Started folding origami stars. They are a lot harder than I thought. Mine come out crumpled instead of puffed. I need to keep trying.

I had been feeling like I got run over from my period. Like "everything hurts and I'm dying!"

I also received a set of 4 gummi bear mold trays. The bear count per tray is 50 bears, so 200 bears.

Also, a minor setback. My father is dealing with rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and stomach pain. The move will be done in increments.

After the passing of a relatively distant family member, I am currently working on a campaign for my corporate entities.

I found out there's a likelihood my birthday gift will probably be arriving tomorrow or on my actual date of birth birthday, which is a Monday.

Today, I have rice cooking duties for my birthday party. I had sushi last year, but my parents forgot to make tamagoyaki-zushi (sweet omelette sushi) with my usual veggie rolls. I told them I wanted exclusively tamagoyaki-zushi to make up for last year.

As for the cake, we have the cake mix, the frosting, the jimmies, the food coloring for the seven thin layers.

Everything else will be bought tomorrow which is when the party will be thrown.

I love the autumn. The rich wet smell of the earth and fallen leaves, the wood smoke, the crisp frosty air in the morning. "Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness" - you said it Mr Keats!

On the downside, it is also the season of chilly feet. I've been looking for thermal socks on Amazon. I can get three pairs for £4.99, although I'm a bit doubtful about the product description: It says batteries not included and that they're rechargeable. Er... it is socks we're talking about, right?

Y'know, on second thoughts, I think I'll try a shop. The walk will warm my feet up.

I found thermal gloves (and socks, but I only have the glove version) at some shop at home. No batteries needed, they just had a special lining that made them extra warm. Wouldn't trust socks with batteries - sounds like a potential fire/skinburn hazard (also - how do you charge socks? )

Wool socks are neat for keeping warm (if you don't like wool on skin, use them over other socks - that's what I do). You'll usually find me in wool socks most of the year (yes, even in the summer, at least on colder days).

This morning, I did some finalizing of the party details.

I made way too much sushi rice and now I can make chirashi-zushi (a salad-like mixture of sushi rice and ingredients found in various sushi types). The rice came out perfect!

Now it is a matter of choosing a 7th color for the remaining color of the 7 layer cake. I have either pink or indigo as my choices.

I even got $40 for my birthday gift. Since my relatives unfortunately have to go to a funeral (my Grunkle passed away peacefully after being told he'll never walk\talk again) on my 36th birthday...I may be strapped for cash this quarter.

I didn't expect my Grunkle to pass away that quickly. He passed overnight and my grandfather went through the family group of contacts to let everyone connected to himself know my Grunkle passed peacefully.

We read the obituary last night and he turned out to be 87 and I still had a great aunt and two remaining great uncles as the people under "He was survived by..." section. Turned out my grandfather was one of the oldest of 10 children.

Yes, as much of a bombshell of bad news it was, I am reminded that such surprises aren't uncommon.

Happy birthday @PANDAQUEEN !

Happy birthday PQ and sorry for your loss.

Husband and son are ill today, so thats kinda sad. But as my husband works 5 days and I work the remaining 2, I'm enjoying time we actually get together. Or rather I will be. They're both still asleep so I'm stealing a bit of time with my Sims.

Actual birthday today and my parents' gift of a show on disc is here finally. The uncut version of Digimon Adventure (1999). I had to clean one of the discs, but otherwise it was fine.

My cake fell over like a cartoony visual of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It wasn't completely ruined. Still tastes like fruity cold cereal to my mother.

Currently, my mom is moving things out of the old studio she used and that will be my new bedroom.

It is nearly empty and we're still setting up the basic move maneuvers.

P.S. To clarify, I got a show and cash. Evidently, my mom decided to waive my debt and round up my $39 weekly chore pay as part of this year's festivities.

I already got my mother's gift ready for her birthday next week (weird coincidence, I know.)

That's a fabulous cake, @PANDAQUEEN ! Glad you are having a good birthday. Hope you get your new room soon!

Sorry to hear everyone's ill, @Bigsimsfan12 I hope they are all better soon, but hope you all get some time together too! Best wishes to you all.

@simsample

I cleared the first of 3 shelving units and any furniture will be moved tomorrow. That was a big hurdle. I found a missing rice bowl in the new room (used to be mom's art storage room.)

My father worked so hard on the cake, that he nearly fainted. We're keeping an eye on him for good measure and he's going to the doctor tomorrow.

My shelving unit I cleared earlier was moved, but not mounted yet. (My father, involved in construction as an office manager, recommended he get deeper earthquake brackets. Yes, we get earthquakes in NJ, but they are not as bad as the Greater Seattle Area.)

