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Monday, May 15, 2017

Week of Ups and Downs

Hello, Pixies. I hope that everyone had a peaceful weekend. We successfully simplified our Mother's Day this year, by opting out of everything all weekend (except church). Mr. Q tilled our vegetable garden patch, and I got about 1/3 of it planted. Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Q and E played video games, so that I could soak in the tub for a little while without a small creature banging on the door. I watched a British mystery show. We had takeout for lunch, after church. (It turns out that fast food places are really quiet, on the day when everyone is trying to go for brunch.) After a weekend without any obligations to anyone else, I feel relaxed like I just came back from a spa weekend.

And it's a good thing I feel this relaxed, because this afternoon, I have another internal ultrasound appointment. (Whiiiiiiine.) Cross all appendages that the result of this appointment is "everything's getting better on its own!" and not "We need to book you for surgery, because it's worse."

So: ups and downs today. I'm drinking my tea and staring out the window, trying to hold on to that last bit of peace from the weekend, and am trying not to fret about the afternoon.

88 comments:

Liz Miller said...

Holding you in my thoughts and hoping that you hear good news. I'm sorry that you have to go through any of this.

But SO GLAD you feel refreshed and are holding on to that.

kathy a. said...

Sounds like a great weekend! Fingers crossed for this afternoon, QWP.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

By the way, don't worry about this being something serious! I just realised that I was being really vague. I have both fibroids and a large ovarian cyst, and while the fibroids are shrinking, the cyst showed up at the last u/s. (Which was why I thought the fibroids were getting worse, since they have basically the same symptoms.) The cyst was so large that I was booked to come back three months later, to see what's happening with it (basically, whether it would rupture, or shrinking; if it's growing or staying the same, the doctor might decide it needs to be removed, because otherwise it could cause problems, considering I've already had one torsion episode that sent me into mild shock).

kathy a. said...

Um... That doesn't sound like an emergency, but sounds serious enough to me, QWP. Also, potentially ouchy. xoxo

Back to my weekend drama -- I do not think the lack of invite was intentional. It's just that by the time we found out, it was too late; and I would have preferred if that hadn't happened.

Liz Miller said...

What Kathy said, QWP.

I'm sorry Kathy, but it sounds VERY accidentally on purpose to me.

esperanza said...

I'm with Liz on the "accidentally on purpose." It's not like you and your husband are some distant great-aunt and uncle who live out of town. You're kind of major players, and I don't see how you could have been overlooked.

QWP, ouch.

Liz Miller said...

Exactly what Esperanza said. That. That is why I feel that it was an "oversight" and not an actual oversight.

kathy a. said...

Here's why I cannot go ballistic, aside from sanity and family relations. It is possible that:

-- my soon to be DIL accidentally left us off the list of invites [I had to remind her about some people for our rehearsal dinner] [and also, she and my son didn't even get an invite!]

-- somebody messed up the email address [easy to do, with my main email]

-- my son mentioned this to me, and I failed to write it down [in case you didn't notice, I'm obsessed and even carry postits for emergencies, but still possible]

So. Something went sideways, and it is not worth thrashing that out.

Liz Miller said...

Y'all. I had such a good weekend. The reunion was awesome. Sad that some couldn't be there, but got to talk to so many people and enjoy myself immensely. Big topic of discussion among the women? Hot flashes and Trump hatred. People hugged me and thanked me for my FB feed, said it keeps them sane. Best part about FB is that we feel like we still know each other.

Then Mother's Day brunch with both my sets of parents was really special. They have mellowed with each other in such a nice way.

Dropped off my chopped liver (made with my grandma's recipe) at my grandma's house. She gave it her seal of approval. (My mom and step-father both say mine is better than grandma's had been when she was still making it. I said, yes that's because she stopped putting salt into it, and I didn't.)

esperanza said...

I'm not saying you need to make a big production and/or confrontation, at all, kathy a. I don't think you need to (a)take responsibility for the "oversight" or (b) feel guilt for not attending the shower to which you were not invited.

kathy a. said...

