days_unfolding

Overslept a little but made it into the shower. Got the recycling out. I'm so sleepy. Scrambled at lunchtime to put makeup on because I needed to be on camera for a meeting. (I'll have to do so tomorrow too.)

Mimi is giving me the cat pep talk (“Get your shit together and feed me.”)

I’m having IBS symptoms. Not a fun day.

I found a Panama Canal cruise in 2026 that I like. It starts from Panama, transits the Canal, and then goes to the "ABC" islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao). It ends in Miami, which I'd also like to see. Maybe I should book it. Oh, apparently I didn't check the singles rate, and it's going to be too expensive. Maybe I do need to take Celebrity again. Sigh. It is much more reasonable. I'm also looking at Holland America. Oh wow. Holland America has a reduced fare one for March of next year. It's quite reasonable. It also stops in Puerto Vallarta, which I'd like to see. I'd have to skip the St. Lucia trip though. There also is a Bermuda cruise in 2026. It ends in San Juan, so I'd get a chance to see what I missed there. But do I want to book two cruises in one year?

Maybe next year I should go to St. Lucia and Italy? (No, see above.) I asked the St. Lucia guide if there would be time to go shopping in Castries (I think that there is a large market there), and she said, "Yes, there is free time". So I just need to decide whether to book it or not. Hmm. I'm looking at flights to St. Lucia and they have either short connections or very long connections. Chicago to St. Lucia is not a popular route for the airlines :) I’ll sleep on deciding but I think that I’m going to do it.

Okay, now I'm thinking: 2025: Panama Canal cruise and Italy (Amalfi Coast). 2026: St. Lucia and Italy (The Lake District). Or do I want to go to Paris in 2026?

Urgh. I need to get my Christmas cards out.

Some serious snow is coming down. Okay, it stopped with some accumulation, but not enough to have to dig out. Good. I have some errands to run, but I think that I will wait until daylight tomorrow.

I received a really cool-looking and cozy set of pajamas (you could wear them with people over). I can't link to it because it seems to have been taken down off the Web site. Here they are.

I also received a ton of my new diet cookbooks. I just realized that I don't have tape flags to mark recipes, but I have some Post-It notes. Well, I just found tape flags. There are some interesting recipes. I'm kind of looking forward to cooking and "eating clean". There are some dessert-types of food too, such as chia pudding and rice pudding and yogurt with toppings. And the recipes that I've looked at so far emphasize protein. (It's Prevention's 28-Day Get Lean Diet for Women Over 40. The Skinny Taste Cookbook looks less interesting. Oh well, I can sell any cookbooks that I'm not thrilled with.)

I have to go get cash so that I can buy things off of Facebook Marketplace.

Hmm. I didn’t find a sparkly top for caroling, but I found a black top with gold, blue, and purple splotches plus a black velvet blazer that I would wear with black pants. It’ll do.

Lay down and dozed for a few minutes, then woke up. I need to practice piano and work on the kitchen. Now I’m thinking eat something, practice piano, go to bed, and get up early to clean.

Remembered to get my St. Lucia magnet out of my backpack and put it on the refrigerator. I like seeing it.

I had some problems falling asleep because my legs were cramping. I got up and had some oatmeal. It worked; I fell asleep. Woke up this morning briefly around 9 AM but fell back asleep. Woke up at noon!

I found a good bargain-hunting Web site. It’s called Unclaimed Baggage. It’s the contents of lost luggage that never was claimed. I’m eyeing a Kate Spade crossbody purse.

The problem with making the coffee is that I need to be awake enough to make the coffee. (Yes, there is a timer, but one thing at a time.) Suckage. The coffee maker is missing the water reservoir. I can order a new one, but I’m SOL for now. I have another coffee maker…somewhere. More incentive to go through boxes. Oh! I have enough cash to get a few bottles of caffeinated soda. I found a half-bottle of caffeinated soda. It’ll get me going. Hmm, I think that the water reservoir might be in another plastic box? Maybe? I’ll look for it. Haven’t found it so far.

Lay down for a nap. Zara took a whiff of me and ran away. I don’t think that I smell THAT bad :) Napped.

I’m out of lunch food, so I made some soup.

Finally dragged my lazy butt to the shower. It was cold in the cold bathroom. I’m now reverting to my childhood and am lying under the covers with my clothes on to warm them up.

Next Door keeps warning of broken water mains in various places yesterday and today. Given how cold it is (25F, -4 C /18F, -8C wind chill), that could be a problem. Man, I wish that I was in Italy right now. Or the Caribbean.

I don’t want to go out in the cold darkness. Somehow cold seems colder at night. (Well, technically, usually it is.) I’ll drink Earl Grey tea in the morning and go to Walmart earlier.

I’m working on the library room. I’m getting overwhelmed with all my clothes. I started on clothes and went to practice piano. Finished a box of clothes and blankets. My count now is four bags of stuff to donate and some stuff to throw out. I still think that I have too many clothes though. Posted some dumbbells on Buy Nothing.

I think that I’m going to eat dinner (my day is all turned around because I slept so late), post, and wend my way towards bed.

Mimi sez, "Mommy, you haven't been spending enough time upstairs with me on your lap." I said, "Yes, Mimi, it's a holiday." She doesn't like holidays. She wants me to work so she can sit on my lap!