Dinner tonight involved chicken, pasta, veggies, olive oil, Parmesan cheese and a mild Cajun spice blend known affectionately as "Cream Sauce".

Correction: my mother didn't waive the debt I owe her and I get $4.77.

My father lost his job at Walmart after getting sick (too many absences) and developing rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. He didn't get COVID, but he is being tested for Lyme disease. So money is tight.

With the American healthcare professional shortage, we have to wait months for certain new specialists.

Yes, my cash gift turned out to be an oversized error.

With today being the 2nd anniversary of this thread, I have plans to watch my show on disc once the sun rises...


(after what happened in 1997, people are usually advised to watch anime in a brightly lit room on the smallest screen and seated far enough from the TV, and the sun hasn't risen here at 07:05 and my room only has one light and the window does not face the sun. I don't want to risk it.)

Cleared the second of the three shelving units and I am exhausted. I haven't worked this hard in a while.

Still, two down, one more to go and I may be moved in between Halloween and Veterans' Day.

Update: All three of my book cases are moved and secured to the wall. Currently taking a break from moving books and dolls (I read how to draw books, strategy guides, trivia compendium and I have collected nearly every G1 Rainbow High doll. I am currently working on the layout for the bedroom's arrangement of the dressers, bed and bedside tables; and my multimedia setup.)

The schedule is looking good, but my feet hurt running back and forth from the rooms.

About 70% complete on my bedroom move.

I need to clean up the area where my dresser was, move my mattress and bedframe and do more moving and recycling of things in my room.

Update: Room is set up! Final step will be cleaning up the room I was in and get the dust out (my mom is allergic to dust and I get a cough from it).

I now get to see the sun rise from either side of my bed. I even got a new lamp. For now, I need to rest. My feet hurt running around from room to room.

Feeling quite strange regarding my energy levels. I still have some classes that start at 8 in the morning, but I can't seem to get up before 10:30 no matter how hard I try (I don't try and I hate myself with passion if I do try - classes aren't mandatory; are helpful, but are also more boring than usual).

Yet, for the rest of my day, I seem to be bursting with energy. I feel like Nigella back from her Nigella Bites days - a busy mom that's running all over the place and likes it! (I don't cook though.)

Kind of happy that I've got the surge of energy going on, but also slightly worried about the inevitable buzz crash I'll experience in... let's give it two - three weeks?

Dealing with a medical issue of low iron levels. My father is going to make me tacos tonight to attempt raising it without getting supplements. If I still have issues, then we'll consult a doctor (we attempted yesterday, but the lines directed me to a voicemail.)

Also, I have clean up of my old bedroom and little by little, it's getting cleaned up, but it's a daunting thing to do alone.

My parents went to the funeral mass for my late Grunkle Charlie, who passed away last week from a mix of Parkinson's, COVID-19, and heartbreak knowing he'll never walk or talk again. Upon his death, he had wasted away to 86 pounds. So my efforts today are slow, but steady as I have until this upcoming Sunday to finish so my mom can store her things in the old room.

My mother even said that, if I finish cleaning my old room by Sunday, 23:59:59 EDT, I would get my allowance in full after I had trouble cleaning up the house due to my anemia.

And GREAT NEWS! REALLY BIG NEWS!

My aunt Lucinda, who had been searching for a kidney donor, finally got a kidney and she's currently in surgery. Any well wishes would be appreciated for this. We got wind of her found kidney from her husband, my uncle Gary.

Upon success...

No more dialysis! No more worries about tomorrows!



Update: My aunt is recovering nicely. Her new kidney is functioning.

Finally got my old bedroom floor cleaned up, now it needs the walls to be undone with my blacklight and tapestries.

10/28/2023
Went Grocery shopping this morning and my mother spotted me some money due to a delay in delivery for some reason. Normally, it would come on the last Friday of the previous month. (It didn't come yet.)

Update: the money in my account came through today and I was able to pay back my mother upon checking my account.

I was able to go shopping online and work on my doll collection by buying generic doll stands for my dolls as well as dolls and movies I had my eye on.

I also restarted my paused subscription to a music synthesizer service.

I currently have been trying to prepare for the next Snowmageddon and this includes having something to pass time like removing paint from dolls, catching up on my stories, cooking and baking; designing doll clothes for the new Made to Move Barbies, working on my mezzo-soprano voice (yes, I'm a regular siren among the mystical creatures.) and doing chores.

...okay, that last one isn't fun, but it is required for my parents to continue with the day.

Update: My aunt LuAnne is still recovering from her kidney transplant, but it's coming along rather well. Her new kidney functioning with the existing one like they're supposed to.

Tomorrow, I return to housekeeping after spending a week moving myself into a new room with more space.

My mother said she'd compensate my labor of moving in place of my housekeeping she did in my place.