Liz! Yay for a wonderful reunion weekend, and the Mother's Day brunch, and even the chopped liver!

I moved along with MotB about some other things, and she seems friendly. Neither one of us brought up the debacle.

Liz Miller said...

What esperanza said. And I totally DON'T get the feeling that the incident was caused by the MOTB. I think it was Nosy Buttinsky punishing all of you.

kathy a. said...

No, I honestly think it was unintended. It could easily have been because my future DIL left us off the list, because we were so obvious. The host should have noticed, of course; but she was going by her list.

kathy a. said...

Menu question for the veggie portion of the bbq / picnic: portobello mushrooms stuffed with chopped spinach and spices and cheese? Or smaller brown mushrooms with the same kind of stuffing? Most of the food will be finger or fork oriented. The portobellos are grand...

Think I have reconsidered my stand on corn, and it may well be grilled. Have acquired a grilling basket, too, so we can use that to do various chopped veggies. And/or stuffed mushrooms! Am trying to get my mind in that "timing is not a problem; everybody will graze, and we will just replenish" place.

esperanza said...

Hm. Easier to stuff fewer, bigger mushrooms. But harder to eat them. How many other veggie options are there?

Queen of West Procrastination said...

I think, if it isn't too hard, the smaller ones might be nicer and easier to eat (no need for a fork and knife). Also, likely a nicer balance of mushroom to filling, and less chance of large chunks of non-stop mushroom. (But, having had to have the vegetarian option at a lot of seafood dinners on the west coast -- I'm allergic to seafood -- I have too many opinions about portabello mushrooms.)

kathy a. said...

It's kind of the vegetarian bbq plus meat -- so everything else will be veggie -- salads of various kinds, stuffed grape leaves cooked ahead, Mr. FotG's mom's rice pilaf, roasted veggies, veggies and dip, cheese and crackers, yadda. I'm leaning toward the small mushrooms -- and will have things all prepped, just stuff the things and let the grill guys handle the cooking. Because the freshly cooked options will be fewer on the veg side.

Yes, I have lost my marbles a little! But it's so fun.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

I'm glad you're having so much fun! It's a very happy occasion.

AW: finished with ultrasound! Now, I just need to have a Dr appointment and find out what's going on. I celebrated being finished with the u/s (and, my least favourite part, having to have an uncomfortably full bladder for a whole hour), by making a delicious and ridiculously rich mushroom-bacon-spinach linguine for supper. I panicked when I realised we didn't have any cream for the sauce, but Mr. Q suggested mixing milk with full fat sour cream, and it turned out to be really nice. (Basically, crème fraische.) E kept raving "This is DIVINE," and stole all of Mr. Q's second helping.

esperanza said...

With all of those other parts and pieces, I vote small mushrooms, too.

Hooray for ultrasounds being done. I *hate* how uncommunicative the ultrasound techs have to be. I started off with ultrasounds at the fertility clinic, and they empowered their techs to give all kinds of information. So then going to a regular place made me furious, when the tech would only say, "you'll hear from your doctor."

Supper sounds delicious. I actually cooked tonight, too. LOL at "This is DIVINE" from Miss E.

esperanza said...

W: Why yes, I'm yammering about inconsequential things in order to avoid thinking about the state of our country right now. You?

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Esperanza, I was just internally whining about how close-lipped my tech has to be! With the u/s appointments when I was pregnant, all the techs were so chatty, and showed you everything on the screen! Now, these chatty appointments sometimes backfired, as my fibroids looked really unusual during pregnancy (I was an anomaly), and so several techs freaked out and worried that it was actually cancer. NOT GOOD to have a tech trying to diagnose during an appointment. But the flip side is so frustrating! Screen turned away from me, tech silently clicking on a computer.

And understandable that you're distracting yourself from the state of the country! Dear goodness, is it ever beyond troubling.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

I have to confess that the other food that gets the "This is DIVINE" stamp of approval from E is generic hot dogs, grilled under the broiler.

kathy a. said...

Glad it's done, QWP.

