Leaves done. 6 bags, 4 of which a leafless neighbor hauled off to his community garden plot! And he helped, which was nice. Kinda did a halfass job on the alley, but those leaves are evil and resist raking, scooping and sweeping.

Yay Matt! I do think you should go see the strippers. Just for the stories you could then tell us. Think about US, Matt.

It's the first time I can ever recall male strippers doing a publicly announced show in my hometown, so I should probably attend for historical purposes anyway. If it's waxed long-haired 80s Chippendales types I probably won't stay long though.

Oh! Hivemind: I stepped in a roasted marshmallow in my sneakers, and I'm not sure of the best way to get it off my dang shoe (just the sole, not the uppers). I tried freezing the shoe, because I figured the marshmallow would freeze hard and could be chipped off, but that didn't work.

Any ideas? Goo Gone, maybe?

Oh, listen, there's a cat barfing. Dammit.

Please forgive me for laughing.

Marshmallows dissolve in water, so try putting a wet sponge on it.

Speaking of water, it has been raining here for forever. Outside is all gray sky and leaves that look like cornflakes that have been in milk too long.

Good lord, the lows in the coming week are going to be in the teens. This is late December weather! Stupid weather.

Please forgive me for laughing.

I forgive you. Haven't quite forgiven the cat, who is not sick but has learned that barfing up a little will get him awwed over and petted. Or it used to. Guess I shouldn't have tried to comfort Mr. Shelley that time he barfed and seemed distressed about it. Someone in this house is a genius who learns quickly, and I think it isn't me.

Went for a walk in the woods this morning, followed by slightly-undercooked pumpkin pancakes. Then I hit the new housewares store in my neighborhood. Which is not a BB&B, it's a hipster housewares store, with faux-antique sheet metal signs on the wall and cocktail cookbooks and modernist furniture. It's really cool, but it's also a sign that this neighborhood is changing fast.

Now I have to edit some stuff for my brother, and make something out of all the leftover bread in the freezer. I suspect it will be savory bread pudding with sausage and kale. That'll be tasty.

If you'd cooked those pancakes thoroughly, they wouldn't have been able to follow you into the woods.

God, I am in such a pissy mood and I can't shake it. Family is not helping. I'm not fit to be around the humans.