Cats are absolutely militarized alarm clocks. One of the reasons they are so useful to have around when you are clinically depressed. Gotta get out of bed, even if only to feed the knife-fingered demon nibbling at your eyelids and yowling for noms. Once up and functional enough to open a can of cat food, might as well check messages and make that dreaded phone call. I might be speaking from personal experience.

I cleaned the kitchen yesterday of all the post-thanksgiving prep mess. Then melted four+ pounds of beeswax and stayed up until 2am dipping candles and making a new mess.

Heartened that Hamas is releasing some hostages. That seems like a step in the right direction for human-based co-existence.

I'm very intrigued by Drew's more spooky ACC design. It speaks to my heart. Not enough to fly to SoCal to see it, but enough to consider. My favorite sequence ever to call in a theatre was the opening of Act II of ACC to that Carol of the Bells. It's so....energetic? That's not quite the right word. Def gets the blood pumping.

Timelies all!

Gary and I are going to a concert tonight. Mr. S will be with the nanny for a few hours.

Not sure if I wrote here before about the horrid reality show aspect of the hostages exchanges, but this sums it up pretty accurately: [link]

It's so good to see them back home, it's a torture not to know who will we get and in what state they'll be, and yes, we all feel a bit responsible. There's a collective Israeli "we" here, and I know in my bones that 2-3 other personal life choices and it could've been me in their place, or in a grave. This happened three hours away from me. This cannot happen again, to anyone.

I don't know what the future holds for Israel/Palestine. I don't think a war alone is the answer to anything. But politically things will change here. There is no other way forward. This is the place of political leadership to step in and think of another future, but sadly, we don't really have this at the moment. Until we do it kind of feels like it's between the US, Qatar, and Iran to think for us about that future.

Mood after seven weeks of war: I referred to the cat as the militarized wing of the alarm clock.

Hah! That is a hilarious way to put it! I hope things keep getting tiny bits better.

Laura, retiring in 3 months?? That’s exciting! Would B also retire, or just you?

Erin, I hope the news gets better and you have plenty of time to get there.

I have arrived at friends’ house and the dog is very grateful to not be in the car anymore.

Sorry that the road trip was a drag for the dog, but yay for safe arrival.

Laura, retiring in 3 months?? That’s exciting! Would B also retire, or just you?

Indeed. I turn 70 in February and although I won't stop working I will stop being on the computer all day, for the sake of my eyes. I told Brendon that I would still be happy to go out to practices to train and visit, and of course, will be available if they get stuck on a technical issue. In theory, my son will be able to take over for me on the day-to-day support. Brendon is 11 years younger than me so he plans to continue to work full time. If we could sell the business or something then I'd be delighted for both of us to retire. We'll see how it goes. Frankly, I am just over it. I've worked non-stop since I was a teenager. The last 40 years or so involved being on the computer all day every day. It's taken a toll on my eyes. It's still my business so it isn't like I walk out the door with a watch, but I won't be on the clock anymore, so to speak.

Good to hear from all of you. I had some salmon for Thanksgiving and have a good deal left over (I always expect to eat more salmon than I can). And, this year, I am very thankful for Leslie Jones.

First day at new job. Now with an office instead of a cubicle. It’s all very exciting.

That's excellent, msbelle!

Yay, congrats, msbelle!

I have the same issue with salmon, Toddson.

The one counterpoint to the fabulous ease of going out for Thanksgiving dinner is that we don't have leftovers but for a meager mix of what we couldn't eat at the restaurant.

I did buy GF stuffing, and I have potatoes, so maybe I'll make some "leftovers" today.

Ooh la la an office!! Hope the new job treats you with the respect you deserve, msbelle