OMG about E, the Junior Gourmet! That's wonderful.

Oy, Esperanza. Um, yeah about the news of the day, not to mention past days also. There aren't enough fireplacing words for the fireplacing inferno, and if these fireplacers don't get off of their kiesters or whatever to make some serious investigation happen, like pronto, well. There will not be enough cluesticks in the entire universe, is my opinion. Calling for the posse.

esperanza said...

I sent a strongly worded fax to my senior senator--rumor has it he is being considered for the eff bee eye position, Lord help us--demanding an independent investigation (in some form) of the whole business. I received a lengthy email in response, detailing his gripes with the former administration's policy toward the country in question. I was not amused.

Liz Miller said...

I am having trouble focusing on anything else. He's going to blow up the entire world.

Still, delighted by E's "This is DIVINE". Can you please share the recipe?

Queen of West Procrastination said...

I'll try to remember what all went into it! I read about five different mushroom linguine recipes, and then approximated based on what I had in my house (for example, I had bacon and no pancetta).

So: cut about four slices of bacon into lardons. Brown in a skillet, and then spoon out the bacon and leave in the fat. Add butter and olive oil (because the bacon fat won't be enough for all those mushrooms), and add a giant pile of sliced fresh mushrooms. Salt and pepper the mushrooms. Sautee for a while, and then add 5-6 cloves of crushed garlic and a bunch of tarragon (I think I added about a tablespoon of the dried stuff). (I think I eventually also added a bit of the fresh basil I have around here.) When the mushrooms are cooked down, add back the bacon, and a cup or two of finely-chopped spinach. Sautee some more, and then remember that you have neither cream nor parmesan. After panicking about how to add a cream and a cheese element, finely shred a bit of mozzarella, and then stir it in to melt (because that was all I had in the fridge), and then mix equal parts of sour cream and milk, and gradually add until it looks creamy enough. Then (and I presume you've been cooking linguine in salted water at the same time), thin out the sauce with some of the pasta water until it looks like a proper cream sauce and not like a giant pile in the middle of the skillet. Add the linguine, and mix all together in the pan.

Apologies to all the Italians in the room. I have taken some terrible liberties with your food, but it was delicious.

Liz Miller said...

Sounds so yummy!!!

kathy a. said...

It does sound delish.

esperanza said...

That is exactly my kind of recipe--ingredients and style :)

esperanza said...

AW: I really like my new doctor, though this is only the second time I've seen her. She is a good listener. And she agreed with me, so that's always good :) We're retesting my thyroid and Vitamin D levels to see if that explains some of the low energy/fatigue. Otherwise everything seemed fine.

W: even if my levels are low, and even if I get medication, it will still be several months before I notice improvements. Wah.

AW (I think): my state's senior senator is smarter than he otherwise seems, because he has withdrawn his name from consideration for the eff bee eye director. I really hope that means he and party officials think his seat might be vulnerable (the governor would have appointed someone to fill out the term). Overlooked in the general malaise over the presidential election was the information that my state was bluer than anytime in recent memory.

kathy a. said...

Can we just say "Enough, already" to this week and its news? That is all.

esperanza said...

I may need to reinstitute my "find something good about this day" policy, so here is today's:

Fed3x was supposed to deliver new electronic items destined for Baboos' hands today. Signature required. Daddy had (unwisely) already informed Baboos of said delivery. I was still at doctor's office when Fed3x arrived--I missed it by about 15 minutes. About 5 minutes after I got home, Fed3x came again. The driver said "well, I was still in the neighborhood, and I thought I would stop back by to see if you were home now." W.O.W. What a nice guy!

Liz Miller said...

That's a very good F3D3X guy!!

I'm sorry about the fatigue, Esperanza. Did you get your iron tested too?

Finding something good about today....hmmmmmm....

It was nice enough outside for us to eat lunch on the porch.

esperanza said...

They're redoing all the bloodwork, so yes. Thanks for thinking of that, though.

Liz Miller said...

:D

That's what it usually is when it's me. Which is one reason why I've been mainlining chopped liver lately.

kathy a. said...

