Yes, well, welcome to the season of birthdays. Most of the birthdays of my friends and family (and family-in-law) occur in the summer. There’s a birthday about once every week or two. Today’s birthday is…

!

And, since reads this blog regularly, maybe she’ll get this message! (And friendly reminder that I need her mailing address, which I also just requested via email.)

Sadly, I just checked Flickr and I have only 7 photos from college in there (ah, the days before digital cameras), and none of them have in them, so I can’t embarrass her with any pictures. Oh well.

In other news…

It’s quite boring here today, as expected. has the day off, and will be picking up at the airport later today. Our plans for the weekend include going to St Joe’s for a parade (there will also be a Charming Family Reunion, but we’re not going to that), and then spending the rest of our spare time ripping the carpeting off the stairs, patching and painting, and then moving all the furniture in the upstairs of our house. The new carpeting is getting installed Monday. (Still no word from the window people regarding our order, which is sad, but not crucial to getting the house on the market.)

Last night, I got a skirt nearly finished. Basically, I re-seamed the sides (since I’d made it a little too big) and installed the zipper (didn’t go as smoothly as the other one that helped me with, but looks acceptable), and hook and eye. I also pinned it to hem it, but didn’t actually do that part. I could have, but decided to go for a walk instead. So, the black skirt is nearly done, and the green skirt is technically done but I think I’m going to have to take it apart and modify it, because I’m not happy with how parts turned out. Also, it is still too big, even though and I altered it quite a bit when she was helping me with the zipper. That is the joy/problem of cutting out a few sizes too big. (I’d rather it be too big than too small.)

I need to get a few more projects knocked out (there’s another skirt that’s nearly done except for the zipper install and hemming, and quite a few that I’ve cut out), because wouldn’t you know it, I’ve gone and bought more fabric (I envision cringing as he reads this, if he does). It’s all JCarolineCreative’s fault, I tell you. They keep putting things on sale and I’m powerless to resist! Some of what I bought were remnants (less than a yard), and may only be used for odd little things or embellishing, but some were, in fact, full yardages or more, with specific projects in mind. I try to do that now, really I do. I also bought some more fabric on Etsy, also with a specific purpose. I’m making a blanket for , and this could end up being more of an undertaking than I’m prepared for. We’ll see how it turns out. (Yes, I’ve all but abandoned my knitting projects. I do really enjoy knitting, but it takes so many man hours for a project to be completed, whereas sewing items, especially easy clothing or home decorating items like pillows can be finished in a couple of hours.)

My second class starts on Monday, so I’ll be busy Monday and Wednesday nights for the next 6 weeks. And yes, my other class is still in session (meeting Wednesday afternoons), so it looks like things will continue to be busy. I haven’t seen in forever. and I are going to the Taste this weekend sometime, a tradition of ours that has been well documented on this site as being full of … incidents. Last year, however, went off without any glitches, so perhaps we’ve turned a corner.

I have a crap-ton of links and recipes to share, but I don’t want to overwhelm, so I’ll try to dispense them gradually over the next few weeks, assuming I find the time to write them up.

Have an excellent 4th!

popularity: 2%

[Editor's Note: There is a question for my readers that begs answering towards the end. I promise.]

I know, I know, you’re probably getting tired of me whining about how my pants no longer fit. Well, me too. And, thankfully, I finally have enough motivation to attempt some changes to correct that little problem. I’m not sure what brought that about. Perhaps it’s that I’m getting used to all the other major lifestyle changes I’ve made in the last 12 months (you know, getting married, moving, having a car, waking up hours earlier than I used to, different dinner plans, no longer living in a neighborhood where I can walk to actually get places, etc) and can fathom the idea of making some more. Maybe it’s just that I’m sick and tired of having a limited wardrobe. Maybe it’s that I’m a little unattracted by my reflection in the mirror. Maybe it’s the 2 1/2 “health books” I’ve read lately (and the 3 others that are sitting on my desk, checked out from the library, waiting to be read) that have told me that I’m doing it all wrong and am going to die. Whatever.

