"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.”

Eggs and home fries: I literally just had about 10 more minor epiphanies in the shower, not a euphemism, including an epiphany about epiphanies. And because I am part of this community, it’s shifted how I view the Angel episode Epiphany and honestly, the whole series and Angel’s emotional story arc.

One example - all this time I have envious of people who seem not to GAF, which is why I was drawn to alcoholics and such. But what is healthier and more truly satisfying to me, potentially, is learning how to PLAY and be artistic and creative. And that’s one reason R is such a good partner for me, because they are all about creativity and play and fucking it up to do it better. That is neither a natural skill for me not one I have had modeled.

* Pohl Serious, autocorrect, really? Doing a MEARA may suck; OTOH voice to text is kind of fun, and also sometimes leads to intentional hilarity.

Coffee: and, dear god, that’s why my sister has never really tapped into her creativity. She has natural talent but can’t let herself fuck up and definitely cannot take critiques

This is what I mean. Just, the next level has unlocked and I’m having cascading epiphanies. So I think it’s going to be that kind of day, coupled with pain mitigation. And maybe I’ll fuck some shit up, creatively.