I recently saw a man living out his middle-age crisis - driving along, little red sportscar with the top down (during a warm spell), '60s rock blasting, thinning hair waving in the breeze.

Well, for his sake and his loved ones, I hope it always feels like that.

(cross posted from 2023 skidoo)

Hello all you gorgeous beings

Best wishes for a tolerable 2024!

I can't form a narrative at the moment but it's been too long since I told you all I love you and I'm glad you're in my life

I can't form a narrative at the moment but it's been too long since I told you all I love you and I'm glad you're in my life

Back at ya, Laga.

Momentary pity party. Today, I think, is my 2nd grandchild's 1st birthday. I wasn't told a date. I've never seen him except on other people's FB pages. I haven't seen the 3-year-old since before he could crawl. It sucks. Maybe this year things will change. There is nothing more I can do to make that happen. I'll still send Gabriel happy birthday thoughts and snoop on the internet in hopes of catching pictures somewhere.

I have cousins I've never met....not that that's the same, but it's weird. Estrangement's not unusual for the larger J clan, though. unfortunately.

I'm sorry, Laura. That's heartbreaking. And honestly bewildering to us who know how awesome and big-hearted you are. I hope your son and his DW come around really, really soon. {{{Laura & Brendon}}}

Thank you. I sent him a gentle text yesterday to acknowledge the day, but no response. I'll continue from time to time to reach out, but it adds another stab of pain when I get no response.

Laura, I just am so sorry you and B are being put through this. I am always holding and will continue to hold hope and send positive waves for change in their hearts and minds. So much love to you.

Yes, absolutely. I hope they work through whatever they need to. Um, was hoping for more of segue, I guess, but am I the only one who has f2f dreams? I had another one last night. Most of the time, a better feeling than a dream about, you know, losing a post, or e-mailing something you think you might need to take back. (Have had a few of those. All they make me think is that sometimes, however self-righteously crafted, the "Touch grass," people have a point, now and then.) Even if they don't really understand they are creating another Project for me, and I hate that. Anyway... maybe my sleeping brain just longs for spectacle, or its home planet. Thoughts?

I just got news that a (relatively) recent crush - that transitioned to friends when it was clear the romance was going nowhere - passed away last month. Obviously, we hadn't been that close lately or I would have heard before a month had passed - but I'm still knocked for a loop. He was only 57, and NOT diagnosed with cancer like some of us. How can he be gone? I'm stunned. I have a couple of photos still on my phone that I took stealthily in a Home Depot that looked exactly like him + 20 years. I joked with him that it was Patrick from the future who came back to visit (and buy hardware supplies). Guess he won't be coming back now...