Started Typing: 3:03 PM ET
Clicked Reply: 5:01 PM ET
DAGNABIT I THINK I’M (also) SICK. I felt fine most of yesterday, but when I went to bed I noticed that my throat was a little sore. I blamed it on the heat (dry air) and humidifier (maybe-not-the-cleanest-water), both of which had needed to be turned up. But this morning my throat was “no fooling” sore, plus I have just a bit of a dry cough. When my temperature was 1° higher than usual, I took a home COVID test. My “normal” hovers around 97°F, and any kind of raised temp (let alone an actual fever) is extremely rare – even when I am sick. Happily it was negative, but I’ll take another test tomorrow. I don’t think I’ve been sick in 5 years…I wouldn’t be surprised if I caught something at Friday night’s party. That’s what I get for making myself be social! 
I’m always super annoyed whenever I have to cancel plans due to something like this, but I’m especially grumpy today because now I won’t be seeing my BFFs this week: even if I just have a cold, Wife BFF is immunocompromised and doesn’t need to be exposed to anything. 
It’ll take at least a week + multiple negative COVID tests before I can be in their house again; our gift exchange will have to wait until at least New Year’s Day. I was really looking forward to seeing them tomorrow evening, and giving them their presents.
I’m supposed to meet my dad and brother at a local Italian restaurant for a 2pm dinner on Christmas Day: if I don’t feel any better tomorrow, I’ll email them and recommend that they develop a Plan B just in case I can’t make it. They live in Baltimore, and there’d be no point in driving down here if I can’t join them.
Whining aside, here’s hoping that it really is just a cold… 
Happy Doperversary, Baker! 
Thank you for asking! I finished the White House yesterday, and added it to my photo album of completed builds. 
If you click the button to sort A-Z, they’ll show up in completion order – after a picture of “Lego Corner,” where most of my sets are displayed. The White House won’t be going there, though: it will live on my kitchen table until I undecorate on Thursday, then it will move to the top of the storage units next to the TV. Next up will be the US Capitol Building (which will go next to the White House), then the Licoln Memorial (which will go above them, on an acrylic stand).
That “o” sound always gives people away…and can be hard for actors to fake!
I’m a relatively new Lego fan – I built my first set less than two years ago – so I’m not at the point of planning Lego-based trips. Yet. 
There are 3 Legolands in the U.S.: the closest one to me is in Goshen, NY, which is 300 miles from home but only 25 miles north of my cousin’s place…hmmmmm…
Welcome back! Those pictures are great!
Ha! Nope. My little brother never had GI Joes, and neither of us ever got into Mad Max (I still haven’t seen it). The most creative I ever got with our Star Wars figures was putting Han Solo in a Tupperware cup full of water and sticking it in the freezer.
My bro definitely had some free-form Lego when we were kids, but for whatever reason we were both more into his Girder & Panel sets.
You’re probably nearly there at this point, but safe travels!
…but with the heels, right?
Mine too! Strawberry is a close second, followed by blueberry, but raspberry’s definitely at the top.
Got and assembled it last month. You can see a photo here.
Confession: I bought big expensive Chewbacca just so I could get this tiny record player, which was only available as a gift with purchase. As soon as I saw it, I had to have it! I keep it on top of my actual record player, which it resembles.
It’s very cool that you thought of me…thank you! 
Welcome back!