I also managed to overflow the basement sink for the third time this year, so now I’m cleaning up that water.

Well, that's a bummer.

I'm so happy to have two more days off. Don't care whether I get anything productive done. Just want to feel 100% again by Tuesday.

We spent a good chunk of the afternoon going through our closets and dressers for clothes to donate, then stuffing them into suitcases we want to get rid of now that we have nice matching bags. I'm going to try to make it to Goodwill by 8:30 or so tomorrow morning since the donation center opens at 9:00.

I watched a little bit of Auburn's bowl game before turning it off in disgust. I'm still a fan but I haven't been a happy one at any point in the post-Gus Malzahn era, and I still don't like the Hugh Freeze hire. Now I'm just hoping UW can pull off the upset(s) in the playoffs.

I also worked on my goals and plans for the new year. I've learned to make resolutions work for me by game-ifying my to-do lists, accepting that I won't achieve perfection, and resetting at the start of every quarter. (Basically, I choose a group of nonprofits I want to donate to, assign one to each of my goals and/or habits I want to strengthen, so meeting my step goals supports the Southeastern Raptor Center, spending time in prayer/meditation plants trees, etc.)

In a little bit Dylan and I are going out for a dinner date for an early celebration of my birthday.

I drove 10 hours yesterday and 10 more today to make it home from Palm Springs. I loved the sunshine and the communal living and much as I’ll be happy to be in my own bed and get back to routines, I will miss that a lot. Having folks around all the time and sharing cooking and having things to do was so great. I get lonesome a lot, and it was nice to not be for a whole month.

Msbelle I think new years cleaning is totally a thing, trying to set up the new year right! Part of why I drove like a maniac was to give myself tomorrow and Monday to get back in the groove before work starts again.

I don't know about New Years cleaning, but in the past two years I've engaged in frantic My Lease Is Over cleaning and Relatives Are Coming To See The New House cleaning at the end of December.

A quick update for those not on FB:

Dad is in rehab and doing a little better. He has a long way to go. Acts of kindness that made today better:
-Laura and DH asking Drew what comfort food they could give me when I finally got back to their place after a 12-hour caregiver marathon day; they greeted me with chicken tikka masala and love.
-Hec's generosity
-Cousin Laura helping me find someone willing to foster Sonny while Dad goes through rehab — for free (her friend lost his dog recently and is thrilled to spend time with Sonny)
-My mom and Aunt Susan conspiring to send me a giclee of Susan's gorgeous moonlit owl painting.
-James (dad's part-time caregiver) spending time with Dad at the hospital so I could run around making sure Sonny had a quick vet visit to get some new meds (my sweet dog brother is finally getting his doggy Prozac...all praise doggy Prozac).
-Local Florida friends agreeing to check in on Dad every day while he's in the rehab facility this week so I can go back to LA to teach this week (I'll be coming back out next weekend to transfer Sonny to his temporary foster home and to check on Dad's progress). I couldn't have left if I didn't have trustworthy friends checking in on him.

There were more, I'm sure, but I'm very (very) tired, and I need to try to sleep. I'm grateful for my community so I can go home for a few days, sleep in my own bed, spend time with ND and our beasts, and not miss any more work than I need to.

(Basically, I choose a group of nonprofits I want to donate to, assign one to each of my goals and/or habits I want to strengthen, so meeting my step goals supports the Southeastern Raptor Center, spending time in prayer/meditation plants trees, etc.)

Oooh, I like that strategy!

Cousin Laura helping me find someone willing to foster Sonny while Dad goes through rehab — for free (her friend lost his dog recently and is thrilled to spend time with Sonny)

That's such a good solution to a tricky problem!

I’m so glad to hear about getting a foster for your Dad’s dog, Pix. That’s been on my mind.

So glad a foster was found that’s gotta be a weight off everyone’s mind. Best of luck, Pix.

Right now I'm taking her out at least every hour and she pees every time, often more than once a trip.

That sounds medical. Or am I misremembering Birdie's age?

That sounds like a good thing for Sonny.