Day 740

Weird day. 

Woke up several times in the night and was still up before my 5 am alarm to get Youngest to her senior trip buses. Had to do driving but discovered a really good new restaurant.

Didn’t have to cook dinner as Thursday is one of 2 standing carry-out nights.

So it’s all good.

Day 739

Long day. Walked outside twice today which made wearing a synthetic top not such a good choice.  

Wore myself out doing rearranging/cleaning/sorting - that’s been an ongoing project for a good week or so now. I guess after -two- years I’m finally starting to redo the environment to go with the redone me.

Early bedtime as I have to take Youngest to her class trip bus by five freaking thirty in the ayem.

Day 738

A really good day.

Work -finally- back to easy, got some stuff mailed to Eldest in a more timely manner than I expected, got the ball rolling for a home repair and took the younger two out to our local chain seafood place for dinner. Plus no new snakes. And I won my little corner of FB today.

Oh and I -finally- started liking the book club selection. Unexpected bonus.

Two years one week and one day. That feels pretty good.

Day 737.

Today I was tired. Slept in, planned a slow day. Marveled that it’s been a week since my two year soberversary. The flowers are holding up surprisingly well.

But then there was local family drama which ended with me visiting my mother in law.

Silly me; I thought that was as bad as the day would get

Snake count now three.

I walked around the outside of the house today very carefully inspecting the foundation. Found a spot on each side of house where cement closing gap between facing brick (front only) and siding had eroded away. Also some gaps in facing brick bottom row where the steel wool I put in years ago had likewise gone.

Stuffed all with heavy duty aluminum foil but then realized I needed to leave the hole in drywall near radiatior in basement open another couple days so any snakes in the wall at time of stuffing don’t die unable to escape because snakes are way bigger than a mouse; smell would be ghastly.

Sure enough, when I did snake rounds there was one smack dab in middle of the basement floor. So storage tub again but had to slide thin cardboard under instead of lid because this one better at escaping. Then lid under that. Taped cardboard to tub and exceedingly glad I did. Released snake to same far corner of yard. Hate this.  This is what happens when you don’t have well-stapled vapor barrier. Damn Bjorn (contractor who did basement.) just -damn- him.

I’m just so glad I don’t drink. If I did, this would be one of those “I don’t care if I -am- on call or DO have work in the morning” kind of nights. As it was I decided to have a nice long shower and just go to bed. Not for the -whole- night yet as doggo will need walked and I left the lights on but for now we  are just relaxing.

Sigh.

Day 736

Better day. Hell, any day without a new basement snake is a positively great day.

Have worn myself out cleaning though. I had a bunch of stuff I wanted to do and then on top of it I’ve now added basement stuff but hey, it’s all good. Exhausting but good.

Tomorrow, however, is gonna be a quiet day. Probably won’t leave the house; may not get dressed.

Hope it’s all good for all of you.

Day 735

Heavy day.

Dog woke me up at 7 which annoyed as I wanted to sleep more. Dealt with critters and crashed on the couch doing not-much till close to 10. When I had enough energy I finally did some pruning of my own with the saw and felt pretty good about it. Did some cooking and cleaning, too. Still too damned tired but things were going okay.

Then I found a second milk snake in the basement. I removed it to the edge of our property all by myself. Yesterday I blocked off the spot outside where I thought they could have got into the walls. I now see the spot where they can get into basement from the wall but have decided to leave it open another day or two in case there are more that would be otherwise stuck and dehydrate and die painfully then rot smelly.

I failed at the tongs and lidded bucket method used by the biology professor so I reverted to my plastic storage tub/lid method. Played chase-y a while because the basement is Vintage Computer Orphanage so there are many worktables packed closely. That was frustrating but finally got Nathan Scott Phillips into the container. That name is an Aqua Teen Hunger Force reference which Spouse has been using for levity.

This -second- snake in the basement pisses me off on many levels. The fact that snakes can get in at all means they didn’t replace thevapor barrier as was part of plan when basement was finished by a local contracting company some 15 years ago. They went bankrupt ages ago so nothing to be done now. So annoying. Home ownership has a significant labor investment. Also - I feel somehow less a sensible human for saying this - I have learned I just don’t care for snakes. I can deal with them but find it distasteful in a way dealing with other vermin isn’t. After it was all done I had a bit of a cry.

We had Chinese restaurant carry out for dinner though so that was good. Also I read about Milk snakes and this is their courting/mating period but the females don’t lay eggs for another 6 weeks or so which means I don’t have to worry about a whole clan of them. But really!

