Friday

This time last year began The Winter Of The Itch. In Seattle, even the winter rainy season is actually very dry. I've always been aware of a little itchy dry skin in Winter but last year it was very nearly fatal. Ok not quite but close. I spent most of October and the rest of the winter until May in excruciating itch. I spent a fortune on creams and lotions and anti-itch stuff and days and weeks in real discomfort. Finally in May when I went for my annual doctor visit he said that my skin was really dry and I should lather on CeraVe. The pharmacist suggested that I use a spatula/turner to cover my back with it and relief was instant. So fast that I was really pissed I had not asked sooner.

I've been using spray lotion on my back for a month but yesterday, it started itching in the afternoon and I immediately dragged out my CeraVe and spatula and put them in my swim bag. There will be no itching this year. None. I will not go through that again.

As expected, yesterday the house smelled amazing from the crockpot dinner ... at 3:30. Interestingly earlier in the day I had read an LJ entry (locked so no details) from a retiree listing the joys of retired life and one was 'eat whenever we want to'. So yesterday I had dinner at 4 pm. The world did not end. The dinner was, also as expected, pretty much a fail but it was warm and filling and not fatal.

This morning, while swimming, I mentally rearranged my kitchen. I'm getting a new icemaker that needs to be near the sink as does the coffee pot and that area's a little crowded so when I finish this, I'll be movin' stuff around to accommodate the newest member of the gadget family.

My new Pixel phone is delighting me way more than I expected. The smaller size is so perfect and it's just as zippy as it could possibly be. It's so responsive and I love it.

Today will be the usual sewing and maybe some baseball and other TV... just a usual, regular day - my kind of day!

The latest bear (and these colors - at least on my screen - are exactly like the actual colors... this new phone's camera is pretty amazing):

Educational Fail

I'm trying to teach my cat to gimme a high 5. I thought we'd start first with the Paw command. I say Paw and she puts her paw in my outstretched hand and she gets a treat. So far, she's gotten all the treats and has zero interest in doing anything to earn them. EXCEPT she now bugs me constantly for treats.

I think my decision, early on, to never teach, was the right one.

Two more new phone items. I got a better case today. It's much thinner and easier to handle. And my battery life has been pretty darned excellent. I usually plug my phone in a few times during the day because I can and so why not. But I have specifically NOT plugged it in today just to see what would happen. It's now 4:30 and I've got 71% left. I like that.

I'm watching Front Door TV Network and someone is move all their belongings in. I am SO glad that isn't me. I used to move every 18 months and now I have not moved in 25 years but still the pain is fresh.

Here are today's dolls!

My tweets

• Fri, 10:01: Ohhhh FINALLY! I just got a call on my new Pixel Phone and after I hung up on the… https://t.co/Qq43Ng88LX
• Fri, 16:24: RT @Mariners: Some Friday afternoon fun for you. RT this tweet for a chance to win a new 2017 On-Field Jacket from the @MarinersStore. #Tru…