss, sorted work receipts, gone to the post office, grocery store, and used book store (sadly not buying since they are closing), walked Frankie and taken him to the dog park, fixed dinner for myself and RI, and oh yeah - am in the middle of washing all my bedding AGAIN because my roommate's dog peed on my bed AGAIN. He did it the day I left town for vacation and I had just put it all back together this morning.

He's also chewed the crotches out of three pairs of underwear, destroyed a book I got for Hanukkah (roomie has already ordered replacement), and gnawed on the corner of the coffee table. He's 80 lbs of naughty in a 10 lb bag, and I've kind of run out of patience. She's trying to train him, but... he's an 11 month old rat terrier mix. So it's going to take a while for him to mellow. I can't shut my door because the cats need litter pan access. He steals the underwear right out of my hamper, so I'm going to have to bungee the top or something.

Anyway. Need to vent.