Thanks so much for your update, Shir

Timelies all!

I’m sorry for your loss, Karl.

Sheryl, I think of you and Gary and Mr. S every day, and hope with all my heart for good outcomes for all of you.

It's been such an awful few months for so many of those closest to me. Thank you all for looking out for me and for each other.

I'm sorry, Karl.

I also got today the key to a friends' house. I'll water the plants and take care of the cats while they're abroad - they dont want their kids to be here during all of this. The plus side is that they have a secured room in their place which I now can freely occupy if things will get worse (the sheltering options in my building are less secured).

A coworker was telling us how she ended up late to a meeting because she had to go into a safe room/shelter space until there was an all clear the other day, which I have to say beats my frequent "sorry, there was a line for the bathroom in my own house" reason. I'm glad you've got a good sheltering option now.

ltc woke up screaming about spiders around midnight. It took forever to calm her down, and now I can’t get back to sleep. Sending out hugs and love to everyone. I’m sorry so many people are dealing with so much right now.

Karl, I'm sorry for your family's loss.

lisah, keeping you and yours in my thoughts as you navigate this with your dad.

Sheryl, always hoping for some solid help for you guys

Shir and Nilly, in my heart always.

I know I've missed some important things, but, essentially, this place is always in my mind and in my heart.

Friends, I'm sorry I've been so absent lately. I have been reading and sending virtual hugs and positive wishes; I've just been operating in overwhelm. My troubles are minuscule compared to war and loss of life, of course.

Had a great trip to Boston with 20 of my journalism students Nov. 1-5, but since I'm on JEA's board, I was pulling 16 hour days with very few breaks. Got home, taught for two and a half days and then caught a plane to Florida Wednesday afternoon to be here for an important follow-up appointment with my dad's pulmonologist. Unsurprisingly after 59 years of smoking — despite having quit in 2009 or so — Dad has Stage 3 severe COPD on top of the ongoing issues with vascular dementia. I REALLY like his doctor, though (yay for good doctors!), and he's got him on a new treatment plan that should help. He's supposed to also start PT...we shall see if I can actually get him to go. Anyway, I had lunch with Dad after the appointment, dropped him off, drove back down to Miami to the hotel, and spent five hours straight in virtual parent-teacher conferences. 0/10, do not recommend. The parents were fine, but I was TOAST by the end. This morning, I grabbed a bite, dropped off my rental car (and then cursed myself because I forgot to refill the tank on the way, and they charge $10.60/gallon to do it for you), and I'm now sitting at my gate, ready to fly home. At least it's Veterans Day, so I didn't have to take the day off.

Anyway, I'm not posting about it publicly aside from here, but the combo of ND and I dealing with some significant financial setbacks, Dad's ongoing health, and work stuff, I've been a bit more of a hermit than usual.

But I'm reading and thinking about you, especially Nilly and Shir, and sending you all my love.

I know I've missed some important things, but, essentially, this place is always in my mind and in my heart.

Yes. This. Thank you.

Thoughts of comfort for lisah and Amy. My parents are long gone since they would have been 102 this year, but the years of role reversal mostly I remember lovingly, as we did get closer during those difficult times.

My joke is that my mom could never have married someone her age, because they wouldn't be able to keep up with her, so she had to marry someone 12 years younger than her.

When my mom married my step-dad he was 15 years younger. He was such an old fuddy duddy and she was so vibrant we thought it appropriate. He just turned 87 a couple days ago, and still an old fuddy duddy. I'm relieved that he now shares a 2 bedroom apartment with an old friend widow. He needs companionship, not to mention shared expenses.

Hang in there, Sheryl.

Any update in plans for Mr S? It must be heartbreaking to have to put him back in a residential environment. No doubt the temporary living situation was even harder on him than it is for you and Gary.

Friends: Wish I had some local ones. Proximity matters so much.

I really need to get some local friends. Seriously, I have lovely relatives, but pretty much zero in the way of actual friends here. I know it takes an effort, and maybe when I retire it will be easier to join groups and meet people. All work and family raising for so many years occupied so much of my time that socialization just ended.

I’m on my way to my dance weekend!

Yay! Have a blast!

Friends, I'm sorry I've been so absent lately. I have been reading and sending virtual hugs and positive wishes; I've just been operating in overwhelm. My troubles are minuscule compared to war and loss of life, of course.

This. I have been overwhelmed with the rellocation back to Florida, and lots of work stuff, and family stuff. And I would really rather hang out here.

I have a DEA audit today related to my doctors doing controlled substance prescriptions. I have to do the audit every two years so of course I totally forget everything! The auditor does seem like a really sweet person and let me delay it a couple weeks past the due date.

Love and ~ma to all.

Friends, I'm sorry I've been so absent lately. I have been reading and sending virtual hugs and positive wishes; I've just been operating in overwhelm. My troubles are minuscule compared to war and loss of life, of course.

So many of us are in this state. I propose a Buffista Retreat where we rent a private island/cabin in the woods/mountaintop villa and set up fifteen to twenty cozy reading nooks with unlimited tea and grilled cheese sandwiches.

I propose a Buffista Retreat where we rent a private island/cabin in the woods/mountaintop villa and set up fifteen to twenty cozy reading nooks with unlimited tea and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Yes, please.