Beware! Towson under attack. Dogs traumatized. Car alarms akimbo.

Let it be duly noted that as the world ends I'm watching The Price is Right, waiting for my doctor appt. and trying to comfort my shivering dog. I guess the last Thursday of the month at 10:00 a.m., of course I wouldn't know this I'm usually at work, Towson noisily prepares for an air raid, with booming loudspeakers and window shaking alarms as if every car alarm in the neighborhood has been triggered.

This afternoon I have my pre op exam and I just fielded a slew of questions from the surgeon's office. Maybe they can just skip the anesthesia and load me up with painkillers afterwards. Questions flash -- why are the doctor's "patient services coordinators" the surliest, least accommodating people on planet? Reaching them by phone is like trying to get Mark Zuckerburg to answer your personal email. Not that I'd know anything about that.

I still haven't worked out the particulars of how I'm going to function with a screw newly planted in my ankle. For that matter how I'm even going to get how from the surgery. I guess as my daughter suggested I'll have to do a Liz Lemon and waive my rights to being sensible. I shouldn't worry too much, chances are with their charm they'll point my wheelchair at the door and push.

It's been good to have my family home. Not without it's drama but that's family. Christmas was, as my friend Yap says, another day, part of which i spent curled like a shrimp in my bed weeping about "a little bit of everything." Great new song I discovered. Warren I hope you like it too. Movie of the holiday was Home From The Holidays, Jodie Foster at her youthful best. Movie for the new year may be The Ref, if I can find it.

There's a mattress stuffed in my car I should be retrieving so I can stuff a sofa in there next. I should also be stuffing a chicken. And cleaning a litter box. And paying bills. And wrapping gifts, actually going out and buying more gifts. Watering plants. Bolting the dining room table together. Hauling the day bed upstairs. Putting down the rugs. Returning the returns. Going to the store. Brushing and bathing the dog. It's not like I'm without meaningful work.