My current plan involves 30 minutes of walking a day. If I don’t see any progress (or see very minor progress) within a given period of time, I have an additional part of the plan to try. (For those of you who think I’m being overly dramatic, for your information since getting married I gained 11 pounds, which is nearly 10% of my body weight, and went from a 26 1/2 inch waist to a 28 inch waist, which is about 2 pant sizes.)

In a much less formal way, I’m also trying to eat more like I used to (you know, when I bought groceries only for myself and planned meals according to my whims only). There are some foods that I almost never eat any more because certain people don’t like them, and at least a few of them have some health benefits (like salmon and avocados). [Editor's Note: it should be noted that also eats a lot less of some food items he really likes, such as sandwiches and Manwich and spicy spaghetti.]

So yesterday I spent my found $20 ( and I went for a walk Sunday night and I found a $20 on the sidewalk with no one nearby to claim it) at the Farmer’s Market, and then went to the grocery store after work for some foods only I would like. I had artisan bread with Brie for dinner. I intended to also eat the sardines that I bought, but lost track of time. I also had the bread with Brie for breakfast today, and it has kept me full much longer than I thought it would. For lunch I have some light yogurt and snap peas from the market.

At any rate, what I was getting around to, was a question for my readers. After reading “The 11 Best Foods You Aren’t Eating” and “101 Fast Recipes for Inspired Picnics” (both from NYTimes), I was yet again reminded that there are certain foods I’d prefer to never eat, but that perhaps it’s because I’ve never been fed them in any sort of appetizing way. Some foods on my “no” list that I haven’t tried in quite some time are:

• eggplant
• zucchini
• parsnips
• lima beans….

There are also some foods on my “no” list that are just non-negotiable and it will take near-starvation for me to eat them, including most notably:

• tomatoes
• onions
• peaches
• pesto
• oranges
• olives (both colors)
• liver and onions
• perhaps grapes.

There are some foods that I think are on my “no” list but I don’t think I’ve actually tried before, including (inspired by the aforementioned articles):

• beets
• Swiss chard
• blueberries
• collards
• anchovies
• tongue (can you even buy this anymore? would I have to ask a butcher for it? why would I?)

For reference, I have tried and enjoyed a lot of “weird” foods, including:

• tofu
• lentils
• lots of different cheeses
• most grains
• nearly all the “meat substitutes”
• most types of ethnic foods including all of the Asian ones, Greek, Indian (both Native American and from the country), and Ethiopian (I live in the Midwest, and some people here would consider anything other than American, Mexican, or Italian to be exotic)
• asparagus
• artichokes
• most seafood and fishes (not a big fan of scallops or lobster, but everything else is yummy),

There are also some cooking methods I haven’t used before, like blanching, poaching (except eggs), and ganache (this word, almost always referencing chocolate, confuses and excites me).

So, given all that (and the fact that probably no one has made it this far down into this post), do you have any suggestions for me? Ways to cook any of the above-mentioned foods in ways that are actually good? I know, it’s a lot to ask. And on a holiday weekend (or nearly a holiday weekend) too.

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Dear Co-Workers,

As someone who does not have the luxury of putting on headphones to drown out the drivel because someone is on vacation and someone else has yet to come into the office but called in saying she’d be here half an hour ago but it’s probably a pet-related emergency, please refrain from making unnecessary noise near me today. This includes:

• Conversations about non-work things
• Sighing loudly
• Meaningless babbling just to fill the void
• Dictating emails
• Talking aloud to yourself wishing it was Friday

All conversations that are necessary should take place at a reasonable volume, one that others would consider “background noise.” Remember, we have a quiet office, and while I could normally block out the extremely aggravating noises you are all generating, today I can’t because I have to answer phones, which we already know I find annoying and trying on my patience.