Yay for the wonderful delivery guy!

Yay for good enough weather!

Something good: my MotG dress well be all hemmed on Thursday, and the tailor said it is beautiful.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Hooray for your MotG dress! And for nice weather, and for a kind F3d3x guy.

My something good: my parents are so kind about helping out with E when I have all these appointments. I really didn't want her with me at this one, and my other friend who is willing to watch E has a kid home with a stomach bug. But, even though Mom was just here yesterday, she and Dad will be back on Thursday so that I can find out what the u/s showed this time. (I'll just make sure to make a batch of muffins so that they can have something with their coffee.)

kathy a. said...

Yay, helpful grandparents!

Liz, I almost feel like a part of the family, and won't take too much of the chopped liver (of the famed recipe). ;)

Anonymous said...

Did I give you folks the recipe?

Ingredients:
2 eggs
Peanut oil
2 largish onions, chopped
Kosher salt
1lb chicken liver, drained

Hard boil the eggs and pop them into ice water to cool, and then shell them. Put them in a large bowl (wood is best)

Coat a cast iron pan with peanut oil and heat it until it shimmers. Add the onions and sauté until mushy. Don't be impatient, take your time. Add some salt while you're stirring. When they're done, remove them to a small bowl and set aside.

Now add the liver and more salt to the pan and cook for about 5 minutes a side. They should be cooked through, but tender, and there will be juices in the pan.

Using a slotted spoon, remove the livers and put them in the bowl with the eggs. Take one or two sharp knives and start chopping them coarsely, adding the onions a little at a time until they are thoroughly mixed in.

Place in one or two tightly covered containers and refrigerate over night to mellow. They also freeze well.

Liz on iPhone

kathy a. said...

So, about the onions. When you say "chopped," do you mean coarsely? Or give it a couple whirls in the food processes until it looks more like grated? Or, thin slice and then cut very small? Asking for a friend. And thanks!

esperanza said...

Y"all can have my portion of the liver. If I'm anemic, I'll just have to figure out something else.

kathy a. said...

Lots of other options, Esperanza! This might be why I have woken up dreaming of hamburgers lately... (Which is pretty weird. But I have had to go get one, anyway. Like, today.)

Anonymous said...

Quarter inch sized.

Esperanza, spinach is also good

Liz on iPhone

esperanza said...

Seeking pixie input: my passport expires this summer. I've used it exactly once in the past ten years, to go to Mexico for a meeting (do I know how to live it up, or what?). It looks like to me that it costs almost as much to renew it as it does to get an entirely new one. I have no immediate, short-term, or long-term plans to leave the country, but I hold onto the hope that I might do so at some point. Renew it? Or let it lapse and reapply if/when I need it?

Liz Miller said...

Renew. Less paperwork and you don't have to run around like a maniac and pay the expediting fee when a foreign trip comes up.

Liz Miller said...

Also, pretty soon you'll need one to fly anywhere, even within the US. Opt for the Passport Card as well as the traditional book, since the card is easier to carry around and works for air travel within the US as well as travel to Mexico and Canada.

kathy a. said...

I vote renew, also. It is harder to start from scratch.

esperanza said...

I just saw the passport card thing; I'd never heard of it before. I'm feeling frugal right now with the new car, I guess. My photo on the current one is pathetic. I got it taken when I was in the midst of morning sickness with Sweet, and they told me not to smile. I look like I'm about to puke.

Liz Miller said...

The card is an extra $25, and it's SO WORTH IT. I carry it in my purse and use it all the time.
You do need to get a new picture done, so that's a good thing.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

It's a good idea to renew, esperanza. (But I'm not following my own advice, because I opted not to renew on time, because the expiry date came up at the beginning of this year, and I was all "The only other country I ever go to is the one to the south of me, and there's NO WAY I'm crossing that border again for a long time!" But I need to go and renew anyway, for all the reasons listed by everyone else.)

