That link on hotel pools confirms one of my worst fears -

Look carefully and you can see the salt-water aquarium lying in the centre of the pool, which houses a variety of large, carnivorous sharks. Not only that – there is also a clear waterslide that snakes its way through the shark infested aquarium.

Pool sharks exist.

4 of us turned into 6 when we saw my next door neighbors out walking the dog. And it was awesome and tasty and easy funny conversation. For two, it was a first time out for dinner with the neighbors (neighbor's new wife and across the alley neighbor) and they were all "when do we do this again?"

I'm very surprised no one doctorly has suggested pot, ita! I say try it and if it works, go to the sketchy docs who will prescribe for anyone. And if it doesn't...well, that would suck.

ION, I need to get a PCP that doesn't retire/move/quit before I've visited when not sick. Both times I've been to the Target clinic, they've said my BP + pulse doesn't make sense, but when quizzing me on exercise this time, nodded and said "oh, that makes more sense." But it doesn't to me! And latest visit? "Did anyone ever mention you have a very slight murmur?" Uh, NO. And even my dentist has checked my heart. So, I guess I'd better get on it.

Guess I need to start visiting the grocery store cuff more often, to see if it is a white coat thing, me being weird, or whatever.

(First time, on sudafed, it was way low, slow pulse. As in, I got asked if I was dizzy. This time? High diastolic, low systolic, low pulse.)

All my IPA is belong to you.

Oh, god, please send it to me.

I just spent an hour on the phone with my mother, telling her over and over that hiring someone to come in and cook a meal two or three times a week is not our way of taking away her independence. And no, you really don't cook anymore, and yes, this is one of the few ways your children can look out for you, why don't you let us, and no, we pay, and no, they're not criminals, and yes, they will just come in and cook the meal, and yes, just in the late afternoon a few times a week.

Over. And Over. And Over. It's like Groundhog Day on speed, but without the fun Bill Murray bits.

Send me IPA.

It's my own fault: I hired an agency to bring some support, set up a meeting today with the person, and told my folks about it, but forgot to call last night to remind them she was coming today, and it was a debacle. Mom was a wreck.

She won't go into assisted living, won't accept help at home, and according to that new prognosis site (eprognosis.org), she's got a 64% chance of dying within the next 4 years. My fear is that she'll drive my father into the grave first.

... well, that's a downer.

Okay, I have a question. Did everyone else know that Jennifer Garner had a kid 3 years ago? Seraphina? [link] I realize my life has been super busy but I totally missed it. Also, cute kid.

did not.

Totally cute kid, right? And THREE?!?! Wha?

Yes, I did know about Violet's baby sister. She's almost as cute, and I expect #3 to be quirky charming in the same way.

Okay, we have battles to see who can hand in their weekly status reports earliest, and I lost this year. But I'm pretty sure I kicked co-worker's ass by having my self eval in before him. And I big up myself majorly. I just compared it to last 6 months, which was pretty much a "I'm good at stuff! Look at me!" This time it was more like "Then I took the rock from Tartarus and killed that damned liver-eating bird, razed the lotuses, ate all the pigs, and ripped out the voiceboxes of the singing chicks." Then lunch break.

I did know that but have seen many fewer pics of her than of Violet.

I hate when I'm already feeling kinda gross and overly full, but need to swallow some meds, and then it gets caught in my throat. Ick.