Best Of

Fear not—I haven't fallen off the edge of the earth, nor had any major health crises. Just a lot of housework, minor medical/self-care appointments, routine shopping, dealing with insurance (a very slooowww adjuster), driving between houses, and above all cat-parenting. I apologize for not having the time to go online, lest I spend hours and hours and never come up for air. Staying up late and getting up early (thanks, kitties) as it is.

Drinking less, except when dining out. Been bringing back bottles from our house to this one (set up wine racks in rec room—the owner is Muslim and provided little in the way of potent-potables gear).

Will check in later as time & energy permits. Getting more de facto exercise (1950s split-level houses will do that) and flexibility-training than before the fire (and when I still had a housekeeper). So I've been able to maintain my goal weight.

Last alcohol I had was rose Prosecco at Regalia Friday night. But I've been serious about coffee, at least as serious as I can get without my real espresso rig. The blade grinder I bought was a disaster, so it's relegated to spice-grinding duty; got a decent but not luxurious burr grinder which has served me well thus far for French-press, Aeropress, and pourover. Replaced my Stanley cup today after I learned why it was sweating and ice was melting so fast in it: the vacuum seal was broken when the restoration crew dropped it before putting it back up on the pass-through ledge, loosening the handle. Didn't help that I'd been leaving it in a hot car (including when starting up before the A/C kicks in) in these 105+ heat index days. The new one is working really well—will relegate the faulty one to just indoor drinking-glass duty. But will remember to take my new one with me whenever I leave the car, however cumbersome that may be.