AW: last night, I went out for tea with one of my favourite people, who has been my friend since our first year of undergrad. She's getting married this summer, and it's so wonderful to see her so happy. We had a fun time talking wedding plans, research, and gardening. I'm so happy that she's moved back to our hometown (and bought a house in my neighbourhood).

W: it is supposed to freeze overnight, and it's chilly and windy outside right now, and so I can't follow through on my plan to plant my bedding plants this morning. (But I shouldn't be gardening this morning anyway: apparently, my head is still not recovered from the couple of recent bumps to it, and when I was digging in the garden yesterday, I made myself quite dizzy.)

Liz Miller said...

HOTTTTTT FLAAAAAASH! [vigorously fans self]

Also, on 7th day of mystery rash on knees, elbows, knuckle on right hand at base of middle finger. VERY ITCHY. Doctor's appointment tomorrow. Dr. Google has answers ranging from nothing serious to first inkling of musculature disease (but only in juveniles).

esperanza said...

Stay away from Dr. Google! Mr E had mystery rash on the inside of each bicep. Weird. He had to get a steroid ointment.

kathy a. said...

Itchy itchy. Could it be some kind of contact dermatitis (includes things like poison oak, but sometimes it is something else).

The bride apologized to me last night for the invitation mixup. The husband of the butinsky host was in charge of invites, and says he emailed me, but...

esperanza said...

W: I don't like it when other people give me bad information, which I pass along, and then I end up looking like the idiot.

kathy a. said...

Oh, the posse has some things to say about that, too, Esperanza.

esperanza said...

Feeling 0.5% better about the state of things after today's latest Breaking! News! Headline!

kathy a. said...

I know!!! It is the only good Breaking! News! in a fair while.

Have had some success, hunting down RSVP stragglers on the wedding and such. (The kids weren't kidding when their wedding RSVP note said to reply by May 15, and "don't make us hunt you down.") Now I'm on to fretting about quantities for the rehearsal dinner picnic.

And also, I think the bridal sector [probably including the flock of bridesmaids, too] will be coming to my house to change before the ceremony, and my house might not be the tidiest place in the universe the day after this giant picnic. But then again, it's still going to be better than the small rest room at the event site. Family!

esperanza said...

Pixies, I'm headed to my niece's college graduation tomorrow. I'm flying for the first time since 2009 (!) I'm not taking my computer, and i've not figured out how to comment using my phone. So I'll be reading comments but not commenting. I'll be back Sunday evening.

W: She attends a soooper conservative institution, and I'm not looking forward to especially the baccalaureate service.

W: it's going to be cold (by my standards)

W: too many people, too little space

AW: but on Sunday I've set up a bloggy meetup (no one any of you know, I don't think, but exciting!). And I'm riding the train and the bus to get there. I hardly know myself!

esperanza said...

It's quite near (I think) Phantom's neck of the woods, but I can't make enough time for two bloggy meetups, alas.

kathy a. said...

Hooray for graduates! And travel! And bloggish meetups!

xoxo

Anonymous said...

Yay, esperanza! Phantom's neck of the woods is my neighborhood too! It will be nice to know you're around! Hope you have nice travels!!!
:)

And thanks for the recipes everyone!

And yay for beautiful MOTG dresses! and fun wedding plans!

:) Neighbor Lady

esperanza said...

Oh, I forgot NL! (Hence the name, right?) I'm going to be staying in Rockport and graduation is in Wenham. I'll wave in several directions.

kathy a. said...

Hi, NL!

Happy travels, Esperanza.

The news has been so newsy lately, and I thought today might be slower. But several new reports of developments, and it's not even afternoon yet [here]. Did y'all see the new cover of Time? wow.

Liz, hope the doctor offered help with Ze Itch.

One of the cats managed to bark on the bed twice this week, but I'm finishing the last of the laundry. Knock wood.

Liz Miller said...

He prescribed OTC Zantac and Benadryl for teh itchiness. Thinks it's probably eczema or something to do with my weird cough/asthma mystery allergy thing or (ugh) psoriasis.

