We took Dad out for a belated birthday lunch yesterday. Spending time with him is always good, but he's starting to look frail and I'm trying not to get too freaked out about it. Someone please be proud of me, because when he casually mentioned going in for a medical procedure, I was able to calmly ask what, and didn't outwardly lose my mind when the answer was, "another cardioversion". Another. I knew he'd had one about a decade ago, but apparently he's had a few more and ... just didn't tell me?!

Today is Being Productive Day. I have written one Gothic Charm School article so far, and am about to start on the second.

Very proud of you. Parents!

Good job, Atropa.

Mine always has trouble with -t.

Ha! I transcend dictionaries! Or something. I added “meara” to mine a while back but, I dunno, updates or something - autocorrect is back to suggesting “meats”. It’s happened often enough that I can usually head it off at the pass. I’m better at watching out for and catching that with names than just ordinary words which I only notice after I’ve sent the email/text/post

One of the many downsides of this whole getting older thing is definitely watching other people get older, and how it seems like you look away just for a moment and they go from hale to frail.

This morning I did altar guild and led the prayers at the 8 AM service, and then went and walked/ran around Green Lake (~ 3 miles) despite it being 39 degrees with a raw wind, an accomplishment I'm ridiculously proud of.

I’m in massive cleaning house mode in prep for the parents visiting in April. Today I sold a bookcase and I got some coat hooks hung. Hanging things in this house is so hit and miss. Today I hit nothing and the hooks were pulling out when I put the coats on, so I ended up shoving toothpicks in the holes for the screws to grab onto.

Brava, Susan!

I think if we don't throw sand in the gears every step of the way to slow them down there won't be (real) elections at that point.

Yeah. Among other things, Chuck Schumer watched Mitch McConnell for decades and apparently learned nothing. It's so fucking disheartening.

Hec, I'm looking at microblading myself: my brows are basically gone, and I look so washed out without them. And now I have to be in the office every fucking day, so I have to draw them on every day and it's annoying as hell.

In other news, I am still employed but the agency is "pivoting" to the border and I'm worried about the inevitable re-org that will involved. And I can't retire in dudgeon if Trump tanks the stock market, where my retirement funds live.

I'm processing my stress by buying too much wine and work clothes. Quince is pretty great, y'all. Gotta say.

In better news, I made this tonight and it's really tasty: [link]

but apparently he's had a few more and ... just didn't tell me?!

Dad!

And yay you on asking calm questions. Because that is hard in this situation.

I'm looking at microblading myself: my brows are basically gone, and I look so washed out without them.

I don't regret mine a bit and I have stupid sensitive reactive skin so they are randomly flaky. It's still been 100% worth it. I don't exfoliate them, as the acids also hurt the tinting. I just get the flakes away and apply something like a face or an eye cream .

It's not just the color, tweezing my brows is like having a permanent template. That is worth half the cost. Well, a quarter of the cost.

Totally a convert.

Hec, I'm looking at microblading myself: my brows are basically gone, and I look so washed out without them. And now I have to be in the office every fucking day, so I have to draw them on every day and it's annoying as hell.

I say go for it! Nanita has done it too.

It's not particularly painful (I only found it uncomfortable at worst), and while it seems dauntingly PERMANENT the ink does fade over time, and you need to get it touched up. (Which is a good thing, I've found.)

Just make sure you communicate exactly what shape you want, and don't freak out because the initial result is going to be darker because it settles down after a week. Just wearing glasses mitigates the initial effect somewhat.

If you're drawing them on every day this would probably be worth it for you.

Suela, I was reminded last May that your eyes are just utterly lovely. I hope you find something that isn't too much hassle and makes you feel good about highlighting them.