I've taken to blogging in the early mornings before I go to work instead of late evenings when I'm done with work. It's not been working out for me. How am I to comment on my day's events when I have barely started the day? And so... I will probably go back to late-night blogging, even though I'm usually so tired that all I want to blog about is how tired I am.

In the meanwhile though? Here was my yesterday!

Last year when I learned I needed to keep my blood sugars intact, I started walking to work so I can still eat bread and pasta. It's a short walk... 7 to 9 minutes... and I've come to really enjoy it. It's a chance to plug and clear my head, which is something that's kinda rare these days. The good news is that switching to Coke Zero and walking has been working for me. I had a great checkup with my doctor, and everything is going well. And so... more bread and pasta.

On yesterday's walk I was assaulted by a rose that was reaching outside its garden fence...

You don't get nice surprises like that driving a car.

But the bigger surprise was later that evening when I made guacamole for the first time. It was Taco Tuesday and a nice chunky guac as a topper was exactly what I needed...

It was phenomenal. And perfectly chunky enough for tacos (and chips!). And easy.

But not as pain-free as I was expecting.

In order to eliminate waste, I've been making a lot of changes in my house. Instead of buying single-use products like plastic wrap, I've been using something more sustainable or learning to live without it. I have one roll of Saran Wrap left and, at the slower rate I'm using the stuff, it should last me the rest of my life. And I've not stopped there. I've bought my last box of plastic straws. I've switched to reusable grocery bags. I'm transitioning from poly to paper wherever I can.

And I've eliminated single-use latex gloves from everywhere except my emergency kits.

The latex gloves I used to wear while chopping jalapeño peppers.

I (foolishly) thought that if I just washed my hands after cutting the peppers for my guac that everything would be fine.

As I found out later that night while falling asleep watching television, things did not turn out fine.

I reached up to rub my eyes and... ZOMG! THE BURNING!!! From the level of pain I was experiencing, you'd have thought that I squeezed a full jalapeño in my face. I can safely say that now I know what it feels like to be doused in pepper spray. It hurt a little bit when my eyes were closed... it was excruciating when my eyes were open. I have no idea why washing my hands didn't prevent this, but now I know better. I had tried some reusable kitchen gloves but they were too thick to work easily, so I guess next time I'll use a towel or a piece of wax paper or something.

Because... yowie.

One other thing that happened yesterday? The 2019 Emmys nominations were announced. For some inexplicable reason Game of Thrones, on its worst season ever, managed to rack up 32. As you can probably tell from the wrap-up I wrote, I totally don't get it. Seven seasons of brilliant set-up that was rushed to a shitty, mind-bogglingly bad conclusion deserves 32 nominations? INCLUDING BEST WRITING?!? Um. No. About the only category I think they should win is Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, because Peter Dinklage was still exceptional. He was making all the stupid be entertaining right up until the very end. He won last year, so I'm not sure he'll get it, but I sure hope so.

There was a pleasant surprise, however. Schitt's Creek, long one of the best shows on television, was nominated for Best Comedy Series. And the awesome Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy were nominated for respective Best Actress and Best Actor in a Comedy Series. Of course I think they should win, even though this season was not as good as the previous two seasons (when they really should have been winning all the awards). Alas, Emmy voters will probably give it to Fleabag (which probably deserves it) or Veep (because it's the final season) or The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (which I don't like at all). If Schitt's Creek can't win it, I'd hope for Barry or Russian Doll, but those seem like longshots too.

I was happy to see My Dinner with Herve got nominated for Best Television Movie, even if Peter Dinklage wasn't nominated for Lead Actor in it (which he deserves).

If anybody is interested, I've put my picks for the major awards in an extended entry. If you're not interested, I'll see you tomorrow. Probably tomorrow evening.

Drama Series

• Better Call Saul (AMC) — Good.
• Bodyguard (Netflix) — Great.
• Game of Thrones (HBO) — Shit.
• Killing Eve (BBC America) — Great.
• Ozark (Netflix) — Good.
• Pose (FX) — Great
• Succession (HBO) — So boring.
• This Is Us (NBC) — Manipulative and artificial.

Comedy Series

• Barry (HBO) — Great.
• Fleabag (Amazon) — Good.
• The Good Place (NBC) — Good.
• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon) — Do NOT get the appeal.
• Russian Doll (Netflix) — Good.
• Schitt's Creek (Pop) — Great
• Veep (HBO) — Great.

Limited Series

• Chernobyl (HBO) — Good.
• Escape at Dannemora (Showtime) — Never saw.
• Fosse/Verdon (FX) — Never saw.
• Sharp Objects (HBO) — Okay.
• When They See Us (Netflix) — Great.

Television Movie

• Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (Netflix) — More technical interesting than great.
• Brexit: The Uncivil War (HBO) — Okay.
• Deadwood: The Movie (HBO) — Okay.
• King Lear (Amazon) — Never saw.
• My Dinner With Herve (HBO) — Good.

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

• Jason Bateman (Ozark) — Good.
• Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us) — No.
• Kit Harington (Game of Thrones) — Good.
• Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) — Great.
• Billy Porter (Pose) — Great.
• Milo Ventimiglia (This Is Us) — No.

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

• Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones) — Good.
• Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) — Great.
• Viola Davis (How to Get Away With Murder) — Good.
• Laura Linney (Ozark) — Good.
• Mandy Moore (This Is Us) — No.
• Sandra Oh (Killing Eve) — Great.
• Robin Wright (House of Cards) — Good.

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

• Anthony Anderson (Black-ish) — Good.
• Don Cheadle (Black Monday) — Good.
• Ted Danson (The Good Place) — Good.
• Michael Douglas (The Kominsky Method) — Never saw.
• Bill Hader (Barry) — Great.
• Eugene Levy (Schitt's Creek) — Good.

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

• Christina Applegate (Dead to Me) — Good.
• Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) — Good.
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep) — Great.
• Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll) — Great.
• Catherine O'Hara (Schitt's Creek) — Great.
• Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag) — Great.

Competition Program

• The Amazing Race (CBS) — Loathe it.
• American Ninja Warrior (NBC) — Good.
• Nailed It (Netflix) — Good.
• RuPaul's Drag Race (VH1) — Great.
• Top Chef (Bravo) — Good.
• The Voice (NBC) — No. Just no.

Variety Talk Show

• The Daily Show With Trevor Noah (Comedy Central) — Great.
• Full Frontal With Samantha Bee (TBS) — Good.
• Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC) — Good.
• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) — Great.
• The Late Late Show With James Corden (CBS) — Good.
• The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (CBS) — Okay.

Variety Sketch Series*

• At Home With Amy Sedaris (truTV) — Good.
• Documentary Now! (IFC) — Never saw.
• Drunk History (Comedy Central) — Great.
• I Love You, America With Sarah Silverman (Hulu) — Good.
• Saturday Night Live (NBC) — Good.
• Who Is America? (Showtime) — Never saw.

*If Alternatino with Arturo Castro doesn't win next year, I will probably go into a meltdown. This show is about the best variety sketch show I've seen in a long time.