mac just texted me asking for a Christmas list. He has not purchased anyone gifts for at least 2 years, even with the option of me providing half the money.

I sent him the myemoji of my head exploding and then said I was hoping I could fly him out to see me for my gift.

Good lad!!

Niiiice!

Yay mac!

"The news broke Oct. 1st? G-D, never piss off the witches."

Harvest moon, even. :-D

I don't wish him dead, for national security as well as potential martyrdom reasons, and because I really do believe that as long as you're on this side of the dirt, the possibility of making another choice is there.

Now, do I wish that he would do the work of reflection and atonement from a very small room to which someone else holds the key, with no phone? Yes, yes I do.

-t, I'm very sorry about the loss of your former coworker.

msbelle, that's great news!

Good one, mac!

amyparker, it's so good to see you here. I'm sorry about Jim's brother. How is Jim doing?

-t, that is really sad. I'm sorry.

Good boy, mac! The growing up is really beginning!

You people already have roombas, right? That thing is hilarious and I love it. I love the nice packaging, I love the no-setup, I love that it vacuums without me. It's a little loud to do while I'm here, but that is a SMALL PRICE TO PAY.

I love watching the vacuuming happening without any me effort.

I'm sorry, -t. That is rough.

Hey, roomie. (hugs you) Jim's hanging in there. Because of family tsuris and a 22-year age difference, he and Rick weren't as close as either of them would have liked. Grieving but not broken, let's say.

It looks as if there is some talk of going ahead with a funeral mass, which has both of us making "Ummmmmm" noises in private and hoping that the news about POTUS will move people to polite recognition when we say "Sorry, high-risk category in a state where our numbers are going up, we won't be able to attend in person".