Day 734

Long holiday weekend and I’m on call so I can’t go anywhere but that’s okay.

What isn’t as okay is how hard I crashed right after I got home - tried to nap but the phone kept ringing. Couldn’t work up any enthusiasm for anything...though I did build one of the three floor lamps I purchased last week and go to the grocery so I wasn’t completely sessile.

Hoping an early bedtime -and- sleeping in will fix whatever is ailing me.

Day 733.

Glory be I finished blogging -before- the big defining event occurred.

Got up out of bed for last bio-break of the night & realized I’d left my iced tea in the basement so I went to get it and there was a snake at the bottom of the stairs.

Long story short: threw plastic tub over it, weighted down tub and local university biology prof took it away today. I had feared it was a rattlesnake because I didn’t know that milk snakes, like humans and Vulcans, come in several color sets. They have also evolved to mimic rattlesnakes as a protective trait.

I didn’t sleep well and had a broken-up unproductive day as I dealt with the whole thing. But I got through it all - ice cream at dinner helped. Let’s hope tonight’s sleep is better.

Day 732

Another good day.

Started with serendipitously seeing one of my book club members in the cafeteria line - had just finished the book and reassured me it got better. So that was good.

Workload totally reasonable. Unpleasant meeting week after next popped into existence but I had a little walk on a beautiful afternoon and smelled lilacs for half of it.

Dinner was easy and I got a lot of basement sorting done. Now I’m in bed winding down. It’s all good.

Day 731

Really easy day, work wise but hard administratively.

My fancy Vermont chocolates came - they are now my go-to confectioner. Fair trade, big portion sizes, excellent presentation and shipping. My markers (100! And I’m old enough to remember when the water-based kind started being a thing) came stunningly early today AND I didn’t have to cook a real dinner at all. So that was all very nice.

Sad anyhow though because work is uncertain and these letters from my grandparents are stirring up a whole swarm of memory silverfish. But I suppose emotional labor is like any other: if done with attention good results generally follow.

Day 730 Two Years

It was such a good day.  Better than most regular birthdays, although it didn't start out that way.

Woke up a half-hour early with a wicked sinus headache but fortunately it went away with vertical orientation, aspirin and a couple hours' time. It put a bit of a damper on my happiness but _two_ years feels like such an accomplishment that even being in pain couldn't drag me too far down.

Work was light for a change - got caught up finally!  Also I ordered the magic marker set I'd been eyeing.  Went to my Stupid Noon Meeting and it was good for two reasons: I got to see a recently returned co-worker I like and I got to observe the fact that our new boss is doing a good job of bossing. That was pretty much as good as such things get.

Walked back into my office after the meeting to a HUGE and entirely unexpected bouquet from Spouse with a "congratulations" helium balloon and a card reading "Sheer perfection!" I was floored. Just stunned -- but in a very good way. 

Because I got my work done I could leave early with a clear conscience -- that was nice.

Then it turned out that not only did my recliner chair come but also my kaftan for the cruise so I played dress-up and Middle assembled the chair and my marinated steak turned out great and then after I got Youngest from rehearsal...

...we had -really- good cake.  It was just such a great day.

Even two and a -half- years ago I wanted very much to be here but couldn't see it. Now I'm here. Eldest said it was spectacular and I said that if it was it was spectacular in the way beautiful cave formations are: formed a little at a time over a LONG span. It's not any one big thing it's just continuing to do the one little thing or in this case not do a thing. Which doesn't sound like a lot but it absolutely is - so much so that it's got to be THE focus for longer than you think.

And I want to thank all of you out there in the great big blogosphere - the one thing I did -different- this time was blog and that's made all the difference. You are all great.

Now to bed. I'm starting my THIRD sober year in the morning.

Day 729

Morning:

Had a drinking dream last night which probably isn't at all surprising.  It was a weird dream with a lot of other symbolic stuff going on but the drinking part had to do with pouring club soda on top of a glass with champagne in it and then getting ready to drink it because "the alcohol is so diluted you won't taste it" and feeling guilty in the dream because "yes but it will still BE there" and then putting this thing to my lips, tasting the booze and pouring the drink out.

Which also reminds me that earlier this week, possibly even last weekend, That Voice commented at random "you know you can celebrate two years sober with a drink, right?" 

"What are you, fucking nuts or what?!? NO I can't! Go away!"

