This morning I walked the dog in the rain, then spent an hour on the phone with my BFF (she got an awesome new job that doubled her salary and we mostly talked about that), then watched the US-Netherlands World Cup game on delay, then made a tuna melt for lunch. Next I will read a little bit in my pleasantly-clean house (the cleaners came yesterday), and then I will go to my local winery with my sister to pick up our mandatory orders for the quarter.

And then I will spend the rest of the day reading. I have to start and finish Rules of Civility by Amor Towles by Thursday at 7 PM.

Jim and I are going to a Seattle Symphony performance of The Nightmare Before Christmas; we were invited to a happy hour prior to the performance ("They want a donation, right?" "They probably saw our address and made assumptions. But there's cookies, so what the hell"), and I will be wearing a silk/wool scarf from Bev, a moonstone necklace from Jilli and a ring from Plei.

Timelies all!

Gary had his work holiday party last night, and things went badly while he was gone. Mr. S was fine during dinner, and while cleaning the dishes.(He wanted to clean all the stuff in the sink.) By the time he got to the last item he was getting silly and getting soap suds everywhere, so I took the bottle brush away. Bad idea, as that triggered an epic meltdown where he locked himself in the computer room and trashed things-including my iPAD, which he destroyed. He also called 911 several times. The last time, I ended up standing outside while the police officers dealt with Mr. S. They also called the crisis center, who sent over a couple of people. I had tried several times to call Gary, but he wasn't answering his phone. Eventually Mr. S fell asleep. Gary arrived home around 11, as the Metro was a mess.(I finally talked to him a little after 9.) I was a mess.

and I will be wearing a silk/wool scarf from Bev, a moonstone necklace from Jilli and a ring from Plei.

Awwww!

Today I:

• signed a contract with a home inspector to look at the new house next week.
• moved my papasan chair over to my mom's garage to make room for packing in my living room. (It will live there until the day before the movers come; my plan is to have some familiar furniture, an area rug, water & food, and a litterbox in the room I plan to stow the cats in throughout the move.)
• led the mama alleycat to one of her month-old kittens, who had wandered away from her den and was meowing at the feet of a couple in the alley.
• carried in some groceries and a step ladder.
• picked up some cardboard boxes and my new ugly Christmas shirt from the office, as well as verifying that my 2020 taxes and the W-2s and 1099s I need for the mortgage process aren't there.
• filled two long boxes with most of the free range comics scattered throughout my apartment, freeing another plastic milk crate up for book/videotape/DVD storage and emptying two shelves in my bathroom shelf tower.
• threw away a couple of old pairs of shoes I'd mysteriously kept for some reason.
• sauteed some sliced chicken in leftover garlic parmesan dipping sauce and microwaved broccoli and leftover Thanksgiving dressing for dinner.

I am in awe.

So exciting about new house stuff in particular.

I'm so sorry, Sheryl.

yesterday I mostly sat in my chair, watched tv, and knit. but I did a little house stuff also.

Today looks to be similar, woke up with muscles achy. I hope to get some things off deck and into the garage, the first floor roomba-ed, and the main tree up.

Today is our Gotcha Day, so if Mac wants to do anything, we may head out.

I’m making these for a potluck tomorrow. [link] It’s a fiddly recipe, but I get to eat the ones that split too extensively.

Happy Gotcha Day to you and Mac!

Calli, I would surely enjoy disposing of the split ones for you. They look super yum.