Furthermore, some of you have been on vacation for a while, and 1) I wish you’d have stayed away longer, 2) no, I did not do your work for you while you were gone because you did not ask, 3) the work I did while you were gone was done efficiently, expertly, and without hassle, and 4)  I do not need a dozen emails regarding said work, work you forgot to pass off, work that showed up while you were gone, work that you’ve created by being away, work that you’re trying to catch up on, or anything else.

Thank you.

***

I think I’ve been reading passive-aggressive notes too much lately. (If you haven’t yet experienced that site, you should.)

popularity: 4%

Yes, yes, I’m finally getting around to talking about my birthday that was a whole week ago. Whatever. It’s been weirdly busy and then not, and when it hasn’t been, I’ve been without pictures to post. And what good is a birthday post without pictures?

I got lots of cards. I mean, lots.

gave me LEGO Indiana Jones for my DS (and I have a love-hate relationship with that game right now), a hammock stand, and a knick-knack (there might have been other things, like a really sweet card, which I didn’t photograph). Here’s the knick-knack:

And this is how the hammock stand came from the shipper:

Everything was inside and undamaged, but still plans on talking to the company so they know how their products are being treated while in transit.

I asked ’s dad for a sewing mat, thinking that he probably couldn’t go overboard with the restriction of “it can’t be bigger than our table.” Clearly, I was wrong, because, well, it is bigger than our table. That’s what floors are for, I guess.

For reference, yes, that is a couch and a set of stairs, and it’s sitting rolled up the long way, so the height shown is actually the short side of the rectangle. Wow.

’s mom gave me a Starbucks gift card, which I’ve been plowing through (lately I’ve been drinking a lot more coffee).

gave me this odd collection of gardening books (”one for every decade!”), of which some are new and some are used. They weigh approximately 43 billion pounds, and I will never actually read them, but I will probably use them as reference tools. They’re just way too big to even think about trying to read.

gave me a cute book about a little redheaded girl with freckles, some chocolate (30 pieces) and some coffee. She had apparently wanted to give me a coffee grinder, but asked and he told her that I already own one, which is true, so she just bought me some whole bean coffee instead.

Also, yesterday was ’s 58th birthday, and his present arrived on time (for $12 shipping, it should!). He got a cookie jar that we found at Marshall’s for a ridiculously cheap price, along with a batch of Ginger cookies. He said they smelled delicious when I talked to him.

Lastly, this is how we spent Sunday:

It was not fun.

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(a day late….)

1. Loneliness :: Burden
2. Traffic :: Light
3. Chaos :: Darkness
4. Burp :: Cloth
5. 500 :: Men
6. Movie :: Fone
7. Coma :: -tose
8. Bark :: up the wrong tree
9. Stare :: Adoringly
10. Angelina :: Jolie

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OK, this may be a really silly and tiny thing, but I am totally in love with the left sidebar menu on Sew Mama Sew!. See when you hover over the items, a little bird appears? I love it! I would do something like that if… well, if I had any idea how to go about it and/or the time and energy to tweak my blog template (which was, for the first time ever, completely designed by someone else who I paid to do it because PHP is beyond my skill set when it comes to websites).

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A quick update to say that I had a wonderful birthday. Photos will be posted later.

Still cleaning here at work. Brought my label maker in today and went crazy. Yesterday I organized paper. Like, colors of paper that sit in supply waiting for someone to make something pretty. I know.

Class this afternoon.

’s car is fixed, but it had to be sent back. Conveniently, we’re back to 2 cars because they gave us a rental for the day. I’ve got the rental, since we hope to get his car back tonight and he’ll be in the northern suburbs past closing time, so today I drove a newer model Focus. It’s mostly the same, just a “new and improved” version. It rides better (i.e. smoother and quieter), but it was still enough the same that I didn’t have to think about where my turn signal flipper was, or exactly where the gear shaft was or anything. Also, it’s black, instead of the hideous beige-gold that my car is.

Carpet install scheduled. Windows nearly ordered (waiting for a phone call). Estimated time until house is on the market: 10-14 days.