That was the end of that but I wanted to let y'all know it's important to stay vigilant, even a couple years out.  "Insidious" ought to be the brand name for a really high end really potent spirit, y'know?

Anyhow today has been a good morning thus far. It's steady rain again today so no sawing but that's okay. Woke up at my usual time but realized I had nothing time-sensitive going on so I rolled over and went back to sleep for another two hours. That was nice...

...although not entirely profitable because I ended up running into my MiL at the grocery and also had to use the self-serve line for a huge order.  But since I've already got the habit of going first to the Other Grocery for the big bulky stuff (water, soda, laundry detergent) and better bagels I was able to get it all on the turntable and the shelf as it was bagged. Now it's all stowed and I've eaten, set out lunch for ABL and got everything set up for dinner tonight and it's only 11:13.

Which means I'm going to put my pajamas back on and then go get that bundle of letters from my early childhood and see what's inside. Wish me luck.

Much -much- later.

Well I’ve been at the computer All. Freaking. Day. The letters turned out to be interesting enough that I definitely wanted to share them with at least immediate family if not more people but the best way to do that is as a different and intact document. So I started transcribing. I’ve been at it all day and have covered the year interval from spring of 1968 to late March of 1969. It’s interesting reading. Nothing of major drama yet but the time-frame coincides with my very earliest memories. I think the weirdest thing is realizing that my grandparents, who of course to me were-always- old, are in these letters only 11 years older than I am now.

In any case it’s time for bed now. Tomorrow is -two-years- how cool is that?

Day 728 Late

The day seemed strangely busy and strangely quiet all at the same time.

Did three loads of laundry and put it all away which right there alone I should be counting as more of an accomplishment than I am; ditto the cooking.

Not only that but in trying to hack away at the basement bit by bit I discovered a painting Spouse's Grandmother made years and years ago which is a good painting for which I found wall space. Right nearby I found a box of really old stuff from my family: a box containing a thick envelope of "Letters from Mama (New York)" labeled in my mother's handwriting. Since we left (New York) right after I graduated kindergarten that will be interesting when I start actually reading.

And there was family drama.  Boy was there family drama. Time consuming family drama. Didn't have the urge to drink at all but definitely ended up eating too much over the course of the day. After we're done with the cake and the fancy fair-trade chocolates for the two-year celebration I intend to start really working on my relationship with food again - I had things going pretty well in March but then I went down to the other house and brought family back up here and and and...yeah, well anyhow it's all gone kinda to hell again.

Still, nobody ever woke up hungover from cookies.

But speaking of "wake up" it's really time for bed - I got _exhausted_ long about 8:30 and now need to shuffle off from family room to bedroom. I sure hope I can sleep in a bit tomorrow. I had a half-hour today which was a really nice amount - long enough to feel like a treat but not so long as to interfere with anything.

Day 728 Early

I have been, as they say in Beetlejuice (good movie; May watch it today) viciously rearranging the environment. Seems to include the blog as well - I’m trying photos.

-later-
Well, the whole photo thing doesn't seem to work without installing a Google Plus app and I didn't feel like messing with that.

Day 727

Really had to force myself to do work today but I did it. Still prettt disillusioned about all the stuff from yesterday. Fortunately the new work on Monday shouldn’t be too onerous.

Several good things happened though: my fancy sober birthday cake came. It was frozen on dry ice and is to be kept in the freezer till 4 hours prior to serving so we can have it on Monday after all. I like that. I shoved what was left of the dry ice in the freezer too - it might sublime away but if it’s still there tomorrow maybe we can put it in soapy water; that’s always fun. My smaller-sized recliner chair is also arriving Monday.

Middle did about a third of the first round of yard work and I see that’s going to be a cool thing. Plus I have some sawing for myself in the morning. I’ve been rearranging and clearing space in the basement and generally trying to gradually improve things.

I’ve also been avoiding both my book club book and the shawl about 2/3 done. Paradoxically now that I’m -in- a book club for the first time ever I really don’t like our first selection and the scarf has reached “kinda boring.” But I shall prevail.

I just -love- my microwave rice cooker. Not sure I’ve mentioned that before but the Other Mother in Law (my son in law’s mother - we aren’t particularly close but I took her to lunch last December) had an online Pampered Chef party so I ordered a rice cooker and a pie crust protector. Haven’t used the protector yet but I use the rice cooker at least twice a week for rice or other grains. I just love whole grains warm from the cooker.

But now to bed.

Day 726

What a down and up day.