W: But he also had me tested for celiac (which I totally get, given my history of gastrointestinal issues) and for Lyme. Please, whoever controls these things, don't let me have Lyme disease, TYVM.

AW: He also gave me a referral for my annual mammogram, and I called them just now and asked for first available, and they have a spot tomorrow at 3:30! THAT NEVER HAPPENS! Please, whoever controls these things, don't think that means I should get balanced out by having Lyme or breast cancer, TYVM.

I feel extra special Jewish with those statements. Do I sound extra special Jewish?

kathy a. said...

You sound extra special! And we're rooting for no lyme disease, too -- wouldn't that be an outlier possibility? xoxo

Liz Miller said...

Have a great trip, Esperanza!!!

Oy with the cat bark, Kathy.

Sorry about the frost, QWP, and about the continuing concussion issues.

Hey, QWP, any word back about your Ultrasound?

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Oh boy, I'll be crossing appendages that there is no Lyme or cancer!

I just got back from the doctor. The good news is that the cyst has shrunk, but the bad news is that it looks unusual, and now I have to go every two months for ultrasounds. The doctor says, "Don't lose any sleep over it, because typically if it was cancerous, it wouldn't be shrinking, but we still have to do our due diligence and make sure it isn't cancerous." (She concedes that shrinking can make it look unusual, but we still have to follow up regularly.)

So. I'll try not to lose sleep over it, but it's unnerving. I'll have to keep reminding myself about how it's shrinking and less symptomatic than before.

Anonymous said...

Shrinking and less symptomatic are good things!!
And fingers crossed for all your tests too Liz!
Esperanza, check out the Shalin Liu performing arts center if you get a chance-- the view from the audience is of the ocean behind the stage. Stunning!
Also, if you happen to like sea glass jewelry, check out the White Seagull Gallery in Rockport.... we just were in Rockport a few weekends ago for a choir performance of Neighbor Girl's choir... loved it! Hope you have a fun trip!

:) Neighbor Lady
(and yes, the name came from the fact I used to live on the same street as Phantom, until we moved to our new neighborhood about 2 years ago....what a great memory!)

kathy a. said...

QWP -- shrinking is progress! More ultasounds, not so great.

NL, I will definitely be consulting you on any trips to the Phantom-ish area.

AW: My dress is done! W: one tiny glitch, where some of the ribbon embellishment hangs from the hem. AW: fixable; got a plan. AW: There is a bunch of leftover fabric, so I'm thinking of making a small matching bag, so I can carry my i-thing and other emergency supplies.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Making a matching bag with the leftover material is a really good idea, Kathy!

Anonymous said...

Oooh Kathy a, sounds like a beautiful idea! Hope we get to see pics of the dress!
:)
And yes, please consult if you are ever in my area, and I would love to meet up if you are!!!!!
xoxo
:) Neighbor Lady

Liz Miller said...

Yay for shrinking cysts! Boo for having to get more uncomfortable tests done. Those tests are a common topic of conversation around these parts right now, because of the Governor's race. My favorite guy was THE MAIN REASON we got so much traction fighting against the mandatory TVUS in VA, which led to it being changed to a mandatory jelly-on-the-belly US, which he pointed out was absolutely useless in the majority of abortions because they happen too early for a view that way, which made it ABUNDANTLY clear that the mandatory US was not for safety or information, but just to make accessing an abortion more difficult and expensive.

I adore him.

The place I'm going for my mammogram is the same place I've gone to for the past 6? years, ever since the time I had a mammogram at work that raised my umpteenth false positive. Because it was one of those traveling mammogram gigs, I had to go somewhere else for follow on, and my doctor recommended these folks for my comprehensive.
They are so skilled, they never come back with a false positive for me, so last year, insurance said I'm no longer eligible for a free comprehensive exam, so I'm paying a little extra for the 3D imaging and they're going to compare to the last 6 years of pictures, and I most likely won't need to go back for re-scan.

kathy a. said...

Yay for good mams without false positives! Boo on no longer free...

kathy a. said...

Q: Is it even possible to walk into C0stc0 without spending triple digits?

