Hi, just caught up with a lot of reading since early Sept. Glad you are ok, Hil. Mohs-wound-tending-ma, Hec. Yikes re Sunny sayings. I wanted to like her based on bookstore + name alone. I don't know her of course. My oldest sister says the most ghastly things. I probably could top Sunny & possibly meet Erin's persons. Probably not beej or java chick though. One odd thing is that sister regularly accuses people of stealing things from her. It seems to have started when a photo album she put together had two pages stuck to each other. Once they were unstuck, well someone had to have stolen all the photos that were there. She accuses her daughter in law of breaking into her house & stealing clothes pretty regularly. Sis is nearly 80, still trim, but still. Why would an attractive late-30-yr old want her clothes even it was true? That's just the puzzling stuff. There's always vitriol under the surface, waiting to erupt. Meara derivation was cereal and serial. I wonder if meara got the joke if something cereal related ever came with anonymous holiday presents. Two kind things Jacqueline did for me: talk to someone at her church for the adult son of a friend. The son has a BA from Berkeley in Japanese & expressed interest in a SF paralegal job. JZ thought she knew of something apt, & she did, even though he ultimately chose to take a job that lets him WFH in way-out West Marin. (I would've wanted to live on my own in SF but different generations & more). Then, she had a referral for me/us for a probate attorney in Portland, carry-over from the drug-addicted neighbor's daughter, & everyone is really happy with that attorney. Both are, were, much appreciated.

One odd thing is that sister regularly accuses people of stealing things from her.

A family friend did that for years after her husband died. Accused the neighbors of breaking into the house when she wasn't there. Called police regularly. It was a really bad psychosis issue. Serious paranoia. Fortunately, she ended up as guardian for a disabled adult relative and that seemed to give her a sense of purpose and she seems okay now. It was super scary because she was a well-educated successful woman and seeing her go off the rails was awful.

"I just have to get used to the fact that I'm alone in my family."

I wouldn't contradict the MiL on this, just in case it might mean fewer visits from her.

The only significant thing I've done today is take my mom to the downtown BBQ festival for lunch. Afternoon sun was brutal at about 94°, but it gave us an excuse to buy peach ice cream on the way back to the car.

Dylan and I are on our own and he has decided he wants to make beef Wellington tonight. I talked him out of a full size roast and so instead we have two filet mignons (filets mignon?) ready to be wrapped in mushrooms, prosciutto, and puff pastry

Reader, they were fucking delicious.

Sounds like the Senate is voting on a continuing resolution, which would keep the government open for another six weeks, yay.

Hec, I propose we lock your MiL in a room with another narcissist mother I know (mom of a dear friend) and televise it as pay-per-view.

ION, I brought home the worst souvenir ever from the UK trip , COVID. And Mr. Loomycakes doesn’t get home from Germany until late Monday.

Boo covid. Yay beef Wellington.

Erin I used to love a wheat berry salad from Whole Foods but that sounds like a lot of effort.

I am watching GBBO. Earlier I stopped at this Jewish deli near me on my way home from the gym because I thought “let me see if they still have bagels, they have onion which I like and local bagel places don’t”. So I go in and ask if they still have some at this time of day (a little after noon) and the guy says oh yes, and yells at someone to fire up some bagels. Tells me it’ll be a little wait. I was like fine. 35 minutes later they finally hand me the bagels. I was about ready to gnaw my arm off. I didn’t think they were making them from scratch on demand or whatever geez!! But now I have a weeks worth for breakfast.

Oh man, I’m going to try and meara from memory. It’s so hard to cut and paste a bunch of stuff on the phone.

Hec, that is some very nasty shit. And yeah, wouldn’t be surprised if the BP drops a bit rather suddenly. Sending ~ma for general mental and physical ease. My dad had several physical issues become more acute during my mom’s illness that he is now attending to, and thank goodness at least that he and you do try to take care of yourselves.

Filets mignons in French, but I suppose filets mignon as a borrowed phrase. But who cares because delicious!!

Erin, loved your take on SPIKEVAX. That sounds just right.

R has me watching (and yesterday, full-on binging) Teen Wolf. I can see why some Buffistas really liked it. For one thing, it’s a lot smarter than it needs to be. erika, weren’t you one of them? And ita another?

Very little sleep for either of us last night. Lots of epiphanies both about our relationship and myself, like real coming to terms with foibles kind of stuff. But part of it for me was also physical pain stuff, and it’s not gone away despite me throwing drugs at it. So I have an exciting day of being patient with myself ahead of me. Oh what fun, AFGO. But that’s what I am trying to do, learning to appreciate the growth process.

ION, I brought home the worst souvenir ever from the UK trip , COVID.

Ugh!! I hope that it is very mild and over quickly.

I am watching GBBO.

Yes! Excited to have it back again. We've watched the first episode. Already sad, but 12 bakers is a lot to keep track of.

Sounds like the Senate is voting on a continuing resolution, which would keep the government open for another six weeks, yay.

And no doubt it will be late night the last day before they do anything again. Curious to see if they try and kick out McCarthy on Monday. I'd say he was the worst Speaker ever, but there has been competition for that honor.

But that’s what I am trying to do, learning to appreciate the growth process.

AFGO indeed. I hope that today is less physically and emotionally challenging.

Looks to be another pretty day in Otter Lake. Plan to take a slow boat ride to leaf peep and take pictures. It is quite spectacular. There hasn't been any heavy rain or strong winds the last week or so and that has kept a good percentage of the fall leaves on the trees.

Yes, Atropa, meant to say that I disapproval (leaving the typo, because funny) of you having caught COVID. And more that you have to weather some of it alone.

Laura, please post some pics!! I miss fall, so so much. Really hope we get to move somewhere that has fall some day.

AFGO indeed. I hope that today is less physically and emotionally challenging.

Yes, well*. I think it’s going to be more connections and epiphanies, but they are mostly “well shit” rather than “oh fuck, yikes.” Or I’ve had the yikes and now I’m letting it settle instead of fretting. SO WEIRD.

* Autocorrect, I understand “we’ll” but not “welol.”