Man, the Bitch Blanket and the tiara exchanges feel like a million years ago. I should go dig out my blanket and wrap it around me like a hug--their intended use.

Oh man, a friend of mine broke her arm today changing the tire on her car. The car slipped off the jack and the wheel well rim hit her arm. Ugh, I have the shivers just thinking about that. I can change a tire no problem, but I hate the car jack portion of the process. I just don't trust the jack.

The muse has gotten me through the introduction but I'm still starting and stopping. The paper requirements are so completely off from the material we are currently covering. I keep thinking that I'll find an angle on this thing and have had no luck so far.

I never did participate in one of the tiara exchanges or the bitch blanket exchange. And I didn't keep any calling cards for myself. But I did get a blanket from Lee as my Secret Santa that my family fights over on a regular basis.

Sounds like you're prudent not to trust the jack.

My blanket is a schmancy evening wrap, black wool twill lined in red and gold sari silk--quite gorgeous, and warm. I never feel like I can wrap up in it and wallow, quite.

I don't remember who I made my blanket for. I think it ended up more as a cape, I beaded some elements of the skirt of an old pink and silver brocade evening gown and lined it with something snuggly.

Other gems I found in the same box include: a newspaper photo of me and a couple college dorm-mates rinsing off in the spray from a firehose after a oozeball game, an article about a show I did in 1992 including a photo of cast member Jon Hamm, a followspot assignment sheet for the Rolling Stones (I was #13), and a Jesus Christ Superstar poster signed "Thanks for showing me the light - Ted Neeley".

Fun, aurelia.

I have my blanket, which Deena made for me. It is soft and cuddly and it reminds me of her each time I toss it over me. I made one for Sean and gave it to him at the LA F2F.

That's a swat find, aurelia.

ltc has brought home her second cold of the school year and both TCG and I are sick. TCG even took a sick day.

Oh dear, sending healing thoughts to the teacup family. School is awesome for the little ones, but the germ sharing thing sucks.

The car slipped off the jack and the wheel well rim hit her arm.

Yikes! I fixed the tire of some pregnant woman who got a flat in front of our apartment, and she had a BMW. And the jack for a BMW slots neatly into this hole in the frame that's designed to take the jack. And it was just so logical and sturdy and German. Also the jack was incredibly smooth and easy.

Anyway, it just made me wish that all cars had that design.

I have an appointment with a surgeon this afternoon, and have to decide whether I want my gallbladder out. The stomach pain and nausea have largely subsided (but neither one is totally gone). But I do have gallstones, and my primary care doctor said it's not a bad idea to have my gallbladder out, because the gallstones aren't going anywhere, and this way I have it removed before things get worse.

Also, I've hit my insurance deductible for the year, so it's a better idea to have it out now (in 2017), before the deductible resets next year. And I hate our healthcare system so much, because I'm making this decision based on money.

None of my symptoms are terrible right now, so it feels like jumping the gun to have my gallbladder removed. But I understand the reasoning that it's better to do it now before it gets worse. I'm really torn.

My primary care doctor highly recommends this surgeon, and I trust my primary care doctor, so I guess I'll just lay it all out for the surgeon and see what he says. (Though, really, I would be shocked if someone whose job is to perform surgery says "Nah, I don't want to do surgery on you.")