Lots of work but then there was a noon meeting I'd been dreading since yesterday afternoon because it involved a friend of mine who had been put on administrative leave. I knew I'd been hearing a one-sided version of the story for a while but I had no idea just how one sided it was so that was disillusioning. Yet also the boss involved, whom I've known and disliked for a longer time than the friend, is being carefully mean about things so that was disillusioning too.  Basically I spent a lot of the day being sadangry.

Part of that was because Eldest, at 23, has decided one of the ways to deal with the horrible three weeks between last law school final and grades being posted is to drink too much in that sneaky way some drinkers have. Hell, most maybe. Anyhow that was disillusioning too because the two other blood relatives of mine who did that were exceedingly difficult indeed and didn't have particularly happy lives. I'm hoping I'm way off in the land of What If and certainly don't want to end up in its transportation hub to Crazytown so I'm trying not to dwell but still.

All that and a lot of work too - a good half of it if not more got turfed to tomorrow.

However my reciprocating saw arrived tonight and it charged surprisingly quickly. I got to actually try it out.  Lots of fun - not enough that I intend to do the work myself because hauling the boughs over the hill is dreary - but it was a really nice way to end the day as was having Youngest pick up the carry-out. I got a grilled cheese sandwich and although it may turn out to be way too much food it was SO good at least in part due to having been made by Someone Else. I've always said sandwiches taste better when they're made by someone else. I think they also taste better when made upside down and righted but I don't try to push that one as hard as it's a tougher sell.

I have a friend who lives on the Big Island of Hawaii and although she is clear t'other end from the angry volcano she is friends with people who are not. They put out a call for respirator masks and I pitched in so that felt rewarding. Timely too once my friend said she could start to smell sulfur in the air even as far up as Hawi. My.

Youngest is at rehearsal and Middle has two friends visiting so it's just me and the beagle and that's okay because after sawing and eating that heavy dinner I broke out into a sweat and think lying in the recliner chair with the fan on sounds like a fine thing.

Oh but "recliner chair" reminds me - as another present to myself (I didn't do enough for one year, in retrospect, so I'm trying to jazz it up more this milestone) I finally got another recliner chair for the family room and floor lamps for various places. When Spouse and Eldest are at the other house there's plenty of space but it would be nice to have good seating when we're all together as well.

Though it's doubtful that will happen much as there's a chance Eldest made Law Review and I'm not sure what exactly that is and haven't yet googled but she says that if she does she can't leave the area because she'll have to be on campus a lot. Plus they're getting another puppy next Friday. Such is the way of the world.

So it's been an eventful day, that's for sure.  Haven't wanted to drink though, and am ending it with more positive than negative I think, so it's still a big win.

Day 725

I so rarely blog from an actual keyboard at an actual computer - this is nice.

I'm finally starting to be excited about my two-year soberversary. I ordered a cake to be delivered Friday the 18th and fancy fair-trade chocolates from the next state over to be delivered on Tuesday the 22nd because NO place will deliver something handmade/perishable/edible up here Fed Ex for -Monday- delivery; it's just a tad too remote. Those purchases were the excuse I needed to talk about it to the family so they'd get on board with being excited for me and it worked. They -are- excited for me. It's 

But the thing I ordered which I'm looking forward to most of all is a cordless reciprocating saw. It comes tomorrow so even if it has to be fully charged on this end by Friday evening the kind of pruning I've wanted to do for over a decade can finally begin.

You see one of the very few good memories - oh my, possibly the only - I have of spending time with my mother-in-law is the time we got rid of some shrubbery. I was in either my late twenties or early thirties and there were some scraggly thick bushes she wanted rid of I can't recall why and Grandpop (her father-in-law) was unable or unavailable to do it. The quote she got from someone startled her and I said "if we had the right power tool -we- could do it; there's a plug right there." I believe I may also have said "you don't operate those things with a penis." In any case she got a reciprocating saw at the local hardware store and we did indeed get rid of the shrubbery ourselves and it was surprisingly empowering. Both of us took a turn as the shrubbery was knotty. In any case we've had the reciprocating saw up here since '08 but I'm pretty sure the outside outlets quit working before then and in any case even if they did one would need a ginormous long extension cord.

Not any more. Pine boughs beware and apple branches take warning: if it's diseased or dead it's coming off. The place will be so much brighter. Most of it will be done by Middle for hire, rather than by me for fun, I'm sure as it probably won't -stay- thrilling and empowering but I'm pretty stoked.

