And there's our Empress.

Timelies all!

Ugh. Woke up three times this morning before I had to get up to medicate Nova. The first two times were for no apparent reason, though the third time was Nova declaring cat o'clock.

Hello, friends. {{{hugs}}} It's good to be with you all.

If you need help on January 20th, remember that Canadians did try to burn down the White House once, and we'd be happy to smoke Trump out for you.

Thanks, Sue!! And I hear you re: driving. Am more glad than ever to live downstairs from my mother.

Remember the whole deal with my dad having hallucinations and whatnot? He told me yesterday that he hasn't had one in 2 or 3 weeks, so it seems that it was the Ambien that was making him see people. I'm SO relieved!

Hey, is this a good news? I am having trouble recognizing it.

Sue, that is a very generous offer; thank you. I find I quite like James A. Corey's suggestion that we could wipe out the national debt by raffling tickets to frogmarch the Cheeto Vulgarian out, at $100 a pop, though given the tweets from Whole Man Disposal Services the non-sick members of the Secret Service may have arranged for prepaid pickup.

I've been thinking a lot about the Secret Service during this administration and particularly since the pandemic started, and certainly since they had to take Trump on his wild ride while he was still admitted to Walter Reed.

Even before reading in WaPo that 130 agents have been quarantined, I kept thinking that they really use some top notch psychological screening on those agents. Top notch.

has willpower for approximately 10 seconds, clicks the link

Those are incredible, Sue. I'm sorry it's so hard just to go see your family.

I agree, and imo that name suits us down to the ground.

You *are* an exceedingly amiable group, amyparker.

You *are* and exceedingly amiable group, amyparker.

Why, thank you!

Darn you, wee Sue, where would I wear this? (but I want it)

Remember the whole deal with my dad having hallucinations and whatnot? He told me yesterday that he hasn't had one in 2 or 3 weeks, so it seems that it was the Ambien that was making him see people. I'm SO relieved!

Hey, is this a good news? I am having trouble recognizing it.

Right? If I can brag on myself a little, I have more good news: I am getting -- for real -- a 40% increase in my hourly rate for editing for the AMA next year. When the freelance manager told me (over the phone), I was actually speechless (which is good, because my first instinct was to yell "Fucking WHAT?!?"). She also said that TPTB at the AMA want the freelancers to agree to edit a minimum number of 3 articles per week, and ideally more (each article takes about a day, give or take, to edit -- I usually take 5 articles). So, to sum up, the AMA was like, we'd like to give you a shit ton more money AND guarantee you full-time equivalent hours. I'm still reacting to it like I did to the election results -- basically, "Is this real? Did this happen? Is anyone else seeing this?"

Hey, Empress!

Pretty sure people pronounce JenP as Jen-pee, not jenp in one syllable, because that's hard.

I always mentally say it as your email.

Dana, I think your plans are a relatively safe option so long as those you are spending time with are also.

Which is exactly why I’m doing (I think I’m providing oven and will be assigned prep because Boy and I cannot both cook at the same time.) Thanksgiving for two. Every other household in my family is way too risky.

I am dreading how to approach Christmas.

I’m also dreading setting up an outdoor art event in a couple of hours. It’s masked and ‘compliant’ but I know that won’t really happen when there’s a reception after but I’m only helping set up.

Great news, Tep!

Hey, is this a good news? I am having trouble recognizing it.

Ha! I legit chuckled.

EMPRESS.

The Amiable Alliance and Amy Emeritus (Emeritae? Is there a feminine?) have me all verklempt.

Teppy, that is fantastic news! I’m so glad for you.

I feel all of you making travel decisions. I went to NC last month so I could avoid traveling at Xmas for a myriad of reasons. It was only possible because my family are all freaky cautious people. Finally, our anxiety comes in handy.

Oh, and I didn’t go to work today, I worked on my own instead. In fact, they ended up being three people instead of six because another colleague followed my lead and the third’s husband was exposed at school so she made the right call and stayed home.