This year, for the first time, we've hit the drug co-pay limit. My pharmacist went, "Yay, look at that! Refill everything you can before the year is out!"

My mother, having had three surgeries this year, is having her knee replaced in late December, because why not? She needs it sooner or later, and god knows they've hit their numbers for the year.

We used to play "How early in the year can we hit the deductable!" 3rd week in January, one year.

Edit: I should make my company give me something for reducing next year's medical insurance bill.

So at some point I need to try a properly poured absinthe.

Oh, hey, I recommend the absinthe service at, um, I'd have to look up the restaurant but it was in Vegas. Lee might remember. There were a lot of flaming vapors involved, pretty spectacular.

I guess semi-productive is about what I am managing. The lawn is sort of half-mowed and I have basically decided to buy a new lawn mower. The push mower just can't handle my grass unless it's already pretty short. At least with me pushing it. Of course, this time of year there isn't the greatest span of choices available, so I think I'm going to have to order one, so it's unlikely I will finish mowing the lawn today.

While I was out trying and failing to buy a lawn mower I at least got my grocery shopping done. Even that, while I got everything on my list I can't help but feel like I didn't get everything I need, somehow. Oh well.

I remain sloth-like and dopey-brained. I mean, I feel pretty good, but if I don't dredge up some actual give-a-fuck in the next 12 hours, I might need to look into taking some sick time.

Oh, hey, I recommend the absinthe service at, um, I'd have to look up the restaurant but it was in Vegas.

Heh. That right there is a recommendation.

Good point!

Oh, hey, I recommend the absinthe service at, um, I'd have to look up the restaurant but it was in Vegas. Lee might remember. There were a lot of flaming vapors involved, pretty spectacular.

Ooooh.

But I have to be That Guy for a second: setting absinthe on fire isn't a traditional way of serving it AT ALL, and people who are Serious Absinthe Snobs get really cranky and elitist about it.

I am not a Serious Absinthe Snob. I have opinions about what I like, and approve of setting things on fire.

As I recall, the fire was an optional bit that I could have declined for Serious Snobby or general anti-fire reasons. But I did not, because I am all about setting things on fire (in a safe and controlled manner, of course).

Flaming absinthe always takes me back to the bar/club/restaurant/gallery Radost in Prague and a flaming bar when a drunken newbie expat would inevitably freak a bit and drop the spoon...man, 18 years ago.