I'll probably also get the 100+ colored felt-tip pen set I've been eyeing too - that's just too cool to pass up even if I'm currently more into fiber than art. I still get a big kick out of the fact that I never gave up coloring but kept quiet about it because sheesh, you used to not -say- you still colored because that was what little kids did and you'd take shit for it because hell, little -kids- who like to color used to take shit for it; I was one....and now it's A Thing.  That just tickles me no end. Take -that- nay-sayers.

And that's about it from this end - work is unpleasant right now but home is better/more calm so it balances out in the long run and for that I'm grateful.

Two years no booze is just so cool.

Day 724

When life and possibly lingering illness get you down a little online shopping never hurt. I got a bunch of new scrub tops for work and tonight I ordered a fancy cake for Friday and some fair trade Vermont chicolatez for Tuesday as apparently one can’t get anything handmade delivered on a Monday with FedEx. But that’s okay.

Otherwise it was a low key day. Have a ridiculously early meeting tomorrow morning so it’s bedtime.

Day 723

The day got better as it went along. That’s always nice.

I know a week from today is my -two-year- soberversary and I’m hoping to start getting excited because right now it’s kinda meh. Probably looking at fancy online cakes will help.

Day 722

it was pretty decent as Sundays go.

Got up and did the grocery stuff first thing and ran into four different people from work. Didn’t even think about it till right this instant but I felt fine and dandy and smiled at all of them and that’s not something everyone - or me a few years ago - can say on a Sunday morning.

My kids all wished me a happy Mother’s Day and that was enough - too many other relatives have made such a Huge Freaking Deal out of “you better remember me on Mother’s Day” that I sort of eschew the entire holiday so as not to be part of -that-. Which is kind of annoying because of course low-key cool mom would like her low-key coolness acknowledged and played up but that’s not how it works. Not yet, anyhow. Maybe someday.

But I had a lovely afternoon listening to the second season of _One_Mississippi_ on Amazon Prime while I worked on my shawl so that was good. Plus I made a nice dinner.

And now for a surprisingly early bedtime - it just feels like the right thing to do.

Happy Mother’s Day to any and all who feel it might apply. Happy -Sober- Mother’s Day to any and all who feel that might apply too.

Day 721

Disjointed day.

Started when my alarm went off at 4:40 so I could go get Youngest from the after-prom event by 5am — I had to actually sign her out and I was glad of the safety but annoyed by the process. Came home and went back to sleep but then the family called at 8:20 and there was no gettingvto sleep again after that.

Mostly I worked on my new crochet project and tried to nap but never got all the way back to sleep. Ate way too much too. But now I’m going to bed for the night a full hour earlier than usual so I can maybe get caught up back to baseline.

Day 720

Out of kilter day.

Work had disjointed bits, there were family bits and then Youngest had Prom and the school sponsored after party — which ends at 5 am so I have a 4:40 am alarm set. More disjointed.

But this sort of disruption is just so much easier to recover from than the disordered sleep booze gives. It really is.

Day 719

Long day.

Tonight was the school Awards Night which is 2+ hours of mostly tedium. My kid got the same award this year as last. That happened in the first 10 minutes of the program but her friend was sitting with us plus nobody else was ditching early so we sat through the whole frigging thing. Came home and had sugary sweet stuff I didn’t need but surely wanted.

Earlier today I got absolutely -soaked- walking from building to car in the rain.  Dried off, changed, clothes, looked in the mirror and about fell over because I had -scary- channelled my dead mother. Looked -just- the hell like her. Was awful. Way bad. Cleaned the mirror right before bed just because.

Still don’t have much energy. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Day 718

Decent day.

Ate way too much processed food though - buffet lunch at a place called Asian Temptation and then prepackaged mushroom ravioli for dinner. I suspect I did the biochemical equivalent of strewing Legos all over a floor where I walk barefoot. Gotta get back to real food tomorrow.

Otherwise though, things were agreeably quiet and I’m in bed a whole hour early after dozing in the couch. I don’t mind at all.

Day 717

Much better all around. Easy workday, feeling better physically and the weather was even nice. Saw the first violets of the season.

Got everything done I wanted to do around the house tonight too. Bonus.

Now I just need to fight the urge to snack. On everything.

Day 716

It took all day but I do believe I'm almost entirely over that fever-from-hell thing.  Got my appetite back.

Meanwhile I went to work and managed to parlay vacation coverage into an excuse NOT to go to a really tedious all-day "leadership conference" on the 14th of next month - huzzah!  Also managed to cancel out of a 5-6 pm meeting this Wednesday so more huzzah!

