I was always under the impression we’d go nomadic if things got bad, traveling to where it is habitatable year round and food is more available. I’m keeping myself mentally and physically healthy enough to walk long distances while not being picky about what I eat or where I sleep. I find the whole concept of hunkering down indefinitely is itself untenable.

I had a clear childhood memory of when gravity temporarily vanished and we all had to duck and cover under our desks. Years later I learned how gravity worked. A few years after that I realized my memory was impossible though it felt very real. This may be the root of my trust issues…

I love self checkout. From my decades of cash register experience I can tell you, your soul begins to leave your body standing still for hours doing the same repetitive mindless task. It is not a job most want nor honestly should do. I really can’t fathom the folks who prefer waiting in line for one bored af human to do a task they could easily do themselves. A good company would find other things for their employees to do or (this would never happen) pay them more per hour to work fewer hours totaling the same weekly check. I feel only the elderly, overburdened, and incapable should use a cashier. If you got 2 available, working hands and can twist at the waist - get to scanning!!

Funnily enough I was concerned about only my smells, I still have my wonderful husband sniff me if I’m unsure whether I warrant a shower. I’m more concerned about eating spoiled food, so he’ll smell that for me as well. I guess I was also unconsciously banking on him being our gas / fire detector. And now I sound like a racoon, never showering, eating garbage, living in squalor.

Yeah I’m not 100% and it was unsettling how down I was getting about it. My boss still can’t taste red meat 2 years later…I need to taste tomatoes again, they are my favorite. I hope your smell continues to return and you are fully recovered!

After my ability to smell and taste were completely gone for 2 months I got bummed out enough to try smell training. I didn’t buy the expensive kits, but did find strongly scented aromatherapy wax sticks that I sniff every day. If nothing else, going from “these all smell like nothing” to “oh that IS lemongrass or ginger” definitely brightened my mood. It’s been 6 months now and I still can’t taste tomato or smell lavender, but can now easily detect things like nail polish remover and eucalyptus oil. It’s weird to take a strong whiff of rubbing alcohol and not notice a single thing. Good luck!

The Broken Earth series, Enders game series (the first 5 books about Ender), American Gods, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing and the follow up A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor, The Kingkiller Chronicle (we’ve been waiting 10+ yrs for the final book 3, some folks are pretty irked atp, but it will be ok). If you want YA beach reading, anything by Seanan McGuire / Mira Grant for easy fun books about fairies, cryptids, and zombies.

I have coined the term hifellowkidsing when I struggle and fail to relate to teens. As in “I heard the neighbor kid loudly bumping what sounded like Eminem so I totally hifellowkidsed him and asked whether or not it was. He rolled his eyes and ignored me”. My only comfort is I was a horrible snot at that age, so I have karmically earned every belabored sigh and humiliated grimace.

Hey I asked this a while ago elsewhere but can’t find the reply. Does anyone know when our target closes? It’s a holiday here.

This weekend I halved and scored an eggplant, rubbed the cut sides with harissa and grilled. It was inedibly hot. Cheers!