AW: Acquired some necessaries, more picnic supplies (!), and dinner. Plus, I'm just counting all the "taste this" displays as afternoon tea.

Liz Miller said...

It is, but only if you have just two items to buy and you stick to your list. Which I've done....twice. In 17 years of shopping there.

I survived the squishing. Three pictures on each breast, they'll read the films Monday and call if they need me to come back in or email if they don't.

Frankly, I prefer comprehensives when they read them WHILE YOU'RE THERE.

kathy a. said...

Still, not bad Liz. Can't remember the last time someone read my stuff while I was there. Do hate the waiting time, but you haven't noticed anything, and they are unlikely to, also. 3 images for breasts with attitude are not unusual, in my experience. xoxo

Admission of guilt: I just bought a bunch of plastic cups and cutlery. I could not go with dixie cups for beverages. And I'll invite everyone to toss them in the recycling containers, because any hard plastics are good with my local center.

Liz Miller said...

Three is amazing for me, they usually do four (my breast tissue starts almost on my back, is dense and fibrous, and also H cup) so I was pleased.

Good job on the cups and cutlery. Recycling makes it all good.

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Kathy, I recently bought only a container of maple syrup (okay, and a photo book) at my local C0stc0, which was a first for me! (It helped that it was a surprisingly quiet Friday night there, and so I didn't have to wait in line.) Normally, I save up my shopping there until it's in the triple digits, because the line is almost always terrible. (And I'd do recyclable plastic cutlery at a big event like that, too.)

AW: long weekend in Canada!

kathy a. said...

Working on a crafty project -- trying to decorate the world's nicest gift box using handmade textured paper with some flowers in it. Without any obvious tape showing, and knowing the amount of special paper is limited. It's a box and lid, and the lid is perfect, so that's something; and I applied something coordinating for the bottom; so only the sides are left, but I'm low on tape. Wedding brain!

kathy a. said...

W: One more time, a caller asking for [my first name] -- which is also my SIL's first name, and her mail comes here. So as per my routine, I asked "which one"? And he paused and said, "the older one." And I said, "you don't even have a last name." And he said, "well, perhaps you can help me, ma'am." Or, perhaps not! LOL

Queen of West Procrastination said...

Ha! Well done, Kathy.

Anonymous said...

A noted on FB, I got out of Costco today spending 88 bucks and not a single extra item. Also the jeans I deliberately looked for there fit, and only need to be slightly hemmed (size 8 Short, Gloria Vanderbilt, Amanda style)

Liz on iPhone

kathy a. said...

Oh, truly award-worthy, Liz!

Anonymous said...

Ooooh, Liz,so good to know I might find those at Costc0!
K0hl's has some of that style too, but used to have more colors than they do now.
--NL

Liz Miller said...

There were lots of colors. I had to hunt for the plain, old-fashioned blue denim (got 'em in two different colors of plain blue).

;D

esperanza said...

AW: I am 43 years old, and I have now ridden a public bus for the first time in my life. Successfully, I might add. A small mishap with the commuter train, but the conductor was forgiving after I complimented him on how he had handled a difficult passenger.

W: so. tired. Not enough sleep on the trip.

AW? thyroid and iron came back normal. No results yet for repeat Vitamin D.

W: So I'm tired all the time because....?

kathy a. said...

MAYBE because you have a job, 2 kids, all this stuff to handle at home, PLUS you just did this travel thing? And people keep getting sick, and you have some widespread obligations, and you never ever ever get to sleep in? xoxo

Queen of West Procrastination said...

I was going to say the same thing, esperanza! (But I understand! And it's frustrating when it's hard to nail down a reason for unexplained exhaustion.)

By the way, happy belated birthday, esperanza!

Liz, that C0stc0 success is award worthy indeed!

W: so, after a week of dealing with the frustrations of all the extra junk in my reproductive system, and the extra pain and symptoms triggered by the t/v ultrasound, now Aunt Flo has decided to arrive a few days early, and extra painful. Just in time for the long weekend! And the good pain meds are only partially helping.