I need to schedule a flu shot. Also my second shingles shot. sigh ...

Reading on the internet, I'm thinking the human species may be wiping itself out ... or at least a large portion. There's the anti-vaxxers (I'm old - I had measles as a child and they were afraid I was going to die, go blind, go deaf, something). I grew up with polio scares and having to have smallpox vaccinations (I show the interns at the hospital my first vaccination scar - it's impressive). Then there was the - hopefully brief - raw water fad ... going out in the woods and filling bottles with water straight from the stream - no purification - although the standard warning was that the water would start turning green if you tried to keep it too long. Then I ran across the people saying that the ONLY way to eat chicken is medium rare - pink on the inside. And the CDC had to warn people with pet chickens not to kiss them ... or at least wash their face and hands afterwards. Also ran across someone who's making and selling truffles that contain nightshade and belladonna and such - they say you get a nice tingle from them. And the people who like to use essential oils in their cooking.

Seriously people?

Well, after the line died down there were still acceptable slots for me, so maybe this system will work okay. At least for me. This whole business of holding the sale in the old Walmart down the street instead of in our warehouse is going to be super weird, though.

I did not get my flu shot nor my snail today. Maybe tomorrow. #SnailFail

I missed the snail? Are you getting a snail?

I told the theatre today that I could not finish the semester due to mental health reasons. My old boss is helping me clear off tasks to other people for next week, when I am on vacation to clean.

Still really nervous about the estimate visit. Less so because ai sent en email with questions and they were very reassuring that they have seen everything. More so because I am afraid of the estimate

I am almost finished cleaning the bathroom- Just the floor and mirrors left. Well, that is three cleanish rooms (like- need to do a quick vaccuum and pick up, one cleanish room full of trash bags, half a clean kitchen, and one pit of hell. That I can't face.

But I will try to do the rest of the kitchen tonight, and pull the vacuum out of the pit of hell tomorrow. I am not sure what I will clean next week unless the estimate is so high I have to tackle the pit of hell.

Thank you again for listening.

Sophia, if this isn't helpful right now please ignore it, but are you aware of Unfuck Your Habitat's emergency cleaning post? [link]

I am rooting for you and I'm glad you're continuing to check in with us.

they were very reassuring that they have seen everything.

I'm sure they have. They wouldn't be in that business if they were judgy.

That sounds like really great progress, Sophia! You're doing great.

Sending you all kinds of love and support, Sophia. I'm really glad you shared this with us. And if I was still up near Syracuse, I would come help! Sorry I'm not.

Sophia, I just want to say that you're already more brave and strong than you realize, to be able to face this and get help and make a plan.

I'm nowhere especially near where you are, but if checking in with you, or remote cheerleading for each space you clear or each thing you toss, or Venmo-ing a little something your way to help with the cleaning service would help you get through this, I'm sure I'm not the only one who would help however I can.

{{{Sophia}}} It sounds like you have done a lot and have made space for yourself to do more! You're doing great.

The snail is to go in my aquatic plant thingy that my dad gave me. To keep it clean, I guess it is an aquarium thing, like the little catfish-looking critter we always had. I just need to get over to PetCo, but I need to remember to do it in the middle of the day so I can get the snail directly from the store to my cubicle.