You'd just light the fire extinguisher on fire too.

I have never!

I think my superpower is strictly limited to lighting water on fire.

I think you should call him the Frenchman. Even if he is not actually French. Because that's a good name.

and then, when the mood is upon you, you could also call him St Woot.

Oh, I like St. Woot.

Where is DJ these days, I miss her like hell.

I was wondering that, too!

St. Woot is better than Frenchman. That'll do for now.

Not really up. Don't believe the hype.

I know it's easy for me to say this as a non-parent, but -- parents gotta let their kids find their way (except maybe Charlie Manson's parents; they could have maybe gotten him into a youth orchestra or something), even when the kids' way doesn't line up with the parents' way.

From the parent perspective, ITA. It is incredibly difficult, but still the right thing. The same thing applies to your friends. It is tough to let people you love make their own choices and learn their own lessons. Incredibly, sometimes other people actually know themselves better than we do.

Good day, all. I am sucking down coffee and anticipating 3 days of not going to the office. Well, remotely I will. Now to plan a gathering for the 4th. Seriously, starting today. I have a great view of multiple fireworks displays, and if the weather holds we can go out and view from the boat. But I have been too crazed to actually call family and friends and invite them over. But I will do so today and see if it is a big or small gathering.

There is lots more stuff, but the comfy chair and book are calling. Ah, this is a weekend.

I'm being unpatriotic and having a sorta English breakfast today -- scrambled tofu, potatoes, and Heinz beans. I made enough scrambled tofu to last a few days, so I think that tomorrow I'll have it with queso, salsa, refried beans, and some more potatoes.

Dear sj, you do not need to feel "should just". You have lost a beloved member of your family. No one gets to tell anyone else how to feel when that happens - all we can do is say how we each feel. You are quite right to feel sad, to feel the loss. It is also good and right to feel able to celebrate such a long and amazing life. You feel what you feel. And you and your family have my sympathy for that deep loss.

Thanks, WS. In my initial post I was repeating back what others were telling me last night. I know they were trying to comfort me, but in a way it made me feel guilty for grieving.

Thank you everyone for your sympathetic words.

Teppy, I'm glad you can also see the good in your not fil even if some of his behavior is completely unacceptable.

I'm so sorry, sj. It always hurts to lose them, no matter what.

Steph, thanks for letting us see the other side of your FiL. It's got to be really hard for him.

smonster, St.Woot continues to show promise!

I am stuck in the house today, waiting for something that may not even happen. Frustrating. I left a note on my neighbor's door, for her catsitter to come over and give me the housekey, but the catsitter isn't even supposed to be coming by anymore, so it may be futile. If she doesn't, I don't know what I'll do - I can't get in the house to take care of the cats without the damn key, which the damn catsitter seems to have taken with her.

When Alibelle was dog and cat-sitting for us, she got locked out and we were glad she got a locksmith. After all, we wanted her inside to make sure our pets were okay.