Cold, rainy day in Minneapolis

mrissa rashly switched to her straw summer purse, so we all know to blame her for the horrible weather we had today in Minneapolis. minnehaha K was complaining about furnace problems--minnehaha B. had switched it off, reasoning that spring had come, and the temperature dropped to 50 degrees in their house, and she couldn't figure out how to get it back on. In May. I ask you. I had to run an errand at midday to go back to the contact place, and it was raining and so cold that I resorted to umbrella, winter hat and gloves. What broke my heart, however, was the discovery later in the day that I had actually lost one of the gloves. I called the places I'd been--no glove. This was a very nice red leather pair given to me years ago by my mother-in-law, and I had almost a superstitious awe over the fact that I had managed to hang on to them for so long. They seemed to be encorcelled, like Cecy's pearl drop earrings in The Grand Tour so that I always got them back. I think I had them maybe ten years. But I doubt I'll get the lost one back this time, since I believe it must have been lost somewhere in the street. And even if I do get it back, it would ruined by the pouring rain. The spell has finally been broken, and the pair is no more. Mel, I'm sorry, but I held on to them and loved them for an impressively long time.

The new right lens seems to be a bit better. It's an Acuvue. Thanks for the tip about that brand, jaynedeaux; they are indeed much more comfortable. I am, however, still getting a headache from them, although not as severe as before. I will wear them part of the time over the weekend and try to get myself acclimated. I am more hopeful.

(It is, however, still a horrifying process to get them out of my eyes once I've gotten them in. Quite an adjustment after being used to hard lens, lo these many years ago. Hard lens you just pull up a corner of the eye and they pop right out. With soft lens, you have to stick your fingers in your eye and pluck the damn things right off your eyeball. I am so squeamish about the process that it takes 10-15 minutes to remove them. Urgh.)

I stopped at Hell's Kitchen for lunch rather than heading right back to work, because the downpour suggested that a bowl of their Mahnomin porridge would be the right thing to do. I was right, too. It's based on a recipe that was used on the Lewis & Clark expedition: made with wild rice, cream, hazelnuts, and dried blueberries and cranberries, and sweetened with just a touch of maple syrup. Lovely comfort food for a cold day.

Worked on Quicken tonight. Still lots of stuff to do.

Had some thoughts on the book today. Will post in separate entry soon (not tonight; must get to bed).