She explained that my "lie" was that they made me wear a hairnet when the current protocols say nothing about hairnets (but they did barely 3 weeks into the pandemic when nobody knew what to do) and a vinyl gown when vinyl is entirely the wrong kind of plastic, hence I am an attention-seeking liar, not that different from John Legend and his dumb wife sharing pictures of their creepy dead baby. Because as we all know, we currently live in an atmosphere of total openness about difficult and scary medical issues, and there's never any need to do what would ordinarily be oversharing because otherwise everyone shuts down and says nothing and feels even worse. Lucky for us we don't live in Shut-down-don't-talk-about-it-Land! That would suck, almost as much as liars suck!

I feel dumb for going so very nuclear

You should not. That seems like a very natural reaction to a very messed up provocation

Oh, JZ, I am so sorry that you have to deal with this type. My heart hurts for you.

Now I am not the smitemaster here, but I do believe that you can put together a most worthy smite for the swine.

I am just so incensed over this! When I think of the countless family members who could not be with their loved ones in the hospital during the height of the pandemic. So much heartbreak.

Ugh, JZ. So infuriating.

We survived our trip to Oklahoma for my MIL's memorial. It had its tense moments, fortunately none of them related to politics, and that extended family is just plain exhausting en masse, but I felt like MIL was honored in a way she would've appreciated, and the three brothers really came together around the memorial service, which was good to see and experience.

JZ, I am completely enraged on your behalf.

Your first post-surgery event, Susan! How did you hold up? I'm glad there were no big blow-ups but sorry there was stress at all.

My brother and BIL are coming for a short visit starting so late tonight it may as well be tomorrow morning. One thing I've realized recently is what a rotten job I did of supporting him when he was in the thick of his struggle with multiple myeloma--but he's such a private person, and pushed almost everyone but BIL away. I just had no idea how to deal with it or how to push back while respecting his boundaries. It'll be an interesting visit.

Hello Buffistas! If any American Buffistas happen to be going out on Record Store Day, and would be willing to help me out. I'm looking for the vinyl release of Prefab Sprout's Steve McQueen. If anyone spies it in their shop, I'll happily cover the price and shipping to me in Canada.

I got you, Sue! I'll be at Amoeba for RSD and nab that Prefab Sprout for you.

Your first post-surgery event, Susan! How did you hold up?

I was fine--I've been back to my normal energy level post-surgery for awhile, and the last remnants of the wound from my blood blister near one of the incision sites finally closed up just before the trip. I worried more about my upcoming oral surgery, since the temporary crown they gave me has already been in over two weeks, and if it was going to fail I didn't want it to happen over 1000 miles from my regular dentist.

I'm glad there were no big blow-ups but sorry there was stress at all.

It was probably unavoidable, given the way grief can rub up against whatever points of tension were already there, and at least we all managed it well.