Then I did the shopping and discovered the local grocery has improved its inventory in ways that actually matter to me. Amazing.

Still quite tired but now that it's past ten I can walk the dog and go to bed which is exactly what I'm going to do.

Day 715

Rough night. Woke up still feverish every couple hours. Then finallywoke up all sweaty at 6:30 but felt enough better that driving back home was a go. Eldest had very kindly filled the tank last night — such a nice surprise when I left a bit before 8. I was away from this house not quite 26 hours which is sort of stunning.

The fever seems to be better but now I’m having such nausea and heartburn. The overproduction Of bile throwing up kind like a hangover even though I’m at almost the 2-year sober mark. That’s no fun. Even saltines aren’t sitting well. But at least I’m home and clean and in jammies and bundled down under a clean blanket.

I might have to make orzo tomorrow.

Day 714

So I’m sick. Like fever-sick in a way I haven’t been in over a decade. Started Thursday, was better Friday morning but in the way of fevers it kicked in yesterday afternoon around 3. Same thing today but at least I was more than halfway to the other house when it started. Thursday I took aspirin and yesterday I took Albee but when they kicked in and artificially broke the fever I was drenched in sweat, clammy, miserable and needed a fan on me. So tonight I’m riding it out - fever is there for a purpose, after all - but I’m limp. Weak, achy - can’t even read. And that old “feed a cold starve a fever” saying is so true - really nauseated.

I’m still planning on going back tomorrow because I expect to wake up feeling better but I’m also considering not if I still feel this lousy. Weird how all consuming the illness is.

My mother would be pushing hot toddys on me. Glad to be away from -that-.

Day 713

Glad it is Friday.

Got my car back just in time to take Spouse and girl-beagle back to the other house tomorrow. It’s probably just as well: the beagles are both used to being Only Dogs and are like toddlers - they can only keep being good around each other for a while and then it gets worse and worse: he escapes, she pees, they both get agitated...and Eldest will do much better having her father back on site.

Also I gotta admit I will be glad to dial back the chaos to its usual baseline level. Especially after tonight as I’m fighting off the cold which flattened Middle last week and had No Freaking Patience for the drinkers in the family. Won’t mind breaking that cycle at all.

There’s a book club starting at work and I went to the kickoff meeting today. I’m excited to finally be in a book club but the first book choice is leaving me rather cold. Maybe it will get better.

For now though, sleep and lots of it.

Day 712

Another good day.

Finally got caught up at work, didn’t have to cook and went to bed an hour early. Plus got updated on the knitting cruise this fall which got me excited all over again.

Doubled my dollar on the scratch-off lottery ticket that was my reward for doing the midweek shopping too - a nice bonus.

And now to sleep.

Day 711

Better day.

Got more done at work, there was less chaos at home and the family-asked- for carryout dinner.

Oh and since it was Wednesday there were tater tots for breakfast in the cafeteria so I got an order for the first time in over a year - it was both reward for doing the whole dog-couch-waking-up thing last night and fuel for the metric fuckton of work I had waiting for me. Got an order of scrambled eggs too because they were the institutional reconstituted kind which - I hate to say - I like far better than real scrambled eggs. A good big breakfast definitely helped.

But now I’m getting ready for a proper night of sleep complete with boy-beagle curled up next to me. Restful sleep is a great thing indeed.

Day 710

Another not-great day.

Too much work and too many administrative time sensitive things I had to do instead of work. This was after taking the car to the shop because the brakes were noisy - turns out it needs not just brakes but struts, front tires and an alignment. It’s old enough and has enough miles that this isn’t exactly surprising but it is sucking a lot to be down to one car.

Worst of all? Boy-beagle ran off. He has a Whistle tracker so we can see that he’s hanging out around a neighbor’s house (the one which has cats who tease our house; makes sense) but because it is night and he isn’t properly afraid of cars I’m worried sick and Youngest makes me seem positively cavalier. I’m sleeping on the couch so I can hear the ass-dog if/when he comes back. I’m sure he is having the time of his life though so I don’t really blame him just worry about him.  He’s been making a bigger and bigger game of “I’m going to slip out the front door” the longer Spouse and girl-beagle are up here plus it’s the first really warm day in a long long while.

I’m just so tired of Desling With Stuff.
But hey, didn’t drink so I still win.

Update: the dog came home at 2:30 am. Much relief.