My grandfather got COVID again. Luckily, he has been put on steroids and antiviral infusions. He's going to be in the hospital for a few days.

I'm saving up money for a rainy day, the holidays, and to have on hand for my subscriptions to Amazon, Pokémon Home and Stemz (An app that allows you to control various audio variables in a song. I find it helpful when doing karaoke or my covers for my demos.)

Update: After a grocery store trip, a massive delivery,and 3 doctor appointments, I had a full day with 2 of my 3 doctors saying my kidneys are stable. My other doctor says I need to take a new pill for nausea and take more laxative for constipation. Last resort is the cameras in either end. So let's hope the pills and laxative work.

I also received a huge shipment from Amazon. My parents chided me again. I still have money in a rainy day jar.

I'm studying Finnish (sort of falling behind lately, as I spent most of my September and October traveling - seeing Käärijä in Munich too!), and even though I'm on a 160 day streak on Duolingo and going strong, I feel like the course is definitely lacking - namely because it's an app, not a class...

We've so far learned nominative, partitive and inessive cases. And Finnish's got them 12 more! And lately, I'm just being spun around and forced to say sentences such as "The internet is lagging," "Have you got a charger?", "The internet is slow", "Is the Internet slow?" etc. over and over again.

In short... while I understand that I have to build my vocabulary too; it's getting a bit boring to do it through the Duolingo app. I'm also just truly fascinated by the language's grammar, yet too broke at the moment to sign up for an actual class, and too overwhelmed to start studying it on my own (uusikielemme.fi is a tool too powerful for me at the moment).

Today, I have to go through my stuff and see what can be donated. My mother found a place that takes just about anything.

I also need to consolidate my doll clothes\accessories collection for my recent collection into something I can easily retrieve. I probably would have to buy those hanging bags that pharmacies used to use or rig something like that up.

Turned out my Gramma Barb was the one who gave COVID to my grandfather. She was put in a separate room and is being treated for a nasty cough.

Still, the fact they caught it to cure it in time was great.

I spent last night watching Season 1 of South Park and it was like the whole "how it started\how it's going" memes you see from time to time.

(Actually, this can be applied to any animated sitcoms in the US that has run for a decade or more.)

I bought some under bed storage boxes from Temu about a month ago and they've finally arrived so I'm in a bit of a cleaning/organising mood. Baby is having none of it though, he's been attached to me all morning. Won't even eat his food. I'm lucky if I can get him off me for long enough to get him on the potty. I say that and yet he's just ran off this second upstairs to chase his sister. I can hear him squeaking "Ivy where-you?" as he charged off up the stairs. Guess I can go clean now lol

Yesterday evening, I pretty much cut my hair really short.

It's okay. It's just hair. Mom and I will probably go to get it cut in Spring after it grows out a bit.

I am growing irritated when I reach a voicemail box. "Rage Against the Answering Machine" indeed...particularly when I need to ask about human health issues.

I recently changed medicines twice in a single month and I was trying to reach a human for explanation on drug interactions because the first one required my kidneys be in good health. The nephrologist told me it was one or the other, but not both.

I then went to the gastroenterologist and they put me on a new medicine, but I don't know if I should take it with the first one or not.

Another shopping day for groceries.

Although I was able to find coconut oil for my gummies, I tried looking for lecithin, an emulsifier used in various foods. No luck and our local grocery store has a reputation of carrying almost anything under the sun.

I used some of my cash for the coconut oil and it turned out that, I was overcharged because the oil online was $3 cheaper. At least I found it.

I was able to buy 3 dinners' worth of ingredients. We have on the menu: sesame chicken, guacamole smeared and breaded porkchops and Taco Tuesday.

If you don't want to order it online or can't find it in a grocery shop, try a pharmacy or a health food shop. Those often tend to have these things. This one looks like it's used as both a special ingredient and a supplement, so it's not necessarily something you'd find in grocery stores, even the ones that seem to carry most things. Hobby shops sometimes also have some special(ish) ingredients if they've got a candy-making shelf, but it often depends what you're after.

--

A "short" grocery round ended up taking 2 1/2 hours. But I found an advent calendar for a bit cheaper than everywhere else, so that's nice. Yes, I still like to have one, even if I'm technically not even close to the target age for a chocolate calendar (it's for keeping track of the days...and holiday nomnoms)

Annoyed. This one thing here is so clearly rigged it should actually be illegal. But its not because its technically part of the govenment or whatever they allow it to happen because they want your money anyway.
If only my chances could be replicated at a casino

In other news I finally sprayed all my boots with the waterproof spray thing, so hopefully they dont get ruined because my new boots are really cute and it would be a tragedy if something happened to them