one, lonely donkey chewing on an electric fence

Man, it feels like my body is trying to wave a whole bunch of yellow flags at men and IDK what to tell it. Capitalism, bb. So, I somehow consumed some shrimp on Sunday because I spent yesterday morning with a lot of unpleasantness.

I would really like to not call out of work all the time. ISTG I need a sticker chart at this point.

In other news, the weather was gorgeous this weekend. I got to sit outside for a while and read while my laundry was going. I wish I still had access to my laundry room because Friday Night laundry was great. And being able to just run a rug or two through when needed. The manual laundry I have is ok, but mostly for t-shirts and non-heavy stuff but Winter Is Here. Plus it is kinda nice to go to the laundry? It's in a good little shopping center and I can get some errands done while it's washing/drying.

I also got a bunch of cleaning done Saturday and tackled a couple long-term sorting projects. It's not perfect, but progress is progress. Now I just have to figure out how to get rid of a bunch of stuff. Anyone want a full version of Sims2? For shipping + $20, it's yours!

Next weekend is gonna be a bit busy, but it's all fun stuff. I accidentally scheduled meet ups with friends on Saturday and Sunday, which should be really nice! I also am getting a massage. My shoulder's been begging for it for weeks, but due to scheduling, it is gonna be this coming weekend. I have another one scheduled for the end of November and one in December, so that will be nice!

In other news, Teddy Sinclair remains a fabulous artist and I want all of you to listen to her music, please. Her Cruel Youth stuff is just so good and you all deserve nice things.

I spent all of Saturday baking in a church basement with a host of other women. It was long, hard, exhausting work but felt really, really nice to do.

That said, woof, I am solidly not in my 30's anymore. I was beat up tired when I got home, to the point that I passed out in my chair at 8:30 and slept in the next morning. I was so tired even the cats left me alone to sleep until almost 7:45! You know you're out of it when Wink lets you sleep for a full hour after her breakfast is due.

We did something like 70 dozen cookies of various flavors and varieties. I made some shortbread tea cookies that turned out really well. I hate Earl Grey tea with a passion, but the EG shortbread turned out really well. I guess I do love citrus in baked goods, so fair enough.

I spent all of Sunday as a bump on a log because I just didn't have it in me to do a whole lot. I mean, I did get some stuff done. I made curry, cleaned the kitchen and bathroom, and I snuggled with the girls.

Yesterday, I had some half-assed plans to leave my home. I did! Not to go do Christmasy-things, but to buy cat food and litter. It was nice to have a weekday off so I could get my errands done pretty quickly. I also put together Tea's new cat tree (she's in love), did several loads of laundry, added some new bedding, cleaned the living room, and cleaned the kitchen again.

Oh, mom got COVID when she went to Iowa last week. She's home and making choices I don't agree with, but here we are. The nice thing is that she's been mostly cleared by her PT people and she's made her choices. She's grown and I've just got to let her do her thing. There's a whole lot of emotion bound up with a few situations she's in and you know what? It's not my problem. Those are burdens/things she's taken on and IDK. I can be annoyed and frustrated and a bit sad, but I can do that AND disengage.

Plus, I am going to do my thing until she gets a new surgery date (she's gotta do #2!) and then I get to prep to do all this again. Hopefully next time will be easier because we have a guideline of expectation. But that's future!me's problem.

I do have a follow up contact lens appointment tonight. That's it's own lengthy saga and it just makes me tired to think about. Upside is I'll definitely get a good walk in.

In an odd twist of something, I am Feeling The Cold a lot more this year than years passed. It is only, like 32 outside and I am cranky that I haven't dug out my commute mittens yet. I also have to dig out the good coat because the light winter coats are not cutting it. Also they are wool and I didn't layer right yesterday, so my entire neck wants me to scratch it off. That said, I have been sleeping like a log and it is BLISSFUL.

For real, my main dispute with summer in general is that I spend roughly five months sleep deprived and Wanting. To. Die. because my optimal sleeping temperature is below 50F. The only reason I can barely function during the hot times is AC, and then I just spend my life with cold hands/feet and internally a lava monster.

Anywho, I got to go to the romance novel book store again this weekend with a friend, and it was lovely! We chatted books with the owner, bought too much stuff, and got a tea at the teashop a few doors down. It was extremely nice both to spend time, support a local business, and get goodies for Later.

I spent most of Saturday Being An Adult. This meant the following:

- Obtaining pie plates because I did not pre-order from my usual place
- buying cat food
- visiting a sit-down restaurant
- buying groceries for the week
- making meals out of the groceries for the week
- doing, folding, putting away laundry
- cleaning the cat areas
- cleaning the kitchen/doing dishes
- playing with cats

I got a pie plate for $3 from the Corningware/Pyrex outlet, and I am DELIGHTED. I still need to make pie crusts and freeze them for Thanksgiving week, but I feel pretty accomplished. I also took advantage of a sale on spaghetti squash and made some pesto squash with blistered yellow tomatoes. That paired with my remaining SUPER VEGGIE stuffed zucchini from last week turned into a really nice meal. I also made some roasted veggie couscous with some roasted chicken. Haven't tried it yet, but I brought one for lunch today and am hoping it turned out super tasty. It smells great, so signs point to yes!

Otherwise, The Mother's birthday is this coming Saturday. I'm driving out and hoping to meet up with them and my nephews and niece who are driving over to celebrate. Mom was actually thrilled that they offered, and even if weather prevents it, she's just super pleased that anyone thought to ask. Apparently we're getting BBQ?

Anywho, off to the gym tonight. I am doing a long walk later this week, but I still need to get some PT exercises in for my shoulder. I've had a flare up the last couple days, so I've been icing it in the morning and before bead. Getting old is blah. Also, I guess I need to start alternating strength training/cardio. I should probably get more swimming in too, but. Ugh. I don't wanna right now.

1. Pick up boxes from work - Monday
2. Doctor's appt.
3. Buy cat food.
4. Visit parents.
5. Do laundry.
6. Make new small bags for soap nuts. - All Week
7. Buy material for fava_bean's present & unbleached muslin.
8. Make said present.
9. Pick up car.
10. Grocery shop.
11. Do dishes.
12. Clean out fridge.
13. Make meals for the week.
14. Defrost chicken.
15. Pack up living room completely.
16. Clear off dining table.
17. Pack up shelving in kitchen.
18. Take out garbage.
19. Clear out bedroom closet so as to put boxes in there.
20. Mop kitchen.
21. Sweep bedroom
22. Clean litter box.
23. Buy extra plastic lunch containers.
24. Buy plastic shower curtain to tape off doors.
25. Return car.
26. Pack for cat.
27. Pack bag for staying somewhere.