Everyone in the path of the winter storm doing okay?

I am not in the path of the winter storm but apparently it’s 26 degrees outside which explains why it’s only 63 in my house. Brr!

Meanwhile, far away from the winter storm, they're predicting 80 degrees or so here. The cherry trees are starting to bloom as well as some of the early magnolias. There's concern that the cherry blossom festival will have no cherry blossoms by the time it starts.

I met another visitor when I took the trash out today, a rat in the corner by my kitchen door. Poor thing had an injured back leg and more or less dragged itself to the back yard in fright. Hopefully it will either be able to recover from its injury or fall prey to the menagerie of cats and dogs that frequent my yard and be put out of its misery quickly. I'm not hard-hearted enough to do it myself, but I also draw the line at wild rats when it comes to animal rescues.

Aw, shoot, Matt, that's so sad. Poor little guy (or gal).

It's freaking gorgeous here today, right Toddson? I keep finding excuses to go outside. Errands, errands everywhere...

I am legit going out to pick up my not-actual engagement ring that I wear when I don't want to wear the actual one (if I'll be needing to take it off and on a bunch, for example; I lose shit way too easily). It's a CZ in white gold from QVC that my mom got a hundred years ago because she thought it was pretty (it is), and she gave it to me eventually, so it's sentimental to me, but not in an engagement ring way. It got too big, so I'll be glad to have it not slipping around all the time.

In actual engagement ring news, the designers in Philly did exactly what I asked for, but it turns out, I'm a shitty jewelry designer. Who knew? (I mean, they probably should have, but what can you do?)

So, I'm getting it re-set with a local jeweler, and I'm super happy with how it's going to look. Finally.

I think it's the only piece of non-costume jewelry I have anymore, so, you know, I'd like to like it and whatnot.

So, I'm getting it re-set with a local jeweler, and I'm super happy with how it's going to look. Finally.

Yay! It's something you wear all the time (except when you don't), so hell yeah it should look how you want it to look!

September is our 10-year wedding anniversary (HOW. I mean, WTF, HOW.), and I'm thinking about adding stones to my engagement ring, which is a sapphire solitaire. I love the look of diamonds and sapphires and would like to get a smaller stone on both sides of the sapphire, but I have serious issues with the ethics of the diamond industry. So the new stones will have to be moissanite or lab-grown diamonds, which I am totally fine with.

In crazy weather news, the upper part of the canyon where we live got dusted with snow this morning.

ND, that seems like a sign of the apocalypse. Rain of toads, fire in the sky, snow in LA.

I love the look of diamonds and sapphires and would like to get a smaller stone on both sides of the sapphire

I love that look/combo, too, yes. Ten years, though? When did that happen?

Thank you for the update, Epic. There's a lot ahead, of course, but/and the fact that they think they can get everything is really heartening to hear. Sending all the get it scheduled, smooth operation and recovery and adjustment ~ma your way.