My normal-weight dad and my normal-weight brother both have hypertension (we compare drugs to see if any of us are taking the same thing), so it's not really a goddamn surprise that my BP is elevated, too.

My normal weight sister and father have had high blood pressure since forever, as well as my slightly overweight mother.

Me? They're worried I'm too low to give meds to.

Oops?

The irony of it all is that my mother used to research hypertension, so we've been on preventative diets for over 30 years.

Can't fight genetics, but you can't predict them either.

Chocolate swamp = made and affixed to wreath. So at least I've accomplished one thing today.

The Mensch on the Bench was on Shark Tank last week!

The creator is from the Cincy area, which is a better claim to fame than some of the embarrassing weirdoes we churn out.

Unrelatedly, my car is at the shop getting a new belt (true story: I got the oil changed 2 weeks ago -- at a different place, not the one replacing my belt today -- and when I picked it up, the manager told me, "[So-and-so] mentioned a belt is starting to crack; you probably want to replace that," so I asked what belt, and the manager said, "Yeah, he didn't really say," so I decided to make my car somewhere else to replace the belt, which I assume is the serpentine), and I am always paranoid that when I drop my car off for routine maintenance that they're going to call me and tell me something horrible is wrong with my car, way beyond needing a new belt, like my engine is transmogrifying into a hippogriff or something.

I guess that would be okay if hippogriffs are fuel-efficient.

Steph, you've come up in conversation so many times lately.

I'm struggling with my own bulging discs, and the sentence "She's the literal poster child for the surgery" has been said to so many different (and impressed) people.

I think I need that. I wish I knew I had health insurance for 2015. I've jumped through the hoops, and this is $300 cheaper than COBRA, the bastards. I'm assuming I couldn't have signed up for earlier, but I'm thinking of the $1800 over that I've paid since being let off, and it stings.

This work thing is complicated. There's a company between the recruiter and the place I'd actually work, and they owe me a "document". I'll sign over my remaining aged eggs, and let's get started!

By the way, I'm terrified of my pain and the trip home. I've been worrying the shit out of my mother, apparently, because I'm not talking to her enough, and she's depressed and not eating. I tried to explain to my sister that it's unfair to throw that at an already depressed me, but she's sure the ball is in my court.

They'll see me on Monday! Why do I have to make small talk signs of life until then?

I guess that would be okay if hippogriffs are fuel-efficient.

They certainly seem like they would be eco-friendly. They use a renewable energy source, presumably, although I would guess anything with wings is going to need a lot of fuel. Although maybe not compared to mileage.

Family~ma and document~ma and whatever else, ita.

Oh, I meant to comment earlier - my grandmother's first name was Etta and she pronounced the Ts distinctly, not the way people on the TV say Etta James. I did not call her by her first name (I called her Grandma) and actually rarely heard it used, but when she was, say, giving her name over the phone those Ts were sharp.

Of course, her last name (her married name, I should say) changed pronunciation radically over the time she was using it. But also had no Ts in it.

ETA Argh my typing is going to hell. Maybe I should take a break and build some Gumdrop Mountains.

I think I need that.

I've gotta say, compared to (almost) 12 years ago, disc surgery has improved in some aspects. I think all but the most complex cases are treated laparoscopically, and it's outpatient surgery now (compared to me being cut open and staying in the hospital overnight). I'm not complaining, especially since mine went so well, but it's still amazing to me that it's much easier on the patient now.

Hey, the mechanic just called and said my car is done. Apparently the hippogriff is in good health and it really was just the serpentine belt that needed changed, $80, easy peasy.

It seems I need to post about stuff in order to make it happen. Like...man, that pile of presents still needs to be wrapped. I sure hope that happens!

I saw a truck advertising www.ita.com parked outside my work an hour ago.

I ordered a Nexus 9 tablet, because I wanted to. It was delivered last night just as the mailroom closed. I still haven't received a notification that I have a package. Give me my precious, mailroom. I wants it.