So, we’re making Halloween cake in January because as ltc said, “that’s just who we are”.

May all your re-orgs end in treats!

Matilda not only cleaned up the piggy cage yesterday, she re-organized the area and moved my reading over to the curved windows and it all looks better.

She's been a champ.

I had a blow up at her early on when she asked for water when she was sitting at the kitchen table within two feet of the fridge and I was doing dishes. But she heard me and is helping put away dishes and laundry and piggy cage cleaning.

Our dishwasher has taken an inopportune time to die, but it will also take effort and focus to get a new one and I don't have an abundance of either right now. But I'll muster it and arrange something with our contractor to get it placed and a new sink in one swoop.

I’m so glad JZ has gotten so much rest and is feeling better.

Excuse the random question because I’m cleaning out the spare bedroom this week (therapist’s orders), but is unscented dry cleaning a thing that exists? Can I just ask my dry cleaner to not add scent when cleaning my stuff? My asthma is very easily triggered by scents these days.

I'm in a bizarre laid-off-but-still-here limbo.

That seems, maybe not more terrible but differently terrible. Ick.

PPPodcast Presents Mouth Sounds, by NPR.

I can hear this so clearly

Halloween cake, yay!

shrift, I was worrying about you this week. Thanks for checking in and letting us know you're still employed.

Yay for better sleep and less ickiness for our dear JZ.

Jess, that limbo sounds unpleasant. I hope you find something that suits you well before your last day employed there.

I lost my grandfathers early (before I was four) but both grandmothers lived into my thirties, and they were powerful and amazing influences in my life. Grandma Lois (Meem) got to meet Lisa and liked her a lot.

And then, of course, I lost both my parents in my late forties (Janet in 2012 and Bill in 2015.)

My paternal grandfather died when I was 6 months old, I never knew him, and my maternal grandfather died when I was in high school. I had both grandmothers into my 30s, though, which was nice for me, and I still have both my parents which is wonderful. I am constantly grateful for their continued good health

Jess, that work situation sounds very stressful. Good luck finding a better position somewhere.

When I was a little kid I had all 4 grandparents, 2 great grandparents and 1 step great grandparent alive. I think I was 8 or so when Dad's maternal grandfather died, then I can't remember how old when his wife (the step great grand) passed away, and then in middle school I think when Dad's paternal grandmother died.

Mom's dad passed away first, when I was in high school or right out, I can't remember now, then Dad's Dad. Then Mom's mom (in 2010) and then last year Dad's mom passed away at 101. My grandmothers were in their 20s when my parents were born by Mom and Dad were 30 & 31 when I was born so kind of a later in life situation so I feel really lucky I had grandparents alive that long. Although because my mom's parents lived in OK and we lived in FL I didn't get to see them as much .

I did a very onerous task today --or at least a step in the right direction. I have gotten my income taxes all messed up with issues that I never resolved and since I didn't owe money I kept putting it off and ...well... I ended up calling today to make an appointment to get it all straightened out and see if they will file my taxes for me this year since I don't want to deal with the worker's comp etc thing going on plus I realize I'm pretty bad at handling issues that pop up. As seen by this mess I've gotten myself into. Which means I've left money out there that could have helped me and I feel embarrassed and irresponsible and just kind of stupid. I'm getting all the documents I can find together and hoping I have them all and won't need to request some.

However, the big reason I've realized I have to get this done (besides the tax commercials happening all the time and spiking my anxiety) is the organization that does home repairs finally contacted us and came by and made a list of things they can do-- new electrical, flooring fixed in a few places, new door, new window, and then gave info about another organization that can do the roof. However one of the documents they need is the most recent tax returns of everyone who lives here. I'm the only one who flies their taxes and so I'll be holding everything up until I can get this squared away. I kind of knew that they'd need this info but I just didn't think progress could be made on repairing the house through this program.

David, I hope you can get the dishwasher replaced easily. My brain scrambled around the words (it's been doing this since the concussion) and I read that your refrigerator was what went out, which would be much more stressful and a much bigger deal. I hope your contractor can do most of the work in getting a new dishwasher ordered etc.

Good/Bad news. They totaled my car so I have to replace it. The good part is they are giving me plenty of $ to do it, but ugh, do I hate making car decisions. The what car is easy enough. I loved my car so I will get another Tesla Model 3. The question is new or used. Musk may be bat-shit-crazy, but I do love his cars. I'd go up in his spaceships too, but it is unlikely that they will let me.

One great-grandmother lived long enough for me to meet her although I don’t remember it. I was 2 when she died. My maternal grandfather died when I was 18 (and I still miss him a ton and dream about him all the time). My dad’s parents died a week apart when I was 26. My maternal grandmother died when I was 36. I’m deeply grateful to have grown up with 4 grandparents (who were loving and involved) but I wish they’d lived long enough to meet Bob (my maternal grandmother, in particular).