The No News is No News Purgatory Thread, Volume 9

I started Christmas shopping on the clearance rack, online-style. But at least half the times I've begun the ordering process, some item is not the price it shows on its page. Pisses me off, and I cancel the whole order.

I read the paper every morning, and since the latest operating system update, the app crashes. Unlike Kohl's, when I emailed expressing annoyance and concern, I got a swift reply which was well written, apologized for inconvenience, gave a brief summary of the paper's actions, and an anticipated date by which it should be resolved. How is it businesses like that are flailing and poorly run are thriving?

Maryn, ain't nothin' fair in this world

Well, since it's fallen to me to keep the home fires burning...

I'm an idiot. It's official, at last! I went to writing group, but apparently I have the date wrong. So I read for a bit, enjoyed coffee and a bagel, and left when this man was way too loud on one phone conversation after another. Had it been business or ordinary personal calls, I might have written a note for his attention asking him to please speak more quietly, but he was apparently calling siblings about their mother, who was not taking her meds and was careless about where she left her burning cigarette, and was it time to put her in an assisted living facility, and who was going to tell her? He didn't need the added stress, so I left. As I was driving out of the lot, I saw him leaving. Damn it, I could have stayed.

Anyway, I next went to Tuesday Morning, where I did a little more holiday shopping. The Kid admired a sweater-thing--a hybrid poncho?--I have, which I got there, and today they had the same thing again. I also bought both girls pinking shears.

Finally, I stopped for bread.

And now, here I am at home, quite nicely dressed and made up, and for what?

Maryn, pouting adorably

Oh, joy. My day began with finding we had not washed the parts of the coffee maker which must be washed daily, not merely rinsed, since we got a grind-the-beans model. Then I got an email from Kid Two, keeping us informed of what's going on with her transition. She intends to begin hormone therapy, which has known physical and psychological risk factors, and would we like to pay several hundred a year for sperm storage in case she's ever with a partner who wants babies?

That's a lot to have on my plate before I have coffee, you know?

Maryn, who now has coffee

I'm sorry, but if you were exactly the right age to see The Breakfast Club on the big screen, you're not old.

Whew, huh?

I'm writing a play which is going well, but here on page 25 is where I'm abruptly flailing, not sure how to get to where it needs to go.

Maryn, inexperienced playwright

Mr. Maryn's the same way. Sure, he does dishes since he retired, but getting them clean seems to be entirely my purview.

I'm writing a G-rated play rather than erotica. (Who, me?) I subbed my most recent hot novel and am now thinking about the ethics of time travel rather than Tab A and Slot B.

Mr. Maryn and I are trying to figure out places we can go walking where there's no construction (the Erie Canal Towpath has been a mess near here for two years) and not in the country, where people are hunting, legally and not. Just yesterday a man was shot and killed by a guy in his own hunting party, in a field only 1000 feet from houses, which is completely illegal.

We went to a show last night. My ears are only ringing a little now, but man, that guy can play slide guitar.

Maryn, who had good seats

Just today in the paper, the state-by-state roundup had someone somewhere--I can't remember--find his or her coop was missing five chickens and several ducks. The black bear was visible in the woods, gorging itself on a chicken. Omnivores indeed.

Animals which live outdoors, even in enclosures, face risks from predators doing what nature designed them to do. I feel bad for your sister nevertheless.

Maryn, soon to visit the pastel chickens* at the pumpkin farm

*Apparently various berries or food additives can be safely added to the feed of white chickens whose feathers eventually take on the color, like how flamingos get pink from shrimp