*delurking*

My DH seems to be slowly peeking out from the laid-off-from-tech-job-at-57 slump of depression and existential angst he's been suffering with for the last three months. It's been a rough ride -- but pretty expected, given history. Any "Keep plugging, buddy! You got this!" ~ma his way appreciated.

Feeling that, Jen. ~ma

It's been a really, really, really awful couple of months in Cashmereville.

September 19th, I buggered up my left knee trying to run up some stairs. September 30th, DH lost his job with a re-org. (We got our insurance through him) October 3rd, My MRI results came in and I needed knee surgery. (See above re: insurance.)

I had a root tear on my meniscus, meaning orthoscopic surgery with no weight-bearing for six weeks. Six week off of work.

DH got a respectable severance and insurance coverage until the end of October so I was able to slip surgery in under the wire. And I have paid leave for my part-time job (yay!) and I was able to sign the family up for insurance through my job (double yay!)

Surgery went well on October 15th.

Java sent me an AMAZING gift of a walker/seat for rolling around the house and it's been much used. (Many thanks and kisses to generous, thoughtful buffistas.)

Then, well, election.

Stuck in a chair doomscrolling has not been conducive to good mental health. But both kids are coming home from college (Oliver is back, Robin is coming on Tuesday). I get to find out if I can return to work in December.

I need to ditch Facebook. I've dumped Threads, I quit Twitter last year, and switched to Bluesky (I'm Lisa70.Bluesky.social)

We are okay--severance should last awhile but DH was blindsided. It's the only time he's ever been let go. He's only had three jobs in 27 years. And finding a job at the end of the year when you're 53 and at he higher end of the pay scale for actuaries is...slow. But I am getting paid and we have insurance. We have money set aside for the kids' college so we're pretty secure. But I hate the not knowing.

Sorry for the long summary.

I wish I was going to Japan with Matilda.

Dag, Cash! That's a serious pile-up of stressful bullshit.

I'm hoping you guys get a break and are able to enjoy the holiday at least.

Where are the kids going to college?

I wish I was going to Japan with Matilda.

That would be fun! I'll pick up a souvenir while I'm over there.

Robin is studying film & television at DePaul in Chicago (I am jealous.) Oliver just started University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee studying Information Science.

David, take lots of photos!

Extra special ~ma back at you all, Cash. Oof.

Enjoy having the kids home, yay.

We're driving up to my sister and her wife's on Thursday morning (with mashed potatoes and broccoli casserole), and then we'll come back Friday. My friend is staying here with the pup (and cats, but they don't super care). My other sister is going up, too, then all my niecephews w/ families, so we'll be 13, I think.

My S-i-L's family doesn't come anymore -- they get together closer to home -- which is fine by me. My S-i-L is more like my family than her own, and there are definitely Trumpists among them, so... I will not miss them. She'll see them at Christmas.

Two days of work, then off until the following Monday.

That’s a lot, Cashmere. Job~ma to your DH and healing ~ma to you.

Meara, I hope you can avoid the blizzard.

I’m moving to Michigan tomorrow. I have about two more boxes to pack, but the cat has decided I need a break, so he’s pinning me to the recliner.

My stuff won’t reach me until 11/30-12/5. But honestly, after turning sideways to get past ever-growing mountains of boxes these past few weeks, I’ll be ok with a minimalist setup. My sister set up an air mattress, my BiL set up my wifi, and there’s a store half a block away is I need anything. I’m looking forward to being back to my home state, near family and all that. But mostly, I’m looking forward to being done with the move.

Wow Cashmere, that's a lot! So much ma to you.

That is a big pile of stuff, Cashmere. Sending ~ma and wishes for a nice time with the kids.

Yay, Calli! I agree with the cat; you need a break.

I'm considering a springtime trip to Japan. First, I have to see if I can locate a friend of DH's from his years there as a kid. But if I can't find him on the socials it should happen anyway. Brendon has so many happy memories from his time there.

Breaks for everybody! But not the bad kind.

That also reminds me that I need to pick up some cinnamon Graeter's to go with the pumpkin pie.

I have some Jeni’s Boozy Eggnog ice cream squirreled away for this purpose.

Turkey is ordered (I’m doing a turkey breast roast in the Dutch oven that I saw Katie Lee do on The Kitchen). Pumpkin and Cranberry Chess pies are on order from Hoosier Mama. a whole bunch of groceries are in the kitchen, including various squashes, beets, brussels sprouts, apples, pears, pomegranates and probably a bunch of other things, which over the next few days will evolve into something I’m confident.

I did just realize I forgot to get ingredients to replicate something unholy the Pioneer Woman did with frozen bread roll dough. (It’s possible I’m going a little overboard on the cooking shows as a coping mechanism these days.)

Probably for the best. But history suggests, I’ve got about four more grocery stops that will present themselves over the next couple of days so who knows.

That also reminds me that I need to pick up some cinnamon Graeter's to go with the pumpkin pie.

Got the cinnamon Graeter's today! At a location that had a drive-thru, bless them forever.

a whole bunch of groceries are in the kitchen, including various squashes, beets, brussels sprouts, apples, pears, pomegranates and probably a bunch of other things, which over the next few days will evolve into something I’m confident.

I saw a recipe on FB for a dish that's roasted butternut squash, brussels sprouts, and sweet potatoes with cranberries and goat cheese: [link]

So I just found out now that neither of my sisters is hosting Thanksgiving this year, so now I have nowhere to go this year. Thanks for letting me know. I feel so invisible much of the time.

(I mean I could have called my sister sooner to find outwhat was going on, but still).