Anything to get out of paying money.

Yeah, I know. And Adderall has a high street value. Not sure if it also raised a flag that my son takes it too. Though really, doesn't that show it is a family issue, not just out of the blue?

Paper is coming along SLOWLY. I have my research. But writing is kicking my tush. Normally it is the research that kicks my butt. Le sigh.

In less frustrating news, Kelly (I'm honestly trying to use her real name instead of K-Bug cause she is 26 now) seems to have a new man. I haven't met him face to face yet - though we have had a few FB exchanges. She is so much happier than she has been in a long time. Makes me happy too. Both my kids are in good relationships. I'd say it was my turn but I don't have time for that.

Back to writing.

I solved the question of dinner with a bunch of vegetables -- corn (cooked in the oven = delicious) and some roasted broccoli mixed with this kim chi my aunt made. All so good!

There may be ice cream later.

I get aggravated that dish sets almost always come with coffee mugs. Because I like my dishes to be matchy, but coffee mugs are an entirely separate thing and anyway I've got tons of those.

I think we picked our set because it didn't come with mugs. But then the bowls betrayed us.

Per earlier convo, I am having tonight's piña colada in a wine glass.

my crystal: [link]

V. nice!

The convo has moved on, but if I may touch back on dishes, we bought our everyday dishes open stock in a department store in Nurnberg. Open stock because you can always replace broken pieces, or add serving or specialty pieces, right? Except, when you *leave the country* and the pattern isn't available elsewhere. Pre-internet. I lived near Replacements in NC (I think they're between your place and my old one, Calli), and I had the dubious distinction of stumping their experts. I was down to only a few remaining pieces, and wanted more, so I took a soup plate and a cup and saucer in for reference. Three assistants spent about forty minutes combing the stacks, and the closest they got was the Hutschenreuther. Similar, down to the split cup handle with leaf-shaped attachments. But the color was wrong, and so was the weight.

Years later, I tracked down the mark on the internet, and id'd the pattern as Winterling Bavaria Blue Onion. On a whim, I checked the Replacements web page, and they have it. There are two sets by that pattern name--ours is the older version.

After all that, I'm not sure I want to replace them now. I have two cups, five saucers, and the lid to the sugar bowl, which fits an old glass custard cup I had.

We use bowls and plates and pasta bowls and mugs we bought singly or in pairs for specific-to-us uses. We don't have a "set" of daily dishes.

Although now that I've seen the Calamityware, I *wants* it, precious!

my crystal: [link]

Very nice. Elegant. My crystal is over the top cut crystal that I have no idea why I thought they were "me" other than the fact that I was 19 at the time.

Although now that I've seen the Calamityware, I *wants* it, precious!

Good thing for my bank account that they are out of stock/backordered. Those are fantabulous.

Beverly - also not sure if a thank you or darn you is in order for making me aware of Replacements. They have my mom's pattern. I wouldn't want a full set or anything, but I'd like a few of the accessory pieces. Ohhh, and I can try to find my grandmother's pattern. I had a cup and saucer of hers for a long time, but the cup broke in my second to last move. I still have the saucer downstairs. Hmmmmm. Wish list time.

I finally made good on my resolution and dragged my parents' unused-for-decades treadmill up to my third floor walkup. Starting tomorrow I'm going to try and fit in an hour of using it every day while watching TV.

I don't have any fancy crystal: my mother had very little left when she died, and I think my sister has most of it. I do have my mother's china, and her mother's. Maybe I'll look into getting some crystal at an estate sale, that would be fun.