Jealous, sarameg. I love touring water treatment facilities, especially the ones that have been around a while (the water palaces around here are pretty amazing, and I'm kind of lumping the Old River Control into that even though it is not about treatment, but it's filed in the same part of my brain)

But perhaps a reward of wine and cheese at the end will get me through it.

Worth a try.

So many choices, aurelia, I don't know where to start with recommending!

I have my running clothes for tomorrow in the wash dryer, headphones charging, chest strap washed and air drying, and bib, shoes, etc. packed up and ready to go. Tuns out I will need to leave the house around 6am to get to my parents' house in time for all of us to get to the race in time for my mom to get a shirt (she registered all of us but somehow got me and my dad shirts but not herself, and it's a pretty shirt, based on this logo [link] ) so the more organized I can be tonight the better. I think I'm in pretty good shape for the moment.

Thank you, Jessica, iron is good one. Would blacksmiths also be ironmongers or would they buy from ironmongers?

Costermonger has just popped into my head. Is that a thing?

Suzi, I missed Jack's travails reading on my phone earlier. Vibing for a quick and easy recovery! Poor doggie.

Costermonger has just popped into my head. Is that a thing?

Google says yes!

aurelia, people-watching is always enjoyable. Go watch the Bellagio fountain and other big classic stuff!

"a person who sells goods, especially fruit and vegetables, from a handcart in the street."

They would buy from ironmongers--mongers sell, broker, or otherwise deal in.

I have food sensitivities--not allergies. I know what they are. I know how much and how often I can cheat on any of them--wheat, occasionally. Peppers, never. Potatoes--if you call a single bite of garlic mashed or five or six fries *per year* "cheating." I have my one perfect 'mater sammich every summer. And every time I cheat I accept the inevitable consequences. It's a decision. If I can't pick off what I'm sensitive to, I'll tap dance with what's available, and I usually bring or konw how to access something I can eat. I don't put that responsibility on other people.

Plei brought me to tears because she made me rice flour pancakes specially for brunch at her house. I really don't expect that level of accommodation as a rule. And I certainly don't expect restaurant servers to take responsibility for my dietary restrictions. If I can't order what I can eat off the menu, I'll wait and eat later.

"a person who sells goods, especially fruit and vegetables, from a handcart in the street."

It's archaic--okay, it's "medieval," and occasionally science fiction--but I've seen slavemongers, shipmongers, lots of mongers who deal in goods other than food.

Oh, poor Jack. All good thoughts to the doggie and his humans.

Ginger, you always have all my good thoughts. Like love, they expand with need.

A column about monger [link]

Thank you, Bev. Pain makes me cranky, and it's been a cranky week.

Oh, good column, Ginger. Always good to know actual facts.

And painfree hugs for you.

Oh, for fuck's sake. I came home to a notice on my door that, surprise! They're going to replace the windows in my apartment on Monday and Tuesday! This means that I have to rearrange my entire apartment before I leave to move everything out of the way.

Also they claim they're replacing the front door, which means my keys won't work. And I don't know if I'll be able to get to the leasing office before it closes when I get back from my trip.