I am starving. Tried the Starbucks Doubleshot Energy + Coffee today (B vitamins, guarana, ginseng and natural proteins from milk, coffee and vanilla). Not really feeling anything, but it definately doesn’t have enough calories to substitute for breakfast. Also, I had orange Jell-O Jigglers for breakfast. My tummy said, “stupid, you’re not 14 anymore, you can’t have that much sugar for breakfast!” I wonder if the sugar-free Jell-O would have the same effect. Must try (found some on clearance at Target the other day - yes, you can get Jell-O on clearance, and I often do).

More recipes coming in the next few days, assuming I can get enough time at my desk to do so.

popularity: 12%

Yes, that’s right, I’ve passed a milestone. To celebrate, here are some pictures of what I’ve done lately:

Got to hang out with (along with and and ) on Sunday.

Worked on some sewing projects.

Made some cookies. Recipes posted: Chocolate Chunk Mountains and Lemon Butter Crumb. Other recipes posted too, including:

Cinnamon Rolls and Turkey Wild Rice Sandwich Loaf. (Check the sidebar occasionally for more recipes that I’ve tried and I recommend.)

Took some pictures of my cats.

Today is clean-up day at work, and this is what happened in my cube. I tried to build a fort, obviously.

And I got a lot of birthday cards from co-workers, which was fun.

Hope you’re having a great day as well!

popularity: 12%

And the Question of the Week is…

This week’s question is in honor of George Carlin.

What words do you, personally, find offensive?

Ah, an easy one for me.  The F-bomb (and all its variants), and I’m not really a fan of most of the others. Since I stopped working in a church, I use dammit more often and rarely/occasionally b*tch or sh*t, but I still like my tried and true “crap,” “darnit,” and “freakin’”. Oh, and I detest the f-word that refers to people who are homosexual, all variants of it; don’t know what it is about it, but I’ve always found it offensive. What people don’t always understand is that it’s not that I don’t say those words, it’s that I don’t think them either. When I say something is “freakin’ annoying,” my actual thoughts are not that something is “f*ing annoying,” but “freakin’ annoying.” I have about… 20 years of mentally training myself to not be able to say those words or even think them, so I just don’t. Yes, they pop into my head every once in a while, especially when I’ve been around someone who uses them prolifically or have watched a movie where every-other-word is offensive, but that effect fades after about 24 hours.

And to be honest, I’d be perfectly happy if I never had to hear the f-bomb ever again in my life. Ever. Some people know this about me and choose to not use those words around me ( and specifically come to mind) and even occasionally apologize when using them in my presence. It’s a small courtesy I appreciate, but don’t expect. Also, my language is workplace appropriate, which comes in handy since I… work, in a … workplace. Yeah. There have been articles I’ve read sometime in the last… 6 months or so that talk about how swearing is inappropriate in the workplace. That may not be true in every workplace, but it certainly is in mine.

And I know plenty of people who think swearing isn’t a big deal and those words don’t mean anything, but they do. Language is a social construct that is agreed upon by everyone together what each word means symbolically. And beyond that, communication itself is a two-way process that involves the speaker saying something and the listener interpreting what the speaker meant, all of which is confused by language, gestures, posturing, the relationship of the people, etc. Language is a part of that communication, and I learned in college (in a class called “Communicating to Adolescents,” which was basically Speech 201 since we’d all had to take Speech 101 already) that it is your responsibility as the speaker to communicate what you mean to your listener, and if your listener misunderstands what you are saying, you have to take some (note that I said some and not all) responsibility for that. So knowing your listener and how they’re going to interpret the words you use is a big deal.

So yes, my external vocabulary is almost entirely acceptable to use around and in a church, but so is my internal vocabulary. Why? Because when it gets down to it, I don’t like those words and I don’t think they’re necessary. If you’re frustrated, why not just say so? Quite frankly, using epithets like “for the love of all that is good in the universe,” and “mother of pearl” and “ugly monkey butts” is a lot more fun and expressive, and if I’m really frustrated, it can kinda take the edge off that because what I’ve ended up saying is kinda funny.

