Okay, she says, hanging her head and shuffling her feet. I will make appointments for the dentist and eye doctor. Not till Monday, though.

And after that I guess it is most appropriate to call a plumber and look into replacing the toilet.

The Oregon trip is not just a money problem. It is a travel-during-the-pandemic problem and what-to-do-with-sick-cat problem. My sons understands. We have talked and talked about it. If an emergency arose, I would use a credit card and go.

In answer to whether the table really needs to be refinished -- yes! One end piece has actually fallen off. The finish on another section is pretty much gone. It needs real help, but I really want to keep this table and bring it back to its former glory.

Thanks to all for your input; I found it valuable!

Yesterday I took the leaves out of the table, dropped the sides, and covered it with a cloth. So its problems are hidden for the time being. Only two chairs fit under it now, so the rest are at parade rest around the perimeter of the room. It's okay for now.

This morning I cleaned the aquarium. The filter was pretty bad, so I guess I've been neglecting this duty.

I was sitting in the living room yesterday when I noticed that the wall sconces, which are open at the top, were full of grit! I took them apart carefully to clean them, and they all held chunks of plaster as well. I also noticed there was grit under the radiator. Just when I think I got it all, there's more!