Tomorrow we are heading to Florida to visit Gary's dad and stepmom. My access to the internet will be limited, so I won't be on the board for a few days. We return on Wednesday.

I fretted here first because I didn't want to post anything on my official social media. Thank you all for letting me pop in and worry though I've been so absent here. I just did write up some stuff on my FB and am pasting below for anyone not over there. This is just to give you all the update.
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I'm going to get really real here for a minute.

I love my dad. We haven't always had an easy relationship, but I've never doubted he loves me and is proud of me. I'm an only child, and my parents have been divorced almost 30 years, so it's just me.

This has been a uniquely difficult Father's Day weekend. My cousin, who lived near him in Florida, called me Friday around noon, concerned because he was incoherent on the phone, and when I finally got in touch with one of his friends, the friend was about to take him to the hospital. He'd had a stroke, though a small one, so I jumped on a red eye that night; I landed at 6 a.m. Saturday and spent almost the whole day at the hospital. Yesterday was pretty awful. In addition to the stroke symptoms, they tried to sedate him for a procedure, and he had a horrible reaction to it — he got combative and started hallucinating and angry and didn't understand why we wouldn't let him get out of bed. When I had to leave because visiting hours ended at 7, he had no idea who I was. He pulled the IV out and fell down in the middle of the night, and they had to put a watcher on him today to make sure he wouldn't hurt himself.

So. Not a great 36 hours.

Today was better; those meds had worn off, and he knew me again and was less combative, though definitely upset I was "telling him what to do." With the help of two of his local friends (who will forever be angels to me), I was able to take a break to eat and get his house somewhat ready since they discharged him. I should add here that he's been showing signs of early dementia for the past two years, and his friends said there have been some really weird things in the past few weeks especially.

He's more himself right now and will recover from the TIA, but those early dementia signs are not going to get better. He's severely underweight (he weighs less than I do) and says he's never hungry, and though I've tried to get him on a meal delivery service, he doesn't always eat it. He's developing some compulsions and minor obsessive behavior, and he doesn't really think he's that sick. He says it's "just stress" and is insistent that he's fine on his own.

I'm not looking for advice here — I've got a bunch of next steps already lined up, including hiring home health care to visit him 4-8 hours a day to make sure he's safe. I'm also going to meet with a lawyer to get his assets moved into a shared trust and to try to convince him to give me power of attorney (he trusts me but doesn't want to take that step because it feels like something bad might happen even though I already co-own his condo and am on his bank accounts; I do all his finances).

But he lives in Florida and I live in California, and none of this is easy. And this is been a very bittersweet Father's Day.

Much love to those of you also having less than a great day.

Hey all, Javachik and I are driving down for AmyPreble's memorial service on Saturday. We'd love to meet up with any Buffistas who are also there. Probably too tired after the drive on Friday, but we're both free after the service for lunch or whatever. (cross posted to F2F)

Our Empress posted this on FB, and I'm certain she'd want those Buffistas not on social media to know, so I'm pasting below. I see there's already a discussion in Natter about how we can help. I have her snail mail address if anyone needs it.
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All right party people I have an update for you since you guys haven’t heard from me in a few days. I was mowing my lawn Thursday and I passed out and called 911 to come get me. It turns out I had a stroke and had emergency brain surgery performed Thursday evening. I’m currently in the icu up at Saint Joe’s and I will probably be here until Wednesday or Thursday. I have a nice new shiny bald head which I have to say is pretty damn sexy.

So if you need anything text I’ll try to get back to you as soon as I can love you all. Emeline is a rockstar. I’ll talk to you soon. ❤️❤️❤️

Okay, here's a link to a Meal Train for Aims set up by one of her friends: [link]

You can donate cash and gift cards through that link. Also, if anyone needs her current address to send her a card, email me. She moved last year.

I chatted with Aimee this morning, and we've also set up a Give InKind page: link.

There's a link to the meal train there as well. We'll use the Give InKind page for more gift card options and setting up help for household tasks and rides and other things she may need.

Ok, I finally got my act together and made the FB Event. Chicago-types, this Sunday, we'll be at Maggie Daley Park ( for, lo, there is a toddler, and playgrounds are good) from about 4:30 to 6:30. FB messenger is probably the best way to get ahold of me on the day, but my current profile email will also work.

Hi All. It's my annual Please Throw an Entrepreneur a Bone request.

It's like Girl Scout cookies without the calories or the coin, and I would be grateful for your help to reach the type of people who have become my favorite clients over the years. 80% of my non-personal referrals every year. After 2020, this is the most important part of my business year.

Please help!

At this LINK, scroll down 9 ballots and click on Bonny King-Taylor. The City Paper NEVER uses your email for anything. I know the person who runs the campaign and she is solid.

ThankyouThankyouThankyou

I need the Buffistas to activate for me on twitter. Ice is up against zircon in the 2021 Mineral Cup and ice is barely holding on to its lead with 2 hours left in voting. I'm begging - please vote #IceMin for me and Yuzuru Hanyu. Vote #IceMin!

It's the final of #MinCup and I need votes for Quetzalcoatlite. Please help! [link]

Whoot! Quetzalcoatlite took the championship! Many thanks!