What a great picture, Jilli!

Man, I'm looking through gift guides trying to figure out Christmas ideas for my parents, and it's already time for my annual whine about how impossible they are to buy for.

I'm hoping I'm just reacting to leaves and the weather front, but my body is all sorts of mad at me. I hate snot.

Timelies all!

I'm sorry, -t.

Am at Philcon.

Man, I'm looking through gift guides trying to figure out Christmas ideas for my parents, and it's already time for my annual whine about how impossible they are to buy for.

I'm endlessly glad that my family does lists. There are still some off-list things, which are always welcome, but lists make it so much easier, and everyone is happy because they got what they wanted.

(I know there's a schism between the List People and the No List People that might be bigger than the Mayo vs Miracle Whip schism. I accept that and embrace my dwelling among the List People.)

I do actually have all of Tim's Christmas gifts taken care of for the first and probably only time ever. It's just that things crossed my radar that made me say "Hey, he would love that!", so I bought them when I saw them. (I do not have anything for anyone else. I'll probably be scrambling at the last minute for them.)

So that was fun. Friday night football in the pouring rain. DH coaches basketball for the local HS team and brought home a couple tickets for tonight's football game. It is a regional playoff game and generally you can't even get near the parking lot. I had said yesterday that I would go with him, not expecting the rain. By the time we got to the stands we were already soaked. There was lightning as we crossed the parking lot so I had my doubts about it lasting. Almost through the sloppy 1st Q and about a dozen lightning flashes later they called a delay of game.

This is South Florida, so we are talking mid 70s and rain so not actually uncomfortable, just sloppy and kind of fun. The umbrella was a total waste of time. If I had worn a rain hat I would have stayed, but I let him drive me home during the lighting delay. 4th Q now and home team is kicking muddy butt.

I'll be better prepared for weather next game.

What they don't tell you when you decide to go to Kilimanjaro is that the cost of the trekking company (food, porters, guiding, etc) is high, but you also have to factor in the cost of the three pages of gear that you are supposed to supply yourself. From fancy down jackets and high-tech long underwear to toilet paper and ziploc bags! I am boggling at the idea of bringing TP to Africa by way of Paris...

And yes, I just dropped a lot of $ at REI. Oy.

You are brave, Consuela. Possibly mad, but certainly brave.

Laura, sports in miserable weather is on my list of No Not Ever. It's like a bucket list, but upside down.

Wow, Suela! That's a lot. Though I did bring toilet paper on this trip to Japan and China, which has been helpful a few times

Last night we were stuck at immigration for a few hours (when we already got in late and were tired!) because they couldn't confirm our flight home (we were asking for a transit visa, which you can get at the airport but only if you're leaving within 144 hours—we are here 36). Freaked me the hell out because omg what if our flights are messed up? I booked them via a partner airline using miles!! And today freaked out further because it didn't email me or let me check in online. But spent $$ using the hotel room phone to call the airline and looks like it should be fine. Whew!!

Also we did a four hour walking tour with a guide earlier, who was great, and we ate street food and wandered around and generally didn't have to worry like we have the rest of the trip because she knew where to go and how to buy things and so on. So glad we planned that—we knew after 10-11 days in Japan we'd be wiped and not ready to conquer Shanghai!

Suzi and -t, I am so sorry for your losses. Both must be devastating in different ways.