Welcome to the next to last day of 2024.

My life has become such a blur of Highly Eventful Things and Unchanging Things that it's become hard for me to keep track of the years lately. So I've taken to labeling them in my head to keep track.

2024: Grief Year (Full of War and Trump)
2023: Cancer Year
2022: The Wonderful Year (when we bought the house and moved in)
2021: Half locked down, transitioning to open (and hope)
2020: COVID / Lockdown
2019: Before Times
2018: Before Times
2017: Before Times...
2016: Bowie and Prince die, everything goes to shit

If anyone has ~ma to spare, could use it at 1:15 EST (like 5 mins) for a convo with my boss. No job worries, but possible good thing.

I think maybe the electoral system held Carter back.(Don't you wish that we could say "At least it's better now," when you had thoughts like that--I sure do!) but enough about work. also, the clubby congressional bullshit, Ie, Carlin's "big club, and you ain't in it." Jimmy wasn't in, either.) I know we don't usually do that, but, and not only because I'm not sure what to say(Because I'm not...next year will probably mean another round of Austerity Shit Sandwiches for me, even if I were crazy enough to think I could plan something else...which I tend not to do anymore.) But, all that said, doesn't take away from the love when I {{{Hecubus}}} Vortex, all the --ma. Best of luck.

Retro good vibes, Vortex.

I'm basically a giant ball of anxiety walking (and not sleeping) right now because of work and other stuff, so I made an appointment with my doc for Thursday. I am lucky in that I don't usually have bad and disruptive anxiety, but, hoo-boy, it is right now, and I need some Rx help stat.

This morning at 4a I was finally able to get back to sleep by distracting my brain with my NYT games and a couple of other ones It was a noticeable dip in raciness. I need to find some additional coping mechanisms. And tonight, I'm taking one of DH's Trazadones.

Um. I hope that you all are doing well. Does anyone have NYE plans? We are going to hang at a good friend's place with another friend and couple and chill and play games, and I cannot wait.

Timelies all!

Got my TDaP shot on Saturday. Felt cruddy for a good part of yesterday, but that passed and I just have the sore arm.

Yesterday we had Mr. S at the house, along with Gary's mom, for some Hanukkah stuff. Well, that was the plan, but Mr. S was very unfocused, and went from activity to activity. This is not surprising, since he has not been on meds for ADHD since he went to the RTC.(There was a mixup with the hospital he was in before that not listing the ADHD med on the form)

As for NYE, some friends are coming over and we're going to go out for dinner. Beyond that, I dunno.

Does anyone have NYE plans?

I might go to my Tuesday bar early just to say hi to Molly the Bartender. Otherwise it depends on whether Matilda is going out or staying in.

She'll probably go out.

I got my passport today! Woot! I can check that off the list. The list I've had since August.

Looking at travel options to Tokyo I'm not sure how I can get seats together with Matilda when I'm going roundtrip and she's going one way. Anybody have any tips?

Also, where should we stay in Tokyo?

Also, where should we stay in Tokyo

Shibuya is probably a safe bet—central and close to popular attractions.

Harajuku for funky, pop culture vibes.

Bunkyo is quiet and chill.

I would do what my amazing planning husband did. Get a good guidebook and make a list of top 10 things to see. Then take a good, large map of Tokyo and plot out your wish list.

Find somewhere to stay close to those places (or convenient to transit).

Oh, and also, look up info on what you want to see about opening/closing times, price for tours vs free tours. AND how to get there via train or taxi.

You may or may not want to spiral bind this information with confirmation numbers and inset maps. Your trip planning may vary.

Remember that “mōshiwake arimasen”covers a huge number of faux pas.

Thanks, Cashmere. DH keeps saying he will get plans together since he lived there for several years, but experience has taught me that I need to get planning.

You know, my grandfather was born in Japan, but the only bit of information I inherited out of that was toasting with “kanpai”. One of the many places on earth that I mostly know from murder mysteries.

Whew—22 hours of driving over two days later, I finally made it home about an hour ago! Exhausted but looking forward to sleeping in my own bed.

Vortex hope the good vibes worked!