Couch 218: Northern Minnesota 2050

Well, I'm officially on a leave from work. My therapist is working on the disability paperwork. Who knows how long I'll be out. I don't like this feeling. They've already disabled my work email and I feel cut off. I'm attending one meeting Monday to discuss the status of what I was working on. Hope no one's too disappointed. P is being supportive. He sent me an email this morning saying he was thinking of me and that this is a good thing. I don't know. This feels like a mistake.

Those that subscribe to NYT Games, what is Letter Boxed? Does it add value? The Vertex one doesn't do much for me, but I like the rest of them.

I actually don’t see it in the Games app, just on the newspaper app.

It’s a square with 3 letters a side and you have to make words, but by crossing the square. Fewest words possible is ideal.

Hugs, NP. It's weird that they would disable your email. I hope the break ends up being helpful. Do you have the option to return when you want?

Yes, I can't login to anything work-related. Laptop, email, VPN, etc. It feels very isolating. Supposedly it's so you are taking care of yourself, not doing work, but who knows. Yes, I can return anytime, but it has to be signed off by your doctor, in this case my therapist. I can take up to 12 weeks. I'm thinking a month at a minimum. I know P thinks more like 2 or 3 months. We'll see.

I'm not 100% sure how I'm going to utilize this time. I know P is trying to find me a prescriber. He said he'd had some back and forth with one guy and he'll let me know if he'll agree to see me. I kind of wish he had just waited to say something because it's going to feel a little like a rejection a shrink won't even agree to see me.

When this was still a hypothetical leave and we were discussing goals for the leave, I told P I would want to tackle the stuff in my house that I've been avoiding since the fire. Now that this is real, I'm feeling overwhelmed by that notion. There's a reason I've been avoiding all this stuff for so long. I'm not sure I can do it.

Lone dog and I went for our pre-bedtime walk around the block and we were only a few steps short of a tree when it decided to give up the ghost and fall in front of us into the street.

We are both fine, but lone dog was quite indignant and gave the tree a piece of his mind.

Glad you are both okay. We have had some close tree/tree branch calls in the park by my house - it is a little scary to have those things falling around you.

Hugs, NP. I hope the time off is helpful.

oh wow blast from the past!! my camp friends have all been sharing their pics from camp many moons ago on our fb group and i just came across one that really tugged at the ol' heartstrings - my first girl crush summer after high school, one of my co-counselors (this was several years before J, and I was so sublimely innocent about those feelings then!). we did road duty together my first summer working there (corral and pool staff did road duty on opening day of each camp session, directing parents as they drove their campers to their units). I hadn't thought about her in a long time.... good memories, good memories...sigh....

Sweet dreams, couchies.

Holy cow! You almost gave up your own ghost! Did your hair turn white? Did the dog's?

As an asian in asia, I really really really want to know if you like fresh durian. The fruit a lot of non asians hate, the fruit who a lot of people say stinks like garbage, but it's the king of fruits and delicious fresh and carefully chosen (there's several types with distinct taste) by experienced fruit sellers.

Also folks, I'm enjoying fruits like grapes and blueberries for the first time in years since it's heavenly not to live with my toxic parents anymore. Just can't finish large whole fruits like watermelon, papaya on my own. I kinda want to try peaches, golden kiwis (sweeter than the green ones which I dislike), pears again. And I can discover what kind of apples I like. There's so many kinds and i always hated the species my family bought. Oh i would love to try jackfruit again, and I'm trying to find persimmons!

Hugs if wanted. If it helps, in my workplace, it's standard procedure to disable work access when going on leave beyond a month. And the VIPs have a mandatory 2 week break with no email each year.

I've been on leave for the past 18 months and only recently started feeling better.

Take care of you, hugs

Ouch glad you are both okay.

My husband, som and I went for a walk last night and zip I attempted to step off the sidewalk, I managed to trip into a very busy street.. Hubby was holding my hand and ybaked it as I was falling. Then He picked me up under my arms to help me back onto the sidewalk. I seem to have rei juried N atm that injured years ago and still frequently hurts.

Hugs, sounds scary. I hope your arm gets better soon...

Hugs, sounds really scary! I'm sure you meant he barked at the tree, but I initially pictured him peeing on it.

Not sure what apple varieties are available in your country, but avoid red delicious and golden delicious (they taste like nothing, at least the way they're produced in the US. I tend to like gala the best--they're a good balance between sweet and tart. Honeycrisps are good, too.

Ooh, I saw gala. I'll give it a go I do notttt like bland apples.

I know two former nuns. Both left their orders (different orders) for similar reason: they were too free spirit and found rules to be too rigid. They are both still very active in church just not nuns.

Ambrosia apples are the best

Apple - Ambrosia - tasting notes, identification, reviews

Not sure I've ever seen Ambrosia apples in the grocery.

Fuji, Jazz, Honeycrisp, Gala, Pink Lady...all good for me. Granny Smith for cooking or baking.

ETA:

You know perfectly well my hair turned white after I met you.

Fuji! I was trying to think of the other kind I liked, and that's it.

My very first principal when I started teaching was an former nun. She was horrid. She hated kids. I couldn't get out of the school fast enough.(Not a comment on all nuns. Your post just brought up a memory I had not thought about in ages.)

Theres an apple that is out for only a short time in september, with an odd name of course, that tastes like it already has cinnamon (pumpkin spice?!) in it. I havent seen it in a while, but it was awesome.

Fuji apples are my favorites, but I pretty much will all kinds.