flexagon | New condo fixups; winter is coming

A fairly happy week of bouncing back and forth between the new condo, my usual condo, and the squirrel's place. The new condo now has blinds in the windows (except the bathroom window where there's translucent film instead), coat hooks in the hallway, and protective bumpers installed in lots of places where a door would otherwise hit a wall. Tomorrow I'll work more on installing a couple of hinge pin door stops, putting protective drawer liner on all the drawers and shelves, and calling a locksmith to get a combo lock put on the door. I also spent a productive couple of hours installing towel rods for the new 2nd floor owner over there, who is obviously a good person to form an alliance with. All of it had to go in with drywall anchors (bleh, give me a stud!), but it went fine and she didn't have to hire a handyman.

Body stuff continues to be interesting. I held a 75-second straight handstand, by my coach's timer, on Wednesday, and he doesn't press the button until a person is up and balanced so you know that's really real. I shrugged it off, only mildly pleased, and he made a big point of telling me it's really good and quite an achievement, etc. So -- all right! I think it is a new record for a straight hold. I also discovered a big asymmetry in my chinup strength by experimenting with mixed-grip chinups, and did well in my press lessons but with no single big thing to report. Did my TGUs with 55lb again, and that made me happy.

Halloween occurred, and with it a very good circus show in which I got to see Tiny Person being insanely awesome in two excellent acts. In one she was a kind of undead Barbie-ish character, and in the other she was a sleeper who was awakened by (and thrown around, and stacked upon) two demons. So good. My enthusiasm was only somewhat dampened by getting gum on the train of my Morticia Addams gown -- heated white vinegar and a toothbrush did pretty well for undoing that, this evening, but what a pain.

My squirrel is leaving his big company for real in a few months; the exit papers are signed.

Following a good video call with my new collaborator, a new crossword puzzle is almost ready to send in. I ran it through several test solvers this week, and I think it's good! A couple of tweaks, especially to the theme "revealer" clue, and it will be good to go.

Winter is coming -- DST ended today. We are plunged into the dahk-ness. I bought a new coat on Wednesday (a puffer coat this year), and Birdie went to the Fluevog store and bought some of the same boots I have. So I suppose we are prepared enough. I'm daydreaming about sewing, and making mulled apple cider, and hosting craft nights and, most especially, sleeping a lot. Speaking of which... good night, internet.