I prescribe junk food and comfort rereads as needed for the interim. I'm really glad you got to speak to some knowledgeable. Keep reminding yourself that the expert says that it is mostly likely either a false alarm or something caught very early. Be gentle with yourself.

Susan, so hopeful that this turns out to be a whole lot of nothing.

When I was being treated for PE blood clots/anemia etc a few years ago, they sent me to see a hematologist, and nobody mentioned that this guy‘s practice was out of the Rush University Cancer Center. I got off the elevator at the floor they told me, saw all the signage and just about lost my shit. I think most people in medical capacities like this are genuinely trying to be sensitive, but sometimes they really miss the little things that can set off a chain of panic.

Laura, that picture is delightful. I saw it earlier, but I had forgotten the context of the bathing suit.

He insisted on eating outside and had the sliding glass door in his room to sleep, and when he is up he is on the balcony. Generally getting as much warm air as he can before going back to snow next week.

100% me anywhere vaguely tropical.

Susan, I know that Feb 1 sounds like a long time, and once "The Big C" is brought up everything is ten times scarier. But really, Feb 1 is less than 2 weeks away. You got this. And you got us. (And you got permission to apply junk food as needed in the interim).

smonster, I really hope that a solution to the issues you're having with your workplace presents itself very soon.

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Erikaj, I’ve sort of been doing 2 out of 3 for the past year, what with other commitments, travel, COVID, etc. I could probably get by cutting it to half. I would like to stay in touch with some of them.

{{{{Susan}}}}

Oh, Susan, I hope this resolves quickly and with much less stress.

I spent the day with Phil the Gambler and his ladyfriend which was fun.

I gave them a tour of the house and after Phil spent a goodly chunk of the day looking up random properties on Redfin and yelling, "I need to buy a Victorian in San Francisco!"

Jennifer's in town for two events at Sketchfest which is a big Thing now. I guess it's been a thing for a while now, but it's sort of turning into a stateside Fringe Festival. Except less cutting edge and more nostalgia (lots of Kids in the Hall stuff).

I walked them through the Panhandle, picked up some baked goods at Shlok's Bagels and Hahdough's german bakery. Then we ate brunch at Brenda's Meat and Three: [link]

Oh, it's so fucking good. I had a gumbo which was just the thing for the lingering after effects of my head cold and sampled a shrimp Po Boy (which was ridiculously yummy).

We tromped on back through the rain, and I saw that the elusive Brigadoon hat shop (only open Fri-Sun) was open and knowing she was a serious hat fiend, redirected her into the shop. Where she made the owner very happy by dropping serious coin on a couple hats.

Dropped them off at the house, while I drove to Matilda's school to pick up her ceramics projects from last term. (Truly her best work.)

Then came back, and it being after 4pm, walked them through the rain to Alembic (with pit stops at Borderland Books and Booksmith) where they sampled way too many food stuffs, but sometimes you need the blue cheese plate.

Back at home by 6:15 for a lingering-cold-nap. Day well spent despite the dreary weather.

I gave them a tour of the house and after Phil spent a goodly chunk of the day looking up random properties on Redfin and yelling, "I need to buy a Victorian in San Francisco!"

I don't know why this is so funny to me, but this is hysterically funny to me.

Ooof, Susan. I'm sorry you went through all the extra trouble and stress. Hoping for the best it's-nothing news.

lisah and Pix and ND, continued~ma. You are all in my thoughts and heart.

And in a separate post: you know, I may start to accept did that I live in a crazy place and in crazy times. Here goes the story: on Thursday afternoon I was trying to understand how to get back from work home. Here are the basics: there are three ways for me to commute back back home. There were also two demonstrations on roads next or on my way back home, and I was also trying to understand which of these options is not only avoiding traffic but is also keeping me safe as possible considering that there are still on occasion air raid sirens and if I'm on the bus that's less than ideal. I pretty much came to conclusion on how I should go - while also handling a work crisis that could have been completely avoided if someone would have shared info with me when they had it two weeks ago and that I asked for - but that's another story.

An hour later I heard the news that there was a shooting incident (random crime, not war related) on the way that I thought to take home. At this point it was like, okay, I'll just randomly pick and see what comes up because obviously I cannot plan for every scenario. And at this point I managed to say, okay, maybe getting back home from the office shouldn't be that complicated or to require pen and paper to calculate risks and options.

(The random way I eventually picked back home went smoothly).