JZ, Bev, much love to you and your families. Best outcome ~ma for all of you. It's so damn hard.

I'm sorry about your BiL's diagnosis, Beverly.

Hairpats to all who need them. Holiday weekends should be better, even in January.

Ugh. It's a lesser issue, but I'm still annoyed. I came in today to find an ant infestation in my cube. There's an absolute ant jamboree in the next two cubes, where the residents left crackers and honey sitting out. But you know ants—they explore.

Luckily I work on a laptop, so I was able to just decamp and set up in an unused cube down the hall. Still, though, I keep feeing them crawling on me. Not cool, cracker and honey eating coworkers. Not cool at all.

Sorry, Bev.

Cancer really sucks.

Oh no, Beverly. Awful.

Ugh, Calli. But seriously, who leaves crackers and honey sitting out, and what kind of snacking combination is that?

Just realized I didn't take the receipt with me after my work lunch, but I called, and they are going to email it to me! I thought I would have to walk back over, which also would have been fine.

JZ, I'm so sorry to hear the news about your brother. If it helps, I remember that Ginger (*sniff*) would often tell us that any five-year survival rates are at least five years old, and that new advances are being made all the time. Hoping for the best possible outcome for him.

And Bev, I'm so sorry about your BIL too. That's just awful.

---

In news from Nashville, today is a snow day. You may recall that this was also a long holiday weekend, but did you know that last Friday was ALSO a snow day?? Thank god my MIL lives two doors down and is willing to take the kids for a few hours. We've been doing pretty well together but the cabin fever is starting to set in for real, and M has a ton of work to do before his classes start tomorrow. We spent about an hour this morning just watching various animal cams, including puffins in Maine, a kitten rescue in California, and a watering hole in Kenya. ...OK, that part of the day was actually pretty great!

If it helps, I remember that Ginger (*sniff*) would often tell us that any five-year survival rates are at least five years old, and that new advances are being made all the time.

I think of that every time this kind of discussion comes up. I miss her.

Hopes for relief from being snowed in, Kate. And thank goodness for your MiL.

Ants are ooky, Calli. The most successful treatment for them is the old standby Ant-Terro. No spraying, no toxic environment for humans, and the ants never seem to die in place, they swarm all over the baits and then take some home for the wife and kiddies and die all together at home. Neat. Even if I do feel like the Jim Jones of ants.

Thanks for the good thoughts. H spent most of the summer in Charlotte taking care of their mom and BiL while he was sick. They're scrambling to find a memory care facility for her--it's been hampered so far by her losing her English as she loses her memory and faculties, but it's rapidly approaching pointlessness as she's less and less verbal. I can't help regretting that he's spent the last years of his life away from his home and partner caring for Mom. His choice, though, no matter my opinion, or H's. But H will probably spend most of this spring and summer there, at least until she's settled somewhere. And longer, depending on BiL's condition and needs.

We have a significant wedding anniversary ending in 0 this summer, and I feel very petty, pouting over likely not being with him to celebrate, as well as being parted for months. It's a very small issue against the harsh realities; I'm just having difficulty maintaining perspective.

Timelies all!

{{{Beverly}}}