That being said, if one of my aforetomentioned offensive words actually comes out of my mouth, be wary, because I’m that upset and you should probably tread carefully.

I just read the other comments to this question (on Snarkland) and have to add that I agree that the N words referring to people of a certain skin color (since I’ve recently been studying Anthropology and learned, as I suspected, that race doesn’t actually exist) is horribly offensive, as is taking the Lord’s name in vain. And swearing around kids is a no-no (and by “around kids” I mean anywhere that might possibly contain children under the age of… 12 who can year your voice, which probably extends in a much larger radius of your person than you think it does because voices carry and people talk louder than they think, and if their parents are present and you swear I think you better be prepared for their wrath because they may just not want their kids to hear words like that, and before you say it, no, I don’t think they should have to keep their kids out of all public situations just to avoid your potty mouth). So you’ve been warned, if you swear around my as-of-yet-unconceived, unborn children, I’ll hurt you.

popularity: 13%

Last night I had look at my sewing machine to see if he saw what I was seeing, where the thread is getting caught, if there was a way to fix that, etc. Basically we came up with a whole lotta nothin’. The end result is that tonight I am going to attempt, again, to re-thread the machine and check the tension in all possible places of error, and then when that doesn’t fix it (because I’m quite sure it won’t), I will call Singer on Friday morning and complain about the piece of crap they sold me. I am well after my 30 days for their return policy, but I don’t care. As far as I’m concerned they need to do something about this situation. Ideally we can get them to take it back and we’ll just buy a different brand entirely. For that, I will go to the place that fixed my machine and get some good advice, and then buy from them (because their warranty will be different and separate and they’ll care a lot more about making me happy).

Ugh! read the rest »

popularity: 16%

I itch. My back, that is. From the patch testing. Specifically, from the tape that is holding the patches on my back. I will be very happy to get that off. The patches themselves don’t itch much, and would be much less irritating. I might not even notice them, were it not for the tape. Seriously, who thought this plan up? I hope that I get some quality sleep tonight since the tape will be removed (today at 2:30). However, it’s possible that removing the tape and patches and exposing the chemicals to air will only anger them (I presume that’s why this is done - I have to sit in a room for half an hour without a shirt on letting the patched spots get air), and I won’t get any good sleep. Who knows.

Last night I told that a bad sunburn is worse than this patch testing. Sunburns hurt, and while (especially on your back and shoulders) they immobilize you quite the same way that the patch testing does, they are not annoying. They hurt and you take pain medication and put on aloe and if you find someone really nice they’ll get you a cool soft washcloth to soothe your pain. And eventually it goes away. This patch testing, however much less painful, is definitely annoying. Probably because I know that if I really needed to, I could remove the stupid tape and patches and be done with it (unlike sunburns, which you just have to patiently wait out). So I am anxious for it to be over, but I should stop complaining because it’s definitely not the worst thing I have ever experienced.

The problem is that I’m friggin’ tired. If I get a bad grade on my test today (who planned this week, anyways? emergency vet visit and Realtor on Monday, patch testing Monday through Thursday, test today, and on top of everything it’s that time of the month), I’m blaming it on lack of sleep. Because I studied from 7 to 10 last night, and then again while giving blood this morning. (They were only alarmed temporarily about the patch testing, until they decided they didn’t care.)

Tonight I would like to fix my sewing machine (which I have determined may involve trying to sand down one of the parts so it fits better, or giving the machine back to the repair shop, which I just don’t think I can handle right now), do some sewing, and most importantly get some sleep. In the hour I have left at work, I’d like to make the hotel reservations (that I’ve been putting off making for over a week now, because I hate doing it) and start setting up the PO system for 2009 (because 2009 starts in 22 days, if you’re on a state fiscal year that is). My life is so exciting, I know. is stuck working at home today since I needed my car. The estimated return of his car is next Wednesday, so we continue to be a one-car household. At least we’re saving on gas, right?

