They want people to give up so they don't have to pay what they owe you.

Very true, lisah. Argh.

Ugh, askye, too much indeed.

My spring allergies are in full swing to the point where I took 2 Benadryl last night before bed, overslept through my alarm, and have been feeling vaguely hungover all day. On the plus side my eyes no longer feel like they are made entirely of sandpaper, so win-some-lose-some?

Well, feeling better is a plus ... might outweigh the oversleeping.

In me me me news, I went to the dentist yesterday evening. My teeth are OK, but when I was explaining to him that my night guard (because I grind my teeth) didn't fit any more and was triggering my gag reflex, he looked and I managed to bite down hard enough to split it - both sides (two plastic sections mounted on a horse-shoe shaped piece of thin metal). Does this mean I have the bite strength of a pit bull?

I may have set a record for how long it lasted - as I was leaving and preparing to pay for at least half of the new one I'll have to get, he said "2004" ... and I nearly had a heart attack, thinking that was how much it would cost. But, thankfully, no - it was the year he made it for me. So my night guard was almost old enough to vote ....

I think someone in my family did that, Toddson, although I can't remember now who was telling me about it. Although I don't think theirs was made of metal, I am pretty sure the gist of the story was how impressed the dentist was with their bite

That seems like a really impressive lifespan for a night guard!

I am so, so sorry for the worker's comp stupidness, askye. Glad you got proper poached eggs, but boo to all the rest of it!

Working from home today with lots of contractor noise overhead--it's chaotic, but the place is being taken care of and fixed up and despite the chaos the tenants seem pretty relieved.

The windows contractor continues to be vague and almost incomprehensible, but I do love listening to him talk. He has a way of both stretching and swallowing back a lot of his vowels so things like "Well" come out "Wuuuuhhhhhll" and the word "shit" lasts literally forever and you're not actually sure what word it is until that "t" comes at the end like a plosive little button.

When I went to pay him for the hours he and his second-in-command had worked so far, he told me that he'd be here again on Friday but not tomorrow because they have a new project. "This mornin' we was up at this place in Mill Valley, out in the redwoods 'n' shiiiiiiiiiiiht, 'n' there hadda be sixty windehs there." And then the Irishman whistled through his teeth and said in wonder, "You never seen so many windows in a house!"

Later I checked the mail and found a Jonathan Adler catalogue (a super-high-end home goods designer whose aesthetic seems to be aimed at people who are stupid rich and fond of Lucite), and showed it to them.

ME: Look at this. $1300 for a single dining chair! Who pays that much for one chair to sit and eat in?

TENNESSEE DAVID: Pfffuh, not me over here, 'at's for suuuuuere.

IRISHMAN (lurching back in horror): Jaysus! An' your kid'll just ruin it!

Timelies all!

The good news is, Gary's home from his trip.

The bad news? He tested positive for COVID.

So our trip to Florida is cancelled, and Gary is isolating in the second bedroom. sigh...

Oh, I'm sorry, Sheryl!

Oh, geez, Sheryl. I'm sorry to hear that and wish him a smooth time of it and quick recovery. And hope you guys don't get it.

Oh Sheryl!! I was so delighted for you earlier when I read he was on his way back. I am so sorry! His isolation is going to be tough to explain to Mr. S.