Sheryl, I'm so sorry. That is all so hard. It's also such an example of where we need first responders that aren't all police.

Hugs, Sheryl. I am so worried about Mr S, you, and Gary.

Today is Shir's birthday! I hope that you are having a lovely day. We all hope to see that this is the year where sanity, kindness, and peace come for you and yours.

The official calendar also indicates that today is Sheryl and Gary's anniversary. Sending hugs. I'm sorry that you aren't getting the help you need and deserve.

Sheyl, I'm sorry it's so fucking hard and that outside help is not what it needs to be. I do hope you can enjoy your anniversary.

Happy Birthday to you, Shir. What Laura said so beautifully is my wish for you as well.

Encouraging news on prisoners being released from Russia. The families must be overjoyed.

Did I mention one of our residents, a retired journalist, got snatched by the KGB during the Reagan era? But it only took like a month to get him released. As you can imagine, I've been following this sad story with interest.

Wow, Theo, that is definitely not something you'd shared before. I bet he was following it closely, too.

I had a lovely lunch with my aunt yesterday and then I went to a postcard writing thing at Harris/Kaine in the evening. Good day. I mean, and I worked, but that was just average.

Ooh, and I had a really good peach, a bag of which a friend gave me last weekend from an orchard picking run she had done. Man, freshly picked fruit. Yum.

What's up with everyone this weekend?

I watched the video of hostages' families talking to them on the phone (hostages on the plane heading home, families in the Oval Office). My allergies are acting up.

What's up with everyone this weekend?

End of vacation. We leave Sunday to go back to the land