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.

Sophia, does this company typically hire a cover in case another dresser is sick? That could be a way to ease back in.

He did come over and packed up at least one bag and cleaned his room including vacuuming. It most likely needs to be re-vacuumed, but that carpet is not long for this word anyway. I'm hoping we can move his stuff completely out tomorrow, and then the bed out Wednesday after work.

I packed 2.5 boxes tonight and pulled another few things to get rid of. I have a bag for the thrift store full, so I will take that and drop it off tomorrow on the way to work.

You're doing so much, msbelle, it's very impressive! Me, I did almost nothing today because my back is bothering me. A little laundry, some writing, lots of reading. And then my sister hosted a little birthday dinner with my nieces and their boyfriends, and I got bulgogi, Mac and cheese, and birthday cake. Plus a GC for 2 massages at my favorite p lace! That was nice.

Yay, massages! Happy birthday?

I had friends over for brunch and they got to meet my new roommate. And then we hung out and played Codenames and I made sugar cookies and icing and they decorated cookies. They were here for like six hours! And then we went to a different house to watch the new L Word. So far, so ridiculous. :)

Msbelle you are always impressive to me!

Aurelia- a sub in is a great idea! That's how I started there in 1994! And I love subbing in because it is a challenge. I am afraid it seems nutty to want to get back into things after I just left them, but I am a dresser who got pulled in to costume shop manager. I don't want to manage anything, but I loved dressing.