Out of all this fuckwittery and despair, there gleams a bright hope in the future.

When I saw it on the news tonight (the students in Florida, and some students in Cincy), I just cried and cried. Because we have failed them SO badly that they have to do this themselves. It's so fucking unfair.

I sent an email to my mom with travel plan ultimatum that will either make her freak out & cry or be relieved.

I shouldn't even offer her options, but babysteps. Hopefully book last of lodging & flights tomorrow.

Good luck with all of that, sarameg.

Do not listen to the children. They are not money. [link]

National Treasure Alexandra Petri, everyone. She's so good.

I don't know if her anxiety is heightened because of memory issues, or if it's part&parcel with whatever is going on with her brain. But her coping is wildly variable & I'm trying to figure out what approaches work best, and it's trial & error. Don't want to negate her agency, but don't want to throw her into a tizzy with decisions.

I do think next time she proposes a trip, my brother & SIL& I ought to plan & present as fait accompli. Less stress on her. But she blindsided us big time with this one, and now we're scrambling to smoooth tattered ends. It WILL be easier on them, travel wise, to come here & rest before a long flight overnight. In fact, vital to mom's mental health. But coaxing out decisions & stuff, it's exhausting.(And I love my dad, but he's endless suggestions but no action.)

Oh sarameg, it is indeed exhausting.

Out of all this fuckwittery and despair, there gleams a bright hope in the future.

Tonight I went to have my nails done, around the corner from Parkland. There were an unusual number of kids there and I found out that they had taken off school today so were at work with their nail tech moms, and tomorrow their teachers are walking out. The support from the customers and workers was impressive. Maybe the tide is turning.

Out of all this fuckwittery and despair, there gleams a bright hope in the future.

Home late and just catching up with my FB feed and (not) my Senator Rubio had a post blaming the FBI, etc. etc., GOP puppet response. The comments from thousands of constituents, not having it. One after another calling bullshit and calling him out on hypocrisy. In the past I have never seen his idiot posts responded to with this level of vitriol. As far as I read I didn't see any of the usual Go Marco crap I usually see. Huh. Maybe.

Actual post from my neighborhood's FB group:

"howdy neighbors! im sure this has been asked a million times before but where is a good armoury near northside?? need a new hilt for my longsword and maybe see about getting my mourning star respiked. please dont recommend the big corporate armouries as i prefer to support LOCAL business."

By the last sentence, I realized he was being at least partially facetious...except the post was accompanied by a photo of him (or someone) brandishing his (or someone's) longsword. So.

Woo! Booked lodgings for me first night on Iceland (long story, mom booked something that is one bed shy,) AND I've been given unilateral decision making on everything else out! So we're staying 3 extra days, I'm booking flights, apartment and day tours for them(mebbe me)& my mom isn't freaking out!

For now.

Longswords and Iceland! This episode of Sesame Street was brought to you by Vikings!