Oh, and for those of you who were wondering, is definitely back to his old self and completely healthy. Weird and scary what happened, but all over and back to normal now.

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Today is my grandpa’s 95th birthday! called me about two weeks ago to remind me, so I verified the date with him and then sent out a card (at the same time I sent out his Father’s Day card, since conveniently all the men in my life of any importance have birthdays within 5 weeks of Father’s Day - seriously, check the notes at the end of this post).

So this morning, my cell phone rang at 7:36, which never happens (we’ve talked about how my cell phone almost never rings, and when it does, it’s , right?). It was , which, of course, causes me to panic. Unscheduled, unexpected, unsolicited calls from make me think that something horrible has happened, specifically that someone has died (it’s a short list of who that might be, but life-altering and panicking and why exactly is this my first thought when he calls and does that mean I need therapy?). No, was just calling to remind me that it is Grandpa’s birthday.

I told him I mailed a card. He said that my uncle was taking him out for breakfast (husband of my aunt who died in October) and that was taking him out for lunch. Sunday, they’re having his sisters over for an informal birthday party (Grandpa is the oldest of about a billion siblings, or six or something, and several of his siblings are also still alive, including 3 sisters). It was suggested that tonight I give Grandpa a happy birthday phone call. This isn’t a problem, since he will probably be talkative enough to eat up 1 or 2 minutes of our monthly plan minutes.

So I’ll try to let go of the “slightly annoyed” feeling I now have about being unnecessarily panicked about the death of a loved one and being reminded of something I remembered… and just say…

Happy 95th Birthday Grandpa!

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There is a spot on my back that itches! Two, actually. This is good news, albeit an annoying development. I was afraid that nothing would come of this patch testing, and, well, now I have hope that we will get some results and maybe someday soon I will stop itching. [Want to see an early picture of the patch testing?]

The bad news is that while this patch testing continues (through Thursday afternoon), I can’t take Zyrtec. And, of course, my legs itch like crazy. For no reason, actually, since I didn’t put on lotion today. Must be leftover from yesterday’s lotion. Or maybe detergent on my pants. Or who knows what.

popularity: 16%

Last night was a rollercoaster of emotions, the end result of which is that I could use about 8 hours more sleep.

After getting the patches applied to my back at the dermatologist (there’ll be a fun post by the end of this week on that), I ran my errands (new toilet handle at Home Depot! dropped off extra table at Goodwill!) and got home around 3:30. I finished cleaning up the house, including vacuuming all the hard floors with our new vac and cleaning the kitchen counters with Soft Scrub with Bleach. I had finished that up and finished making the bacon for dinner (turkey cobb salad) when I noticed some soapy spots on the floor. And then more, and then it became quickly evident that there was a sick cat in the house. I found at the top of the stairs, very quietly drooling and foaming at the mouth. I quickly cleaned up the floors, grabbed a towel, called (who called the vet for me) and drove him over. has his carpool drop him off at the vet, so he met me there a short bit later. An hour later, after labs, x-rays, Benadryl and oxygen, he was doing much better but we have no idea what it was. I was afraid that had gotten into the cleaning supplies, though I never saw him on the counter, but the labs came back clean. He tends to eat anything he finds on the floor, so there’s the possibility it was a bug or something. The vet wanted us to take him to the after-hours emergency clinic, but we had a Realtor coming and didn’t want to spend thousands of dollars (but if it became obvious that we needed to cancel the Realtor and spend the money, we would - we’re not cruel). So we watched him carefully at home the rest of the night. He seemed lethargic and sleepy, but isn’t that how lots of people feel after being sick and taking Benadryl? We didn’t let him eat much (which he was not appreciative of), but he seemed to be doing a lot better once we left the vet (he was still breathing a bit rapidly and shuddering while we were there, and calmed down once we got home).

