Couch 247: Choose Cheese!

Omg they can break, I never considered that... I have two because I use one for sinks, but really, really useful advice XD

Dish soap is your friend in these situations.

Dont forget to google!

The only time google ever let me down was when i lost a qtip puff in my bellybutton. But that was many many years ago, and there ARE answers now.

Oh Una...I am sorry that happened to you.

Thank you for the laugh, though.

While dish soap might dissolve some of the things you decided to flush, at least for European toilets it is often a case of "too much:
European toilets have a different shape (hence you might notice they look different, including water level). They suck out the contents before refilling with water, but if it's a lot of paper, the drain gets plugged. If you use a plunger, you get some parts out and then the suction of the machine can work.

US toilets work differently and I do not really understand what they do, but they were way more dirty and prone to draining issues when I was there.

Edit: if you look on youtube, there's whole videos dedicated to the differences between toilets in the US and Europe.

Yeah, that does take it to a new level of knowing someone! Different from asking to borrow a bit of sugar. Depending on the, uh, extent of the issue, sometimes, dumping a big bucket of water in the toilet can work, too. Not if it's overflowing, of course, but if it won't flush all the way and seems clogged.

Edit: in European toilets, adding water makes it force flush, not sure that's the case for American but sounds correct with the physics.

Um.



Yeah.

*after some processing*

How deep is your bellybutton, exactly?

:
I may just buy two when I replace the torn one.
The rubber tore around the stick.

I forgot about that! Thanks, LT.

I was very proud to have a heretofore ungoogled issue!

@@ - the beegees wrote a song about it...

Thanks. I didnt want to say! They actually sell cutter-uppers on amazon, i understand its a thing with big eaters, makes sense ya know? I just changed my diet to more fiber.

OK, I signed up for another memoir-writing course. It was the one that Dr. T initially recommended to me that I missed out on the first time because I hesitated due to price (it filled up in a day--they only allow 22 students). I went with another instructor/company last year, which was good at first, then I was less sure by the end. I had the option to continue with her, but chose to hold off.

I'd been debating on whether to take another course or just try to do more writing on my own, but was struggling with motivation. Today, I got an email about another course being offered by the original instructor I'd been interested in--she's published a mental health memoir (that's well-rated on Amazon and Good Reads), so seems a good fit. I checked with H that it was OK (due to cost) and went for it. Includes feedback on 5,000 words, plus revisions, plus connections to other writers. And even though it's only a month long, we can take 6 months to submit work and connect with the instructor in office hours once it's done with.

I'm a bit nervous about it. I'm hoping it will spur me back into writing, as I'd drifted away from it since that other course ended last summer.

Oh wow, I totally thought this post was about the belly button thing and was sort of horrified by the "cutter-uppers." Then realized what you were replying to!

I should perhaps go to bed sooner than later...

A. I was trying to be uh... dignified?

2. I was trying not to give SD a heart attack!

Probably failed on both fronts. Im expecting an "i worry about you"!

I am SO enjoying this poem a day for a year challenge! We're already into the very beginning of month 2. I'm writing a lot - reading a lot - and sharing on our private facebook group. So happy I joined. I keep a couple different poetry forms books on my desk so I can study them on breaks/lunch, working on my craft. Last night we had a zoom call with a guest poet, it was wonderful to see 125+ of my fellow poets all raptly listening to the speaker. It feels like we're really starting to form a cohesive community on there and I hope to keep in touch with some of these folks after the year is up.

That's so cool that you're doing another memoir writing course! I hope you get some good and helpful feedback and that you really enjoy it. I have found that I do a lot better with the discipline of writing when I have something like a course or the current poem-a-day challenge I'm doing to help keep me accountable. Plus I'm SO inspired by my fellow poets in this challenge!

Thanks, Artie! I'm glad your poem-a-day group is helpful to you, too!

*update*
T is still inpatient. Tele-therapy has been (understandably) rescheduled until next week.

Hugs, if wanted. I'm sure it's scary for you. Did she say if she had a sense how long she had to be there? I hope you'll still be able to meet next week.

Hugs appreciated. Thank you.
Thanks for asking about her.
Initially T said she would probably be inpatient two to three more days. Maybe they will discharge her Monday? I’m not sure, since I don’t know why she was readmitted.

OH boy. The youngest of the spawn directed a short piece in the student shorts theater production at his college. Written, produced, directed, acted by students. So I attended to be supportive. His piece was fun and light, comedic.

The young folk in all the pieces have lovely energy and worked really hard and *emoted.* It really was fun to be in the audience.

The last piece was a 10-person improv drama. Wow. Boy howdy, I am having a bit of flashback to the stage of my younger life when everything was laden with meeeeeaaaaaaaning.

I got a bit spooked that I was being followed home.

He crossed at the same zebra crossing as me, then the same path down two streets.

I moved to let him go ahead of me, even if it was awkward. Turns out that he does live the same house above me. (there's only two of us) . I didn't exactly know the couple who moved out before him.

Yikes. I'm sorry you had a scare.

Thanks Art.

Like the rose in the little prince I do have my thorns.

How are you doing with your poem for today?