Wouldn't spontaneous human combustion be more his style? Loud, flashy... leaves a greasy residue.

Susan, Casper is now in the middle of her third gap year and is not interested in college so I understand your fears. But she’s also working full-time and is self-managing (while living free in our house) and is thinking about starting an IRA with all her money and is a perfectly lovely person to live with. She's reading us LOTR out loud in the evenings after she gets home from work and delights in using her money to buy us Christmas presents. She’s only 20. There are a lot of paths.

I wouldn't change anything, because I love the friends I made, and they are still my besties and the ones I see and whose backs we mutually have, but... I was not emotionally mature at 17 in a lot of ways even though I seemed that way. I would have benefitted immensely from a couple of gap years working -- I just needed more time in the ol' oven, really. (My mother would have flipped at the concept. ETA: Actually, so would BackThenJen have flipped at the concept; I was so rigid, poor noodle.)

Anything that elevates his blood pressure towards a stroke is good with me.

And another conspiracy theory about how the left-wing radicals did this to him.

I've been buried in the work stuff so skimming. Love to all.

I'm not doing Christmas this year as it was just too much on top of my current to-do list. I'll do it again next year. Just a break from it.

Thanks, y'all! I'm feeling a bit better this morning, not least because Alex seems to be proactively making plans to talk to the Seattle Promise folks about his options and isn't letting the situation throw him into a doom loop.

Hey all. Spreading love and hugs around to whomever wants them!

Susan, my Sara (also 20) didn't start college immediately. She's been working at the local Friends School as a teacher aide and afterschool counselor and general helpmeet, and loves it, and works a few shifts a week at a pizzeria in town. She's making her own money, and partially contributing to rent, albeit not saving much (due to wanting clothes and to redecorate her room every few months). She's planning to start school next fall, and I think she's much more ready for it now, and has applied a lot of real-life experience to majoring in education.

Took my mom to have Mohs surgery in Philadelphia yesterday -- the removal of a Stage 2 melanoma from her cheek. They got clean edges, but they had to take a lot to get there, and the reconstruction of her cheek took 300 stitches. Not 30, 300! It was all a bit horrifying and pretty rough on an 80-year-old, but she's a trouper, thank god. I am, on the other hand, exhausted. Driving in and out of Philly, both ways in the dark, is absolutely taking your life in your hands.

But I'm feeling pretty Christmas-y this year, and working on cards (which will, of course, be late), and even made some cookies. Yay. I miss you people and this place, but work does not allow any time for daytime posting -- it's just actually too busy. Which sucks!

I've been reading along with Shir and Nilly's posts with an aching heart, and thinking good thoughts at everyone even when I can't keep up. So, more hugs, and all kinds of love, to everyone!

Oh, David. Oh, Matilda. I wish I could come visit and bring what love I can.

Hi Amy!

Work has decided to change our schedule so instead of being in the office M-T,Th we'll be in the office T-W-Th and WFH M, F. It feels like a non change, really - making a meaningless change so it seems like they are doing something rather than actually trying to make anything better. My department was just gearing up to maybe agitate for less in office time, so my coworkers are irritated. But it doesn't start until "after the holidays" so I am working from home today and I seem to have left my motivation to actually do work at the office. At least I remembered to make coffee.

So much love to you, David.

I'm really struggling today. Dad is still in the hospital and will probably be discharged today, which is good, but his future care is overwhelming. ND's business again has three clients who owe a ton of money and are ghosting him, which means no one has been paid this pay period (wonderful timing with the holidays), and our debts are stressing us both out beyond belief. I know this isn't forever. There are some hopeful things on the horizon for both dad (being willing to consider assisted living finally) and the business (some big contracts lining up for first quarter, which is awesome), but right now, things kind of suck. And I'm so tired of the hospital. ND is going home tonight. I don't know yet for sure when I am.

Not looking for solutions, but I feel like this is one of the places I can just vent this, so thanks.

{{{Pix}}}