Lurky McLurkerson here. I'm not busy, just going to bed a lot earlier these days. I've also been reading again. I gave up for awhile because I found print would start strobing on me and it's hard to read in bed with glasses.

I have a job I hate, but don't have any other prospects at my age and lack of easily quantifiable skill, and living where I do.

I don't even have a tv or computer these days. Just 2 little tablets which makes typing a pain, and I only watch stuff online.

I dearly miss the watch and post days, but still love you all, my tribe!

I miss watch and post too. And I also read way more than I post because of keyboard issues. I think posts in my head.

I went from a job I loved, but was really underpaid, to a promotion I sort of hate, but pays me correctly. Since it is in the same school, I am doing like 2/3s of my old job still and trying to disconnect, but excellent customer service is my thing and instructional design is- a thing I can do. But I had thought that at my age there were no new jobs for me either and now it seems like the world is wide open. Maybe because I work in nursing academia, and many of the nurses getting PhDs are in their 60s!

I realized this year that I have a tendency to pick life-changing hobbies in response to horrible world circumstances.

Nah, stay with me here: after 9/11, I found the Buffistas, dumped a shitty career, and took up fencing.

After Tr*mp, I started making music. Immediate triggers were Steve Earle and the Mountain Goats, so we're talking angry fucking music. But it's a place I need to be.

Anyway, I'm still in NC fighting the good fight against the worst fucking legislature in recent (US) memory, slowly burning out on the current job because selling frivolous shit is not why we made the goddamn internet, enjoying the spouse and cats and building guitar #4.

I miss this being a more active place, but I feel like in some ways it's a deeper place -- this is where I come to say the things I can't quite articulate elsewhere, and y'all are always here, and I love you fiercely.

AMYCH!

You know, I see your pixels around, but for various reasons, I was on the original Archive of Own Own post last night and you were all over there and I realized how much I miss seeing you in more home-like places.

Signed,

The lurker supporting everyone in email at this point, Jesus.

PMM! I love you my darling and wish we were somewhere we could pass ink samples back and forth!!! (bowm chicka bowm bowm)

I think about amych on the original AO3 post too, because I remember you saying we needed tags, and thinking, "Pssh, what would I use tags for?" Little did I know.

That may turn out to be my greatest contribution to the internet.

Deleted. Uncomfortable sharing so much. It's just not me.

So, late once again... I come read a couple of posts now and again until I run across something distressing, and then I wander off again for a while, but I miss you guys, so I thought I'd at least let you all know I'm alive and well(ish). Since I was last active, we moved to Arkansas and we love it, though it took the kids a while. Everyone here is startlingly nice, and it weirded them out at first.

Greg had a car accident and broke his femur. He was out of work so long he lost his job. I started doing proofing part time for my sister and her boss, who are court reporters. When we moved here, we cashed in Greg's retirement and bought a house outright, so we're safe and have a lot less expense than we otherwise would.

Kara's a senior this year. Aidan is a sophomore. I found a therapist I love, finally, and am making interesting changes. Approval for SSI for me is pending, thankfully, since I'm a lot less capable than ever before, and Greg is starting to do some freelance business writing. We're making ends meet (with the occasional crazy scramble), having fun with the kids, and playing Township now and again, but that's about it. We've gotten a lot more boring (I know, right?) but we're doing okay.

Deena! It's good to hear from you! I have been wondering what you were up to these days. I'm glad to hear Arkansas is working out.