I am caught up only in this thread, moving more slowly through others for sadness requires slow and careful treading. Plus, I tend to read at work and spontaneous uncontrollable sadz is bad for customer service. Apparently it's not ok to cry during 911 calls, even though sometimes they really do make me sad. But it's ok because I don't have to stay forever and get to go home after every shift.

Monday is my friday. Now is my weekend. Many nights after work I face the same choice: cocktail or flexeril. Both help with the pain and the muscle spasms. Flexeril lasts longer, but cocktail tastes better. Tonight I chose booze and probably overdid it. Two (small) tumblers of frangelico with sugared lemon wedges. I had a half a lemon in the fridge, seemed like a good way to work through it. Yummy, but the sofa seems to be moving more than it should. Sofas aren't supposed to move, right? Probably should have stuck with one. But so yummy. Pretty sure I should also forgo my nightly bath. Which is a little sad, because tonight is night for epsom salts (i like to alternate salt and fresh water baths for variety) and I did my more challenging pt exercises today so there will be great soreness tomorrow, but drowning in my bathtub would be super embarrasing. Especially since tonight is my friday so i wouldn't be missed from work till friday, which is my monday. Why does that always sound so confusing? right, no bath. More water drinking. Why is cat meowing at me? I know i fed them both.

Good news about my mom. The obstruction cleared with the pump. She's still super sick with vomiting, headache, and vertigo, but it looks like no immediate surgery. She was already facing potential abdominal surgery prior to this, so its more likely she will need it now. But scheduled surgery is much better than emergency patch-her-up surgery. We'll have a better idea of what happens next after her doctor visits later this morning. Thank you all for the kind thoughts!

Kids vs. Food: Cow Tongue

Thank you Dana! Those videos are hysterical, I subscribed. Makes me want to video my daughter eating!

Lilly won't eat spicy food, where the definition of spicy appears to include "was once in the same room as a pepper, maybe."

Luna is the same. She also claims carbonated drinks are too spicy. Which is fine with me, no battles over soda.

Glad for the good news, Callaluna! Hope your mom continues to feel better. Vomiting, headache, and vertigo is no fun.

It took 25 minutes and a reboot to log in this morning. I'm over it.

That sounds promising, Callaluna!

On the beets front, I also love pickled beets. And then you can put onions and hard-boiled eggs in the pickling liquid and they come out all pink and pretty.

I have never met a beet I didn't love. I love that earthy flavor they have. Plus, pretty!

Artsy types, I have a question. How do you let go of something you've created when its time to send it out into the world? I've only been painting for less than a year, so the painting I am working on now is the first one I will not be keeping. I am flattered and amazed that people want my paintings (yes, actual people!) and the idea of something I created hanging on a friend's wall makes my heart happy (strangers are another story). But how on earth am I going to let this go? Its like giving away a baby. Is that insane? Do other people feel that way? Does it get easier? I find myself painting slower and slower (and I am slow to begin with) because the day I have to give it up is getting closer and closer. I think I may have issues.

I am glad your mom is feeling better and does not need immediate surgery, Callaluna.

I, too, Love beets, although I always get the pink urine and briefly think I am dying. They are really good in a salad with cottage cheese and Italian Olive salad as well.

Its like giving away a baby. Is that insane?

You mean like this?

You mean like this?

Yeah. But with fewer squished babies.

I should have stuck to digital art, where it can be reproduced a zillion times and I never have to feel like I've lost anything. The first painting I have to give up and I'm all, "My preciousssss!"

So glad for your mom, Callaluna.

Also, feeling mildly parentally comforted -- about half the things we make are "too spicy" for Matilda, including things no spice has ever approached. It's somehow soothing to know that she isn't the only one with this issue. (OTOH, she loves ketchup and would probably eat spice-rubbed spice wraps if she could dip them in ketchup.)