So we quickly ate dinner and the Realtor showed up, right on time. We did the walk-through of the house, he explained the whole process and what his job was, and talked timelines, etc. He thought our wishlist for a new house was easy (it’s only 6 or 7 things, none of which are particularly difficult to find), a goal of moving at the end of August wasn’t impossible, and that we could get a decent price for our house. All good news. Of course, we have to get to work right away, which includes looking for the house we’d like to buy and talking to the bank people. I think, unless I misunderstood something, that we can get it on the market as soon as the carpeting is installed. We’re optimistic.

He stayed for 3 hours, so by the time he left it was bed time. was doing better, but we were still concerned, so we slept with the bedroom door open, for the first time ever. The combination of that (the cats were then moving about all night) and the patches on my back (which meant that I was uncomfortable all night long, moving about and so forth) meant that neither of us got much sleep at all. Hopefully will sleep better tonight. I’m holding out for Thursday night personally (when the patches are off and some sort of soothing salve will have been applied to any irritated areas, and I finally get to shower again). was back to his old self this morning, so it seems as though whatever it was that made him sick has worked its way through his system. It was a very scary few hours though.

So today at work is rough, but I did find a whole bunch of houses that were nice.

popularity: 16%

I went to catch up on my “weekly blogs” list and didn’t realize how many people I know of whose fathers died in the last year. Seriously, the Father’s Day blog posts could make a girl cry when it involves someone’s dad being gone. A snippets is “the worst thing that I’ve ever gone through.” And I know this because I still vividly remember my Aunt Shirley’s funeral back in October and watching my cousins sit in the row in front of me trying to deal with their mother’s death. It was bad enough trying to deal with my own grief that I can hardly imagine their own experience.

And this week, on Wednesday, my grandpa turns 95. 95! I sent him a card of an old man on a tricycle being a kid, which reminded me of watching him open his Christmas presents each year. I know that the day will come when I have to travel home for his funeral, and that day will probably be sooner rather than later. And though I will not want that day to come or expect it, I will in some sense be prepared, because we’ve almost lost him twice already. And I know that the day will come when I have to travel home (or to whatever state has decided to retire in) for his funeral too, and that day will probably be later and not sooner, and that when it comes (as of this moment) I am wholly unprepared for that eventuality. I might actually be more prepared for , since she at least talks about it and I know what she wants and she has a plan and a will and so forth.

Wow. That is totally not the direction I meant this post to take.

Where I meant to go was… the depth of these Father’s Day posts took me by surprise because the holiday nearly flew by me with very little interaction. I mailed a card on Wednesday and called on Sunday, but he wasn’t home so I just left a message. That was it. ’s dad came over on Sunday, but I was out at the store (buying things at JoAnn for half off).

In other news, my dermatologist appointment is in less than an hour. I remembered this about a third of the way into my shower this morning, and decided to take an extra few minutes and enjoy the opportunity. I mean, I don’t get to shower again until Thursday late afternoon. Yech. Not a huge fan of that. Oh sure, “sponge baths” are allowed. Let’s hope it doesn’t get too hot, that’s all I’m saying. And you know I’m going to have to wash my hair in the sink at least once.

Hopefully I won’t itch too bad, because Wednesday (when they take off the patches) I have my first (of two or three, I can’t remember) test of the semester and I really don’t want to be distracted. Also, it said right on my info sheet not to itch the area with the patches. I can apply pressure with a fingertip, but otherwise I basically have to wait until Thursday afternoon, when they’ll apply a soothing balm of some sort. Of course, it’s also possible that nothing they put on will make me itch and it’ll be a huge waste. OK, not really a waste, because then we’ll know I’m not officially allergic to anything. But I won’t get a printout of “safe” products and I’ll just have to keep taking Zyrtec until I build up an immunity and then will just pray to whatever gods are in charge of skin and itchy things to have them provide me with something else.

So, yeah. 20 minutes of work left. Boring day.

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