Sophia, I doubt it's about being "too old," but it's about your personal knees, no?

Yes, my personal knees are dicey. Possibly because of all the squatting. I already had a tear in the meniscus of my left knee, and my right knee is starting to feel like it might go if I don't baby it. So I know I can't do the up down up down of removing shoes, putting on pants, putting on shoes and then up all the way up to do the overcoat and accessories that I used to. But I found it super satisfying. I think top half does shirt buttons, vest and make-up change? It seemed much easier.

Top half definitely sounds like less up and down!

Yes!

The tree is OK so far. But kitty has been sleeping.

Sophia, worst they can do is say no, right? You don't ask, you don't get!

Last of the shopping is DONE. Jim and I decided replacing the car this year was present enough for us: we bought things for Ken, I'm doing cards, there's a wreath on the door and a Yule goat on the table, just waiting for the arrival of Dude Thor. I've got a mani/pedi scheduled and Jim has a reminder on his calendar to order my birthday cake. He needs to mail his mom's gift, and that's it.

sophia I hope that you can switch things up to help your knees.

I had a plan to bake things to give as gifts. It was a reasonable plan. Except I seem to have forgotten how to bake completely and the 2 main things I tried turned out horrible. The gingerbread cookies didn't make it to the actual cookie stage. So I'm giving this idea up, I have a bunch of baking stuff and I might try to make some chocolate chip cookies because those shouldn't be too hard.

I was going to make gingerbread cats instead of people. I mean I don't have any decorate skills so I was just going to outline them, and make icing whiskers but now there is nothing.

I got a lot done today—litterboxes cleaned, bedroom straightened up, laundry done and sorted, towels put up, garbage taken out, groceries bought ($109 worth for $71!), papers for shredding/burning consolidated into one big bag, Thai food bought and remains of same put up as leftovers. All that I didn't manage to do was airing up a low tire (the gas stations either had air pumps out of order or pay-only versions) and finding a metal can to burn papers in.

I am still desperately trying to find gifts for my parents, which is why I discovered that someone on Etsy sells a custom-made foosball table for $12,400.

Ugh, you guys, we have some mold and Tim is freaking out. (Oddly, I am *not* freaking out, which is weird for me, the anxiety queen, but it's also good, because I am chill enough to calm him down.) It was on a windowsill behind the couch, behind a drape we never, ever open. (Note to self: check the windows once a year.)

So while he cleaned up the windowsill (wearing a painter's mask), I took the kitty into the bedroom away from mold activity and researched mold remediation companies on Angie's List. It'll be fine, and I'm REALLY weirded out by the fact that I'm the calm one in this situation.

askye - I say let a day or two go by before trying the baking again. You've had a stressful few days and no need to add to it. Be kind to yourself.

As much as I hated the idea of no gifts for Christmas anymore. This year it is exactly what we need - too damn much going on.

Matt - That is a full day of getting shit done. also now I want thai food, but have none.

Steph - just go with the calm. embrace the calm.

I did a ton of work in my back yard yesterday. Will have 2 maybe 3 yard clipping bags stuffed full.

Then got a few more things over to my parents for them to have in the estate sale (now set for 1st weekend of Feb) : 8 glass plates, a set of candlesticks and a bowl that all match, and a vase thingy.

Then today I finally got mac to go to the grocery and Target with me to get him stocked up, but he was moody and rushing and so he still doesn't have stuff he needs, like a shower curtain, but he will figure that out. This was the one trip where I was buying stuff, everything else now is on him. We also got the old Ikea couch/hideabed moved over there with the help of some of his friends, and I took over two small tables we use to eat on at the couch and a bag of his clothes and a bag of shoes. His room here is still a mess and I had wanted to get the bed he used here moved over to my parents' (he got a queen set from them and we are selling his full bed with trundle), but he wants to hang with his friends and has no consideration for us, so that did not happen. They are likely all high and being knuckleheads. I texted him that he needed to come back over here tonight and clean up his room.