But boy does my arm hurt!

Is it just me, or did anybody else have a quick vision of -t telling us she just flew in from Miami?

Ha!

Come to find out my GODDAMNED SISTER who has been WORKING IN HER OFFICE this WHOLE TIME while TAKING CARE OF OUR FATHER WITH COPD DID NOT GET FUCKING VACCINATED. Neither did my niece who also works full time but lives with Dad and helps take care of him.

THE ACTUAL FUCK?!?!?!?

Ugh, Cashmere, I'm so sorry about this bullshit. Thinking of your dad... and get better soon!

In I can apparently still be surprised news, the wackadoodle Cyber Ninjas audit in Arizona results in more votes for Biden and confirms his victory. Did not see that one coming.

So I have mentioned that I am going to Owasco Lake to visit a friend I haven't seen in about 60 years, along with my sister and another old neighbor. The other friend is my oldest friend, as she lived two houses away and our mothers were pregnant at the same time. The friend we are visiting lived across the street but moved a couple of hours away when we were children. Our parents remained friends. The upside of FB is that I have kept in contact with these women.

So, now last minute I need help!! I didn't realize until today that it is her birthday today and we see her tomorrow. My other friend's birthday was earlier this month. We are all the same age. I want to bring her something, in general, because of visiting, and now more so because of her birthday. At our age we don't need more stuff. I am at a loss.

Baked goods are usually welcome.

Thinking more and scrolling through her pictures I remember how artsy she is and into antiques, and cooking, and books, and so forth. I'm going to stop by an antique place up here and see if I find something that inspires me. She often posts pictures of lovely place settings with her culinary creations.

I often default to plants and pretty succulents these days. I mean, succulents are plants, so if I don't know whether someone "does" houseplants, then succulents are usually a safe bet.

I can check out the nursery too. Thanks.

That does sound awesome, David. Enjoy, all!

It was fantastic. Especially considering how starved everybody is for social contact still. The highlight for me, was that Chip got to spend time with my kids, who are, frankly, really cool, nice, funny people. And their charm is amplified by ten when they are together because their affection for each other is so playful and present.

I didn't plan it this way, but Chip sat opposite from Emmett at the table and they were just vibing on each other all night as I knew they would. Chip was close with my Dad, and Emmett has a lot of my father's best qualities (gregarious, laughy, warm hearted, great storyteller).

Also it was really nice to have EM there. We didn't get to do xmas or thanksgiving with her last year, and while we've seen her since, this definitely like a renewal of our family celebrations. Also really nice to have Emmett's girlfriend, Kalena there as she's becoming more integrated into our extended family.

Before they arrived I went out and got cocktails to go from Alembic, so we could they could all have a fancy drink before we walked to the restaurant. We went to our favorite local Thai place, and had the restaurant to ourselves, and they treated us like royalty. (It's one of the three restaurants I personally tried to keep afloat during the lockdown by going there regularly for takeout.) Food was superb, they brought the cake I got from our traditional baker, Schubert's (the Fuerst Pueckler!)

Came back home and opened Emmett's presents (all big hits), and Matilda opened her presents from Emmett (reserving some for her actual birthday). Chip got to hear Emmett do his Irish stories (with all the accents), which are fucking hilarious. And EM was too schnockered to drive home, so she slept on the couch.

So the whole thing was wonderful on multiple levels, and I got to have coffee and fancy cake for breakfast.

In I can apparently still be surprised news, the wackadoodle Cyber Ninjas audit in Arizona results in more votes for Biden and confirms his victory. Did not see that one coming.

I don't know why I'm surprised, too, but I am! Even though now that I think of it, that's literally exactly what's happened with every other audit of this election--angry people pouring a whole lot of time, effort and money into widening the margin by which the former guy lost--so this should have been totally predictable. Still, it's sweet.

I agree with both dcp and Jen--baked goods and succulents!

Dinner last night was lovely and happy-making; it would be wonderful if Chip and Carole could come back and visit again when we have a bigger place, for longer than a single dinner. And I still can't believe that big burly self-assured loving young bear of a man is the same little kid who was amazed and crestfallen when I explained that the voice of SpongeBob was just a regular human.