Plus cosseting, of course. (Or corseting if you prefer. We can cosset or corset. Whatever works.)

We can cosset in corsets!

Aims, I am so very sorry, sweetie.

So. Now you all know.

I need major ~ma for my wife. MAJOR. All the ~ma you got, I need for my wife, and I will brook no excuse for holding back the ~ma.

I can't...I'm just so glad that Emeline, right now, can't truly comprehend the hurt that's happening right now. To her it's all "Hey, I got to stay up late, then I got a plane ride and now: Grandman and Grandpa!" Which is awesome, and I want that to be the extent to which she experiences this right now.

But for mine wife, whom I love more than any other on this planet: Please, all your well-wishes. I have...ideas to make it better, to take the signs the gods have given us and make them reality, to...fix this. But I need...no. Aimee needs all the ~ma, well-wishes, prayers, whatever you want to call it...she needs all you can give to make it happen, and if the gods and Fate are willing, I shall be the instrument of it.

Please. You are the greatest collection of people I know. Please, help me make it happen for my wife.

All you wish for...send it for my wife.

Please.

You're tagline is factual, javachik? Sorry about that, too.

Yes, unfortunately! Although it's not certain, our wonderful company (biotech) got devastating news about one of our clinical trials (no, we weren't hurting anyone; just weren't helping any more than a sugar pill) and probably 60% of our staff will be let go. We found out two weeks ago, and the chopping will likely begin tomorrow. We've got three people here who do what I do (coding electronic subs to the Health Authorities), and they'll likely only need one of us.

Aimee, I got stuck in a meeting before I could e-mail you, and now I see even worse news. MM, did you tell JDG? Hope even though you hate it there, you can hang in for a little while longer?

Oh, Aimee, there are no words. I'm so, so sorry.

Aimee needs all the ~ma, well-wishes, prayers, whatever you want to call it...she needs all you can give to make it happen, and if the gods and Fate are willing, I shall be the instrument of it.

You got it.

Holy FUCK!!!!!

Aimee, I...I...I don't even know what to say. I'm so fucking furious on your behalf. Even if your boss didn't know about your grandmother, it is completely despicable for him to tell your husband that you're being fired (or laid off? If it's a "business reorganization," does that technically mean laid off, or do you think it's a euphemism?). I don't even know if that's legal. It is definitely unethical.

Will you at least qualify for unemployment? (Small comfort, but something.)

Also? FUCK. I am treating you to a spa day some day during my spring break. You need it. (It's not much, but it's something tangible I can do for you, and I have to do something tangible for you.)

Aimee needs all the ~ma, well-wishes, prayers, whatever you want to call it...she needs all you can give to make it happen, and if the gods and Fate are willing, I shall be the instrument of it.

Joe, you know that she has them. And I'm sharing some with you, because what affects you affects her too.

Jesus FUCK, Aims. All the ~ma in the world to you, and all the towering screaming rage in the galaxy to those fucking fucks.

I don't think it is legal, actually. And they are in deep shit for firing you over taking time off to go to a funeral, as well.

(((Aimee))) I'm so very sorry about everything going on right now. All my thoughts and prayers will be with you.

I don't think it is legal, actually.

well, it's not so much that it's not legal, it's that she can claim that she wasn't given notice. It really only matters if there's some issue with the amount of time that she worked for the company. If she's salaried, she can claim that she should be paid for the time until they formally notify her.

Even if your boss didn't know about your grandmother, it is completely despicable for him to tell your husband that you're being fired (or laid off? If it's a "business reorganization," does that technically mean laid off, or do you think it's a euphemism?). I don't even know if that's legal. It is definitely unethical.

To be fair (it is my curse) to Aimee's former boss: He was trying to reach Aimee when he called me. When I informed him that Aims was in MI for the reasons mentioned above, he truly seemed to not know what to do. I think he told me because...his mental program was telling him to inform Aimee and in the face of "The hell?" info like this he just forged ahead and told me so that I would have Aimee call him.

He's been, over all, a decent guy. Both Aims and I are truly perplexed as to what "changes" could have necessitated this...it's out of NOWHERE.

But...as much as I wish it were the case...I don't think he's an entirely despicable ass. I think he's a simple man faced with unforeseeable circumstances reacting in a poor manner.

And who among us can say we haven't done the same?