{{sj and family}} I hope you get through this easier than expected.

Last night around 9 or 9:30, the temperature dropped from 40-something to 20 degrees. Even though we knew it would happen, it was weird as hell. And now it's a very frigid –5 degrees, with a windchill of Oh Hell No. The roads are a mess, but I wasn't planning to go anywhere today anyway.

It is just starting to snow in Rochester. Also, there is a water main break here, which has the Southwest quarter of the city on a boil water advisory. I am in the Northwest, and there was also a water main break on the street next to me (I was walking while it was happening, and actually fell, which was fun).We are not on a boil water advisory. Also, it is sort of weird that it was at the same time?

I am expecting that after 21 years, Maria and I may have to break our streak of spending Christmas Eve at the zoo. We even made it in 2020.

I am glad you got loved one cuddles, JZ.

Feel better sj. That sounds disappointing.

{{{{sj and family}}}} I’m so sorry about all the sick, and the timing of it derailing your Christmas plans.

And, brrr. I feel almost embarrassed about my frantic hunt for flannel sheets because our nights are dipping into the 40s, when some of y’all are getting ALL the weather.

Attempting a single small cup of coffee—nobody told me I couldn’t, and everything else is bad enough without the caffeine withdrawal headaches on top.

{{{JZ}}} I'm so glad you're home with loved ones around you.

In my experience, they didn't forbid any food or drink* because they were concerned about weight loss and basically seemed to feel that whatever you have the appetite for is OK right now. So enjoy your coffee.

*While on chemo there were notes about undercooked food and limiting alcohol, IIRC

It snowed here for a minute after pouring rain all day yesterday and this morning. Now the temps are dropping fast and it’s sunny and very windy. Hoping the winds blow the water off roads before it freezes!

It is cold here but hardly as bad as most other places are getting it. I have nowhere to go, so I'm reading, fucking around on the computer, and enjoying not working.

Turns out that coffee is not very appealing, but the receding headache *is*, so I’m sticking with it. An hour until the lidocaine patch, two hours to Dilaudid. I’m distracting myself with I House of Many Ways, a sequel to Howl’s Moving Castle, and it’s really good and engrossing. Between this and Discworld I should be able to make it through the next couple of weeks.

Plus if you’re on pain meds those will often affect appetite, so eat what you want! Have that coffee!! Put whipped cream on it!

I am crossing my fingers the rest of today remains slow at work. I need to write my self assessment, today is the last day!

My friend and I were complaining because apparently San Diego will be the hottest place in the US on Christmas...we'll stop now.