Like a lunar landscape

I had to go have an ultrasound yesterday morning, as the doc is trying to find out why my back/kidney pain persists. 

That was ... weird.  I'd never had one before.  The tech looked kinda surprised when I told her that, and then I figured out that she probably didn't see too many women my age who'd never had kids.  Ha.

I did let out an audible groan when she asked me to turn on my side so she could get a better look at one kidney, but other than that it didn't hurt.

and Oh!  Did you know that your aorta, that big blood vessel in your heart, goes down into your stomach?  I did not know that!  The tech explained that whenever they're doing an abdominal ultrasound they make sure to check out the aorta, because evidently an aneurysm can develop there and kill you deader than dead, like, instantly, with zero symptoms.

Yeah, that's not terrifying to know at all.

ANYway, my doc should have the results soon, and we'll go from there.  *sigh*  On the bright side, I'm feeling much better than I was, so thank goodness for little favors, right?

And!  Firecracker, the kitten formerly known as Pretty Pretty Princess, is going to his new home tonight!  Woo-hoo!  One down, nine to go.  Ha.

Random

Leftover pizza tastes a thousand times better heated up in the oven than it does heated up in the microwave.

I just now learned that when someone is described as "burying the lead" in a newspaper story, it's actually spelled "lede", to distinguish it from the "lead" strip of metal that separates lines of type.  Who knew?

I saw some Madeleine cookies in the bakery outlet the other day and gave them a try.  Hoo boy.  It's like pure butter, in cookie form.  Oh yeah.

License plate seen:  "I SPRKLE".  You sprinkle?  Ew.

I was at Walmart the other day and got charged $81.13 for a package of sugar cookies.  Turns out the cashier typed in the bar code wrong. And I am left with two thoughts:  (a)  I am glad I thought to check the receipt; and (b) How often does that happen, exactly?

Stuff I've learned, Part whatever ...

... Home Edition! You're welcome!

If your washing machine starts to smell a little, well, musty, run some Oxyclean through with a few loads. It'll get rid of the smell.

If your vacuum cleaner stops picking up dirt, it's probably got a broken belt. A new belt, which takes about one minute to install, costs less than five bucks; a new vacuum cleaner costs ... well, you know what you paid for your last one.

If you're buying a new lawn mower, go ahead and splurge on an electric start. It'll be the best extra fifty bucks you've ever spent. F*ck that pull-cord sh*t.

Oh, and go with high wheels in the back, unless your lawn is as smooth as a pool table.

Those sound-effects clocks, the ones with a bird singing or a train whistle blowing every hour? They go through batteries like poop through a goose.

If you ring someone's doorbell and don't hear the doorbell ring inside the house, it's probably broken. Knock instead.



So! That's what I got. How about you? Any helpful household tips?