Yum, and impressive, Consuela!!

I had a lovely day, my sister drove us from Philly to DC and we had brunch with my friends, and then I went to the soccer game with one (sadly the other had to cancel as her kid was sick) and now we are chilling. The only bad part is it’s Sunday night and I have to work tomorrow.

Drew so glad you’re able to go to the funeral. (And t, and anyone else who makes it)

Quick recovery wishes for your dad, Atropa.

Fully baked, very flaky, no burned bits. Perfect.

Most impressive!

Drew so glad you’re able to go to the funeral. (And t, and anyone else who makes it)

Yes. May there be many hugs.

Has a lightning quick trip to Montreal to see Nick Cave solo (though Colin Greenwood from Radiohead was playing with him.)

I saw that show in Chicago!

{{{Jilli}}}

Made it to SF. So tired. I’ve done a couple of months worth of my usual driving mileage in the last couple of days. I don’t know why I thought that would be easy.

My dad did the not tell his daughters about his hospitalization thing. Screaming seems like a reasonable response.

Congrats on the successful baking, Consuela!

Poland may have some good electoral news. [link]

I went to a chestnut festival today. I came home with some goodies—chestnuts and baked goods containing them. They were offering the new, blight-resistant American chestnut saplings, but as I rent I couldn’t take one. If I’d known they’d have them I would have asked my landlords if they wanted me to nab one. Oh well. Still, it’s nice that they’re available. My great grand nibblings may sit under chestnut trees someday.

I will be there in spirit, if not person. David, add my love and wishes to all the others for JZ's life celebration. I will try to follow her fierce tradition of caring and fighting for people with love and compassion.

Shir, Nilly, you and your families are constantly in my thoughts right now. I am trying to avoid hot takes and knee-jerk reactionaries on the internet. My friend here is helping keep me focused on the people and who are suffering and need relief, rather than lash out about politics and culture wars. We don't need more war. We need peace. And a lot of it.

Drew, chicks dig scars. But that said, CAREFUL next time! This isn't Iron Chef!

My heart's aching but it's dull sometimes and I'm working through stuff by focusing on what I can do. Not what I can't.

I'm so grateful to all of you who are able to go to Jacqueline's funeral. I wish I could be there too, but David and Matilda, I'll be thinking of you all day tomorrow and holding you in my heart.

Also grateful for Shir and Nilly being OK and able to check in from time to time.

Atropa, wishing your dad a quick recovery.

{{{Buffistas}}}

DavidS, wishing you guests who recognize you're grieving and give you space for that. Barring that, wishing you friends who'll run interference.

Shir, Nilly, as we say on this side of the schism, /i Dona Nobis Pacem

Made it to SF. So tired.

I will be so happy to see you, minus-t! Expect a big and affectionate hug.

In-Laws arrived, so MiL, Sunny, spent part of the evening with us and retired early. Matilda kind of came and went as we all had big deli sandwiches for late lunch/early dinner.

Then I wound up making cocktails for Chris (JZ's brother) and TJ (the husband of Jacqueline's other brother, Lucas).

And we talked for several hours and it was heartfelt, honest and affecting. But I'm also more emotionally spent than I thought I'd be the night before.

Everything is costing more emotional energy than I expect at this point. I should have known that but I've been in Event Planning mode and then the reality of My Wife's Funeral keeps asserting itself.

Iris the nice lady at the church, found a big lot of purple flowers and has personally promised to supplant all the pink Gerbera daisies with purple. And I have confirmation that JZ's birthdate is officially corrected.

So. I am ready and eager to hug Tamara and Drew and Juliana and Sylvie and Lois and all Buffistae who can make it there tomorrow. But tomorrow is going to be hard.

I'm glad the service is early. I'm glad the service is relatively short. I'm glad the reception is on-site. And I will be eager to go home and decompress. For like a month...

When I walked into his hospital room today, he smiled and said "What a lovely surprise! Who told you?" Because of course he didn't expect M (my pseudo step-sister). to tell me because he's never wanted to worry me and I swear to G-D if I hear that phrase from Dad one more time I may start screaming and never stop.

OMFG! AHAHAHAHA. The fuck, Dad? I mean, for serious reals.

May the service go smoothly, Hec.