I feel like I have COVID brain plus migraine meds brain plus possibly perimenopause brain. It's like I have no short-term memory or grasp on words I want to use.

This is 100% me. Although I guess it's definitely perimenopause brain. (And I'm annoyed by the hot flashes that started the evening of my first vaccine shot, where I had to play the game of Did Menopause Start Right This Moment, Or Is This A Vaccine Side Effect?)

I am not sure I would really be doing better if I lived with someone. I miss most the everyday, not too deep conversations with workplace friends and people at places I frequent. But this has also made me think about how I may never be able to retire. And that I have no one to care for me, except possibly Maria’s kids.

Also menopause, but I think this is worse because COVID

Living alone/working from home would have killed me, I think.

Also you guys have inspired me to get rid of the good boxes in my basement. They are good boxes!

For accountability, I should also share I have sort of backslid during COVID, but it is more medium clutter than hoarding again. I am actually working this weekend to get it back to “acceptable for teenaged boy” so that Aidan can start coming by and taking out my garbage again.

Sophia, I'll cheerlead any straightening up that makes you feel better—it's remarkable how decluttering boosts one's mood. But as a former teenage boy who visited the rooms of other teenage boys, rest assured medium clutter more than clears the bar for "acceptable for teenaged boy." If you don't have piles of noticeably dirty laundry, old sneakers, and stacks of non-empty pizza boxes and soda cans lying around your house, you're ahead of the game.

Timelies all!

Last night was an awful night, and today's been a pretty bad day. Mr. S would not go to sleep until late, and at midnight came into our room and was disruptive. I ended up waking up a bunch of times from 4 am on. Mr. S woke up around 9 and has been annoying at best all day. I took him outside for a bit and he wouldn't listen to me at all. He's currently in his room in time out, and shows no signs of calming down. Did I mention Gary's a bit under the weather due to vaccine side effects?

I got groceries in the order online and they bring them out to my car manner today, and while I was browsing deli stuff I saw they had something they were calling a muffuletta and I was seized with a powerful urge to find out what that was like. Not bad! The bread is something called a Pride Roll and it’s not right but it could be wronger, and it’s much smaller than even a quarter muffuletta, but the Raley’s muffuletta approximation is better than expected.

I'm sorry, Sheryl. I hope Gary's recovery is quick. I'm sure you are all exhausted.

Yay for passable muffuletta!

We've been having internet issues so we just replaced the modem. Hope that solves it.

Yesterday - laughing at COMM cheered me up greatly. Today I worked at the library & took out 3 books about breast cancer & The Emperor of All Maladies. My cousin says that reading about how terrible cancer treatment in the past was & how much better it is now was very comforting.

Also: Gud has an engaged daughter & an Instant Pot: amazing.

I also cannot believe that Matilda is old enough to be bothered with wisdom teeth. What is this thing called time?

Was it in the New York Times that sake we are languishing in the year where the calendar has no meaning?

It’s interesting that the US had the Kentucky Three Day event & Jersey Fresh but the UK cancelled Badminton & Burghley.