Dear goddam diary, today Strudel, through a series of questions about her health, revealed that she was coughing up blood. Off to the doctor first thing in the a.m. for her. I would have gone to the doctor myself but New Years came and places were closed. I put my ear to her back tonight and I feel like I heard a rattle. I think I am having sympathy lung pains tonight.

Also, what’s a housebound psycho to do? Umm…make Thanksgiving dinner, I guess? Why not? I got a turkey on the HELLA CHEAP now that the holidays are over. And everyone’s sick but me, so there is LOTS of turkey left for turkey noodle soup tomorrow, and quesadillas, and pot pie…YUM.

I made sweet potato casserole for the first time ever. I mashed the yams with a little nutmeg, butter, salt, and pepper, drizzled on some maple syrup, sprinkled pecans, and of course, added marshmallows. I cannot believe I shunned this for years. It was never really part of my Italian Thanksgiving experiences growing up, though. If there were extra “odd” sides it would be rutabaga for my grandpa and some spaghetti.

So today was fixing people meals and fetching them drugs and drinks and in between that trying to get some work done. I don’t know how to tell you this…for the first time ever I went out in pajama pants to the bus stop. I have been like uncontrollably bleeding and have been all “Hold up dog let me find my jeans before we ho ho hospital.” School started on a two-hour delay so it’s not like I went out under the cover of sin-hiding darkness even.

AH JANUARY. I am starting to remember why I don’t write much in January.