I wondered if I could change the sheets this week without Simba's help. No. He heard the sounds and came flying into the room and onto the bed. I made him into the bed, between the top and bottom sheets, and he was quite content to stay there until I was almost done, when he worked his way out past the pillows. I used my new Martha Stewart fleece blanket. It's sage green, very trendy. It fits the queen-size bed, which the last blanket I used did not. In fact, it's generous in size, would fit those extra-thick mattresses. I imagine Martha would never think of making a bed that didn't have those extra-thick mattresses - or thick mattress pads.

I feel it's good just having a decent mattress without holes in it that's actually a nice size for my body, and allows room for an extra person when I want. Years ago I slept on a twin size mattress that had caved in in a part so I had to sleep around the hole. It took me a while to realize it was crazy to keep sleeping on that thing, that I deserved something a bit better. And now I've come all the way to changing the sheets every week. Wonders will never cease.