@Blitter2014:

I'm so flattered that you think the dishes are my own handywork. But alas, they are off an online shopping service. I've been saving money like mad to pass on to my nephew to whom i have been a lousy aunt due to my illness (whatever it is). But my sister said my nephew is doing fine financially, and to treat myself.

So treat myself i did! The dishes were expensive, but you get place settings for six, which is two more than the usual four place settings that are the only things offered at the big box discount department stores. So i figured for something half-and-again in quantity, and for the possibility of having six for dinner, and for the uniqueness of the nature of the dishes, i would spend the money.

And it will help me to eat well, to have nice dishes to eat off of. I've already had several meals off them (and served a sample of my home cooking to an expert Eritrean chef in the building for her guidance), and it definitely adds to the pleasure-in-looking of the eating experience to have attractive tableware.

The expert Eritrean chef said my bean-and-rice dish was good! I was so flattered! I expected her to sample the food and turn her nose up, but she was very enthusiastic, and had several spoonfuls! We both love zucchini. She gave me a few tips on how to "heat" up the taste, to authentic Eritrean standards, so i am looking to more adventures in the kitchen.

I've got a friend who was admitted to the hospital last night. She has lung cancer and got COVID when she was getting her chemo. Great. I delivered a meal to her door, and texted her last night asking her if she wanted more. That's when she texted me back, and gave me the news that she was in the hospital.

I know she doesn't have any family in town, and she has a bit of a challenging personality, but she has always been good to me, donating all her wardrobe to me when she had gastric-bypass and lost 130 pounds. I am writing this wearing some of her clothes now. She's a graphic designer, so all her things are eye-catching, and in immaculate condition. I am so grateful!

So i want to really return her good will, and ease her hospital stay. I've texted her asking if i can bring her meals, and if she needs any toiletries, magazines, etc. I will also bring her flowers. I *LOVE* flowers, and i bet she does too.

So i am on standby for her text. She may be busy with medical tests, or too weak to respond right away. It took her five hours to get back to me last evening. I must be ready to rush to her side today tho, so i'm keeping my phone with me at all times.

I hope she is well enough for a visitor. She's in a hospital that is easy to get to on public transit. Unfortunately, the hospital is a dump, or it was twenty years ago, when i had my appendectomy. I sure hope they have improved! I caught a post-op infection, and was in for five days.

It was a nightmare, impossible to sleep, just an obstacle to healing, and i begged them to let me go home where i could rest comfortably, and sleep without my roommate hollering for the bedpan every 30 minutes, and the alarm at the nurses station right out my door going off every ten minutes.

Christ, what a piece of sshhiitt hospital that is. It's the closest one to our home, tho, so we all end up going there in emergencies. If i have another health catastrophe, i'll consider insisting on being sent to a decent hospital in our East or West ends, just out of concern for my well-being while i recover from whatever it is.