My condolences, Plei.

Mom's plan is to have her ashes combined with Dad's, then I'm to scatter them over the family plot (in a lovely smalltown graveyard with oak trees and a gentle hillside leading down to a meadow) and somewhere up in the Ozarks where they had their honeymoon. I may end up dodging authorities to do it, but it'll be like having one last adventure with them.

The ashes for both of my parents are in urns, and I'm assuming still sitting on a shelf at their old house which my sister now has. I do not expect to see those ashes every again unfortunately.

Every time I think, "oh man, I really have to get cracking on that work I'm supposed to get done today...." it's almost time for another meeting! Good news/bad news.

Does anyone have knowledge on how to start freelancing?

Zenkitty - don't forget about the consequences to your income tax preparation. Most freelancers receive a form 1099-MISC. Will your employer be withholding any taxes for you? Will you be filing a Schedule C? Will you be able to claim any expenses?

I cannot offer tax advice, but I can point you toward some resources. Profile address is good.

Have I told this story before? Before we picked up StE's ashes, I searched for antique and vintage silver snuffboxes, pillboxes, and matchsafes, H spent some time spooning a thimbleful of ashes into each container and soldering them closed.

We made one for each of his kids, one for his brother, two for H and I have three, two of which can be worn as a pendant.

To some people it seems macabre, but for us it was, and remains, comforting. We've scattered his ashes in places he loved, and in places he'd wanted to see but never got to visit. We scattered some at a family only service at a local landmark with a gorgeous view, so his kids will have someplace to "visit" him.

Jesse, we seem to have the same job today.

I did a little! But not enough. We are allowed to leave at 1 tomorrow, but I don't think I'll actually make it out by then.

My mother already wants to make plans for Christmas, and I've been trying to get her to go to the movies for years, so I just looked to see what will be playing, and it's Little Women! She will definitely go for that. Now if I can just get her to turn down the annoying person's dinner invitation.

Everyone in the Denver office at Jim's employer was told to work from home today - someone said in the Slack channel that he was measuring three feet of snow in his backyard. Here there has been light rain, with hummingbirds checking the balcony for snacks.

My next-door neighbors are in town for the week, and it's weird. They bought the place as a retirement property and only visit from Connecticut a few times a year, so hearing the outer door open and close when we're not expecting company or a package means a moment of "Wait, what? Oh, right, Richard and Julie are here."

Everyone in the Denver office at Jim's employer was told to work from home today - someone said in the Slack channel that he was measuring three feet of snow in his backyard.

Yeah, my brother has been texting me with updated snowfall totals, with increasingly clever-yet-furious profanity. That's way too much snow.

That's nice, Beverly. I would find that comforting too.

My customer's being closed for a few days means I get to spend more time working. Whee!

I've been trying to spend less time working, and being somewhat successful. I've watched the first season of Twin Peaks, which I missed previously in life. Debating whether to go see DH's basketball team play tonight or chill here.