The thing it reminds me of is how everyone used to watch the same four networks, and thus had a shared experience and generally knew the same shows (or at least was aware of them), got the same references, etc. Before cable and streaming sent us into a multitude of scattered places, each skewing narrower and narrower until we all exist in our own tiny little worlds which are limited to people who have overlapping interests and generally sing the same tune.

I hadn't thought of it that way, but that makes so much sense. Particularly of late with news consumption.

As for the friend circle, I have slipped into a life where so many of my friends are located outside of my geographic location. I am trying to fix that, even going to local community events! I went yesterday to the local meet and greet and spoke with a couple I hadn't seen since the meet and greet two years ago. We laughed about that and when I got home I sent a friend request to facilitate seeing them more than once a year. Baby steps. Also, I need to make the time to travel more to have in person time with people I value.

Can I get some more health-ma for Mom on Monday?

Of course, in abundance. An extra dose of coping with the stress ~ma as well. The testing/waiting/testing/waiting cycle is emotionally exhausting.

I'm sorry, Matt. The feeling of helplessness when loved ones are suffering never gets easier.

---

And because I left this page open last night and didn't hit post!

It sucks that Musk is killing it slowly.

Or quickly! I very rarely went into Twitter so it isn't a great a loss for me. I unsubscribed right after he bought it with the anticipation that I wouldn't miss it. I do know that for many it was a valuable source of idea exchange.

I figured out some of it so now I've got to push through and remind myself the sooner I get a job the sooner we can move out.

Yes, as much of a relief that it must be to wave the WC hassle behind you, it will be a new level of freedom to get away from that living situation.

---

I think part of my block is volunteering at Recraft and realizing I'd really like to work for a company or business that I felt more aligned with my values.

This isn’t a block! It’s a critical part of the job search process.

how slim the job options are when it comes to jobs paying less than $15/hr.

?? Do you *need* to get a job where you make <$15/hr ???

Hope your Mom’s surgery goes smoothly, Matt.

---

Thanks guys. Fortunately both Mom and I are pretty chill about her upcoming procedure, since she's had it once before with no complications. I just wish I could be similarly optimistic about the other relatives and friend, but I have a sinking feeling about two of them and the third was such a surprise I don't know what to think.

In far less serious news, I was disappointed to find out last night that the converted gas station/event space I'd been wanting to try was not a great burger joint as I'd been told, and the on-site food truck that used to have amazingly good sloppy Joes (really more like meat loaf hoagies) had changed ownership and cuisines. Though it becoming a hot dog truck with excellent Chicago dogs and really nice workers is a pretty good consolation prize.

---

Java, so much of what you said about Twitter rings true for me. It’s not a social/friend space except for a spare handful of people like Cindy. But it is – or was – a really good way of catching up on current events or discussions that I might have otherwise missed. And an irreplaceable window into perspectives and viewpoints that don’t get a lot of air or depth, most especially for me Disability Twitter, J Twitter, and Black Twitter. I’ve commiserated and learned from people who share my experiences with things like fibroids and depression, and expanded my knowledge of many more.

Plus, so many delightful rabbit holes. I’ve learned so much about the worlds of sled dogs, agricultural inspection, the publishing world, and most recently the absolute shitshow of a Telenovela that the British royal family has descended into.

Maybe because I don’t engage all that much or maybe just by luck I still don’t find myself getting served up all the RW cranks and trolls (except now in the blue check comments). But I’m definitely noticing more and more great accounts shifting away, and all in different directions.

---

All the best to your Mom Matt. And to everyone we love who is poorly. Aging is for the birds.

---

Matt I'm sorry so many people around you are having such a hard time. I hope that your Mom's procedure and the outcome are better than what is expected.

?? Do you *need* to get a job where you make <$15/hr ???

I was making more than that at Belk and I don't really want to go too far backward in terms of salary. I am looking at things that have $14 in their salary range but I don't want to go back to making less than that, especially since a lot of the listings are like $10-$12 and I'm not getting paid that little.

---

Askye, I think she meant that it would be reasonable to look at jobs where you'd be making more than 15 an hour

---

was never a super regular user of Twitter but it gave me a way to interact with a lot more diverse set of people than I ever would have in real life. And I learned a lot of cool stuff.

Exactly!! Thank you Erika and Brenda and Laura and meara for chiming in; I actually felt a little self-conscious about writing so much about another online place in this online place! Thanks for putting up with me!

I feel so strongly that $15 should be the federal minimum wage, and I hope your next job is something you enjoy and pays you well, askye. (I recently spent a few hours on a site that compares wages and inflation for the last several decades and was blown away that the minimum wage I made at Eddie Bauer when I was 18 was basically like $16 now when adjusted for inflation!) So everyone who thinks $15 is too much for a federal minimum wage can suck it.

Matt, it’s really hard to be at the age where we just know a lot of people who have health problems, and I think most of us have hit that age. It sucks. It’s really hard. I always say that aging is the absolute worst reward for having survived.

Laura one day I want to visit your Otter Lake place. It looks so peaceful.

---

Timelies all!

The weekend with Mr. S went pretty well(other than him waking us up at 6 Saturday morning). No meltdowns at bedtime(although he didn't get to sleep before 10 either night. We need to work on that for when he gets discharged)

Yesterday was rather unpleasant, weather-wise. Didn't help that our ac wasn't working very well.(As in, the fan was working, but we weren't getting cool air.) Amazingly enough, turning the ac off for a bit, then turning it back on rebooted it, and by 3 am it was cool enough to get under the covers. Also, the power went out for a bit in the afternoon.(thunderstorms) Much more pleasant today.

---