I really don't understand how insurance company executives can look at themselves in the mirror every morning.

"Yet another day where I've increased ROI for our investors, I'm a great man and my dog likes me."

I emailed Awesome Doctor about 3 hours ago, and he already replied to say they'll start the appeal. (That is one of the reasons he's earned the nickname Awesome Doctor.)

ION, we leave for vacation Friday morning, and Tim's brother (referred to as Middle Brother) is STILL hammering on getting their dad to come down to the beach. We were at Tim's dad's house last night, and he (Dad) told us quite emphatically that he isn't going, doesn't want to go, and wishes Middle Brother would let it go.

Then we stopped by Oldest Brother's place, and *he* told us that their dad had a lengthy conversation with him about how he doesn't want to go and isn't going to go. Oldest Brother said "I was going to conference-call you and Middle Brother about this."

So basically EVERYONE is on the Dad Isn't Going train...except Middle Brother.

We called Middle Brother from the car, and he blithely told us that he is going to their dad's house today to pack his suitcase. And then he asked us how hard it would be to transport their dad's computer to the beach, because he spends a LOT of time on YouTube.

Poor Tim repeated several times that their dad DOES NOT WANT TO GO, and Middle Brother cheerfully replied, "Well, I'll see what happens when I get there!"

Tim asked me "Should I have been more forceful? And I guess he could have yelled "Damn it, Middle Brother, Dad DOES NOT WANT TO GO, so leave him alone and let the dream go!!!" But short of doing that, both Tim and Oldest Brother have told Middle Brother in no uncertain terms that (1) their dad doesn't want to go, (2) it's a horrible idea, and (3) if you haven't told him there's no elevator, that is staggeringly unfair to him, since he's not capable of walking up 4 stairs, let alone 3 flights.

I'm still 99% sure that Tim's dad isn't going to go, but oh my god -- Middle Brother is CRAZED about this. And the thing is, he is a fantastic guy, super genial and understanding, which is a big part of why I am baffled about the fact that he will not let this idea die.

t edit Tim always calls his dad on Wednesday evenings, so I'm going to remind him that, when he talks to his dad tonight, to tell him VERY plainly that the house has 3 flights of stairs and no elevator. Because Middle Brother apparently isn't going to disclose that, so someone has to.

So Middle Brother wants to lie to his father and trap him in a house. Odd.

IOoddN, five cop cars and two detective SUVs are parked in front of my office building. Someone in my department put up a Craigslist notice, some troll found the notice, looked up the guy who works here on Facebook and found out where he works. Troll sent an email saying "Send me $100 on PayPal or I'll call your office and get you in trouble." Guy who works here alerted HR, and a combination of HR policies and a bored local police force has resulted in a near lockdown of our office building. Maybe the cops heard we get good food trucks that stop by for lunch. Many co-workers are peering out the windows and looking worried.

Steph, I think that the next thing to say to Middle Brother is a reminder that coercion is abuse and that if somehow he carries this much further, a report will be made. You are in Hamilton County, correct?

Adult Protective Services (APS) works with Hamilton County's elderly residents to help keep them safe. APS operates (513) 421-LIFE (5433), Hamilton County's 24-hour line for reporting elder abuse, neglect (by self or others) and exploitation of Hamilton County residents age 60 and older.

So Middle Brother wants to lie to his father and trap him in a house. Odd.

I think he really believes that their dad will have a good time and be more mobile and in better physical shape than he's really in. They ALL know he's unsteady on his feet and can't go up and down more than 2 steps without getting wobbly. Shit, that's part of why we had that meeting with the elder law specialist -- all 3 brothers were there. Middle Brother knows ALL of this.

He's obsessed with getting his dad down there. What I want to know is, what happens if he gets his dad down there, dad gets out of the car, looks at the stairs, and says "Nope. Can't climb those stairs."??? Turn around and drive 12 hours back to Ohio? Shell out for a room at a hotel that's far away from our rental? He can't leave his dad alone at a hotel.

This is so stupid. Like I said, I'm 99% sure that their dad will won't go. But I can't help catastrophize-ing what might happen in the 1% chance that he does go.

Steph, I think that the next thing to say to Middle Brother is a reminder that coercion is abuse and that if somehow he carries this much further, a report will be made. You are in Hamilton County, correct?

When we talked to Middle Brother on the phone last night he did say "Well...I won't FORCE Dad into the car or anything." Like what he's currently doing is better than physical force.

(But I don't think either Tim or Oldest Brother would be okay with reporting Middle Brother. That's something that would have to be up to them.)

And in OTHER icky news, Trump is appearing at a rally in a northern suburb of Cincinnati this evening...with Newt Goddamn Gingrich.

The news is hilarious right now, because there's a private fundraising event with Trump before the rally -- and NO ONE will admit they're going. One of the news stations contacted over 30 GOP elected officials and/or donors and/or candidates, and NO ONE will admit they're going to the fundraiser. They either declined to comment or said they were going to be out of town. This led to this cartoon: [link]

In almost entirely petty news, Renee Elise Goldsberry and Daveed Diggs renewed their Hamilton contracts. I'm pretty sure they did that as a favor JUST FOR ME.

Steph, have you asked middle brother what the stairs plan is?

Jesse, that's funny because FB reminded me that a year ago I was at a hotel in St. Louis that was ha I g a convention of Little people! I wonder if it's the same one.

Steph, have you asked middle brother what the stairs plan is?

I asked him a couple of months ago, and he said "Well, I figure we get him up the steps [HOW?!?!?!?] and then maybe he can just go for an outing maybe every other day." (Which means he'd have to go down 3 flights of stairs and then back UP 3 flights of stairs when the outing is over.)

He is 100% ignoring the fact that his father is *incredibly* unsteady on flat ground (but refuses to use a cane or other mobility aid) and cannot go up or down more than 2 steps. He absolutely KNOWS this about his father, and yet he's determined that 3 flights of stairs will be no problem.