when you throw down the gauntlet to the universe...

...it responds with a resounding, "HAHAHAHAHAHA I CAN BREAK YOU FOOLISH ONE." Did I say something yesterday about our Not-Resolution to reset boundaries and reclaim time from the crushing maw of obligation and responsibility? I came home last night with my neck, shoulders, and back gnarled like an ancient oak tree, eyes tired, ready to lay my head down and sleep until spring. But there was website clients' work to be done, cats to be fed, dinner to make, bento to pack, dishes to do. Well and other things, but considering dinner was sort of thrown together and I skipped the dishes entirely, those other things obviously didn't get done. That'll teach me about taking an extended vacation, egad.

However! I successfully whittled down those 216 emails to 150, of which only about 50 are left to respond to or follow-up on. (Note to future self: plan a work from home day the first day back from vacation since you're going to spend it dealing with email anyway.) It was orientation at the school today so Sally had a 9 to 5 day instead of his usual noon to midnight day (yes, really), which meant we could at least eat together and spend some time together. Curled up on the couch half-asleep, but still.

Also, when did we turn 87 years old?

lunch, Ms. Bento:

• baked potato with sour cream, cheddar, and monterey jack
• steamed broccoli (for the potato)
• Bosc pear slices, satsuma orange, and more of Sallly's "bento animal cookies"