Education

Reading a book (actually re-reading, which is something I simply don't do) about the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary should certainly lead to learning new words.  Today's new word, though, comes from taxonomy.  "Vampyropod."  My tendency is to like words that look unique and are fun to say, so vampyropod fits right in.  (Not providing a photo here, because some of you might get squicked out.  You can look it up if you're curious.)

You can also look up "autopenectomy" if you're so inclined.  Not as interesting a word to me, but I am intrigued by how/why a man would make that decision.

The Younger...

...follows the example of the Older.  Only littler, 'cause I'm the Younger.

Twinnie's Easter Bundt cake inspired me to buy myself a mini Bundt maker.  😋  That makes a mini Bundt, mini waffle iron, ultra-slim toaster, little egg cooker --- with, you know, Tiny House in mind.  Plus, it's just me here.  Why do I need big appliances?  Yeah, my air fryer and microwave and bread machine are "regulation size," but they're for later days.

Still watching the Artemis mission.  Excellent tweets yesterday, combining abiding wonder and concern:

The photography beaming down is spectacular.

Ship, moon, Earth.  

Some of us remember the original Earthrise photo.  Here's the latest:

This tickles me:

They have their phones with them!  Millions of dollars on the highest high-def cameras for the flight, and they snap pictures of the moon with their I-phones.  Have I mentioned I love this stuff?

We Should Be Able to Reset

 Just before I got out of bed today, I stretched my legs straight out, and both my knees popped.  It wasn't painful, but it was loud enough to wake Tap up and set him barking.  Anything that can be construed as a knock sends him immediately into sentry mode.

Also dog-adjacent:  Although I am by and large satisfied with and mystified by the human body, I do feel there is one design flaw.  Humans should be able to do this:

A physical, mental, emotional reset.  Plus, it looks like great fun.

How to Spend a Monday

I've had the NASA live feed of the Artemis mission on TV all day.  Though the broadcast pictures were static for the most part, the audio feed was live, and I've gotten goosebumps several times.  Have I mentioned that I love this stuff?

Something else that has made me happy today is this.  Quick hint:

Actually,  that makes me more than happy.  Giddy, I'd say.  And the match-ups are PERFECT.  (Still looking at you, Nurse Jesse.)

So, Today

I watched "Jesus Christ, Superstar."  That's an Easter thing, right?

I do believe I know every word to every song in this.  Carl Anderson is kind of a legend in this house.  Yvonne Elliman is a favorite of mine from way back. One of my gonna-thankful-brag-about-its is seeing Ted Neeley in a road production here.  The voice is still powerful after all this time.

A quiet, occasionally rainy day here.  No jelly bean Bundt cake like my Twinster, but I did have iced raspberry doughnuts from Fresh Market.  The bakery department there is such a dangerous place for me to go.

They have a fig and honey bread that's delicious.

Exclamation!

 Well, ATT did not make the window this afternoon, and the next thing they had was next Friday.  That puts me dangerously close to their DEADLINE.

I did not realize this was Easter weekend.  Not having little ones anymore to build baskets for means not paying super-close attention.  If the weekend is something you celebrate, I hope it is happy for you.

Devices

Do any of you have a clock that you haven't set forward yet?  Mine is the one above the mantel.  I just know to add an hour when I look at it.  Oh, and the one in the car.  That involves getting the Owner's Manual...  Again, it's solved with quick arithmetic.

All the little flags and little guys that were here a while may be coming to fruition tomorrow.  An ATT tech is coming to hook me up to fiber internet, which, according to all the messages they've been sending me, is what my Life Has Been Missing.  HOW CAN YOU GO FORWARD WITHOUT THESE CABLES?  It's been so annoying.

Changes?

There is a small crack in my brain beginning to open in front of the idea of moving.  Ideally, into a Tiny House.  Small house, small crack.  When I think about that, with calm and cool reason, I can say that I don't have any strong attachment to this house.

(Don't know why I scribbled the address out;  most of you know it.)  At any rate, when I think about leaving, nothing powerful holds me.  Yes, my husband died here, but obviously I can and have stayed here after that.  It could just be time for me to go.

Or not.  The housing market right now?  🤷‍♀️  I'm also having a difficult time finding a Tiny House Community kind of nearby.  I can't afford to buy land and have one built or moved there.  A move-in-ready one is my best bet.

My typing this here is the first time I've "talked" about it to anyone but my therapist and my two children.  In order, one "Yes," one uncommitted, one vehement "No."  

It's up in the air.

There are changes here with eyes toward living elsewhere.  The term "downsizing" bothers me;  it seems final and hopeless.  Besides, it's a bit twee* when the plan is to move into a tiny house.  Long-time readers will recognize this wall in my den:

Dear, dear Riley.  She never got on furniture, so this photo is something.  Anyway, I've been taking down some things there and moving things in from other rooms.  There's practically nothing left on the walls in my bedroom.  In the downstairs hall, evidence of my sudden infatuation with animals on couches:

Unsurprisingly, the fever began with the horse.  The cow was too cute to pass by.  There are others on order;  I'll keep you updated.

Artemis II has launched as I'm typing this.  It's going 15,000 mph.  I love this stuff.  "Yeah, we're just gonna swing around the moon.  Check ya later."

*I see you, Twinnie.  😉

Tuesday

Today would have been my husband's 78th birthday.  I believe it --- the math checks out and everything, the harder thing to get my head around is that he's been gone 28 years.  That's one of those "It seems like yesterday / It feels like ancient history" situations. 

No Tiny Needle work to show.  I did finish the Subversive CrossStitch piece.  I decided not to do the border around the words, because it really is painful to stitch.

This little guy has been hanging out above my master bathroom sink for a couple of days.  This seems to be the favorite spot, though he has moved back and forth across the moulding.

There are three round bulbs above the sink;  maybe he's trying to be fair and give each one attention.

Monday

 Whopping headache today.  Out of nowhere.

And I need more craft paper, don't you think?

That box is half-empty!  My unnamed Highland heifer is appalled.  Cutting things with scissors is the only craft "thing" I can do.  It was maddening for a while, now it's depressing.

Saturday, I got Tap a new bed.

IIt works, some of the time.  Mostly he makes his usual sleep route: against my feet, then under the coffee table, then against the recliner, then back to my feet.  He's at the under-the-coffee-table stop at the moment.

Of Dining

Their Last Suppers is bound for being recorded on Goodreads.  With all of the interesting things this book taught me, this is one passage I shall remember:

It took a concentrated effort for me to read "Groucher" instead of "Groucho."  "General specific" is one of those nice phrases that self-contradicts.  And if you made the neighing sound on reading General Blucher, we share a friend wavelength.

I may not have mentioned that the book also includes recipes for preparing all the suppers.  So, if you ever need to know how to grill eel, I'm your girl.  Your adventure might begin like this: