Sheryl, I feel confident in asserting that, one way or another, we have all been there.

Yes, some virtual options added on the regular to the general mix once After gets here would be great for many.

Indeed. I can hardly wait to get back to in-person church or to actually drive up to Canada for next year's Surrey International Writers Conference, because while virtual is better than nothing, it's not enough. OTOH, I'm hoping against hope that work will let us stay remote at least 3-4 days/week. I like my job and my coworkers, but our big noisy open plan office is, if not hell, a kind of purgatory for my definitely introverted and possibly ADHD self. I feel like I'm at least as productive and much less stressed despite the occasional inconvenience of not being in the same room with my colleagues. And I'm planning to wear a mask during cold/flu season at least, because colds tend to take out the staff like dominoes, and I've always been one of the susceptible ones.

The "boy next door" from when I grew up died yesterday. My sister, who lived with him for a time when she about 30 called me to let me know. He was 10 years older than me and I knew him all my life, although I didn't keep in touch after moving to Florida. Anyway, Judi has quite a few art pieces he did, and my other sister has a painting he did of Otter Lake with an eagle flying over for my mom. Freak accident. Apparently he was an avid fisherman and was crossing over one of the rivers in central NY when he lost his footing and was swept away. So, not a hard loss in that we hadn't been close in decades, but a sad loss of a good man. RIP, Keith.

Well fuckity. Mac dropped a class without telling me and is currently failing the other class he is in. Without taking 2 classes all $$ I use from the college savings account could be taxed.

And one of my uncles who has been having some cognitive issues, took a sharp decline this week and had to get admitted to the hospital. Now he has to be in isolation at the retirement facility for two weeks before he can be possibly transferred to the memory care or nursing section. He is not in great physical shape either (needs a walker to walk and will likely be in a wheelchair soon, congestive heart failure also).

I'm sorry, msbelle. Kids! Your poor uncle, I'm sure he is terribly frustrated, as are the healthcare workers whose hands are understandably tied.

Oof, msbelle. That's a lot of hits. I'm sorry!

And I'm sorry about your friend, Laura.

I'm sorry for your loss, Laura.

Ugh, msbelle. I'm so sorry about Mac, and tons of ~ma for your uncle.

So much ~ma to the uncles of sj and msbelle. And, oh, Mac, please, kid. You know better; do better!

ND, you've taken heroic care of your staff and your business under the absolute worst circumstances this year. No ranting apology needed--it's amazing that you haven't spent the entire last 10 months doing nothing but rant.

And Shir, I'm so sorry about your friend. All possible good and healing thoughts.

I've been sitting here for 20 minutes trying to think of something nice or goofy or distracting to say, but I am drained. Not even depressed, just empty. All I want is to curl up with spouse and kid and the piggies and draw the curtains tight and not move until spring, and I don't understand why some venture capitalist hasn't funded a bioengineering project to make human hibernation a viable option.

Ugh, Mac!!

ND rant away. I’m very impressed you’ve managed to not utterly fall apart and hope you get to take a good vacation sometime once that’s possible rather than just having to double down and go harder.

My puppy got groomed today for the first time—he’s been before but more for a wash and blow dry than an actual trim. And he is soooooo soft now!! I just want to loooooove him

I'm sorry, Laura. And I'm sorry, msbelle.