You know, I keep seeing YouTube videos where people suddenly find a cat in their closed/locked home. Things like, they get up in the middle of the night and there's a cat in their kitchen sink; they're all "I don't have a cat" and it occurred to me - what if these cats represent an alien invasion? They don't necessarily want to take over the world in the usual sense, they just want someplace where they'll be fed, cared for and generally rule an individual family without the fuss of an actual invasion or fighting humans. Really - many cats COULD be aliens and they can live a life of comfort if not luxury without much in the way of exertion.

If I had the option of convincing someone I was a cat, picking a house and teleporting in does seem like a good option

msbelle, I'm so sorry. I keep hoping the awful will abate for all of us.

Congratulations, Todd! We were finally able to get appointments for my parents tomorrow. My sister also snagged one for me, and hers is on Monday. I am incredibly relieved, especially for my folks.

(squeaks with glee at Dana's link)

Toddson, based on my late feline overlords and Ken's current one, that strikes me as extremely plausible.

Dear service people, call and tell me my car's finished? I don't want to drive over the Narrows Bridge in a downpour, please and thank you. (I've done it, but do not like.)

The city's online system is a disaster - they'll announce a certain number of appointments (for higher priority people) and when many, many more try to book an appointment, it crashes. I ended up registering with MedStar, since I get most of my healthcare through their doctors at the hospital (it's a teaching hospital, so I'm often dealing with interns - one of whom had no idea how to deal with someone who had HAD MEASLES - who consult with a more experienced doctor as needed). They didn't have appointments available immediately, but asked if I'd like to be on their waiting list, which is how I got my appointments after not too long.

I'm so sorry, msbelle

And still no communication with people, no posts on social media. I am sure there are some emails and texts flying about, but ugh. We have here. This place helps me process our shared losses.

msbelle, I know one friend of your friend who is not wanting to post anything on social media because they don't know who knows (it is still delightfully weird to me that you and I have some of this other group in common, btw). Glad you have here. Glad we all have here. Here is good.

Here is good.

I’m very sorry msbelle.

Here is good.

I'm so sorry, msbelle.

Randomly, I discovered yesterday, I think, that you know someone I went to college with. We aren't FB friends, but he'd probably (?) recognize me? We weren't friends in school, really, but definitely the "acknowledge as you passed" and knew names kind of thing. I know I thought he was a nice guy; I remember that much. Anyway, I don't know why FB popped him up for me, but when I clicked, I saw a convo with you, your brother, and him about knitting.

You guys talking about ice cream last night forced me to go buy some at, like, 9:30p. That's right. I blame you. It was good, though, so it's OK. And the Magic Shell was all on me.