I'm at my urologists office and they have the 700 Club on the tv.

It will be interesting to see what my blood pressure is when they check it.

I need to start carrying headphones again.

Scary indeed, amyth. May the doctor have good solutions and encouraging words. You way have been burning the candle at both ends and this is a body suggestion to pace yourself.

I am totally spamming the Buffistas group FB page with wedding photos.

Ugh. I'm so sorry, amyth. I hope the neuro has a workable explanation for you.

T/W: gun violence

Yesterday, one of the SO's former medic partners shot and killed his wife and then shot himself. SO is in disbelief, as is the rest of the first responder community. He was a legend and mentor to a lot of them. Right now no one has any idea about the motive, not even his son. I'm trying to support SO as best as I can, but I'm having a difficult time wrapping my head around this. SO is disgusted and disappointed and heartbroken, and every plausible explanation can't explain away what he did to his wife. SO is liable to be in the minority when the rest of the details come out, but the typical excuses from some camps have already started. The media has also released the names so the keyboard warriors are out in full force.

I understand there are policy and gun control discussions that will come from this, but I have to stay focused on SO and our friends that are impacted. Intellectually, I knew that dating a first responder would have unique challenges, but nothing has prepared me for some of what he's gone through. He says he's grateful that I'm not in the business, because I'm not second-guessing his actions, and it's a true escape once he leaves work, but that also means I don't truly understand how what happened is affecting him. I can only empathize, and I hope it's enough.

Sorry for the brain dump, and thanks for giving me an ear.

Belated happy birthday, Zen!

Laura, everyone looks so very happy. I'm loving all of the pictures.

Oh, Maria, how terrible! Sometimes all you can do is be there, and you are doing that.

Oh, that is awful, and so sad, Maria.

I'm sorry, amyth, and hope the doctor has something good to tell you.

Yay for Laura's son and DIL!!!

I am back from vacation, and do not appreciate it at all.

That sounds really difficult, Maria. It's good that you are there for him.

Oh god, Maria. How horrible. I'm glad that you're there for him, but I can imagine how hard it is to understand it all.

It's very surreal. He's at work today, and said the mood is very somber. Dark humor usually gets them through horrible things, but this was one of their own. Now they have to reconcile the man they thought they knew with the man he actually was.

Jesse, I'd also be pissed at being back at work after vacation. It's an affront to the senses.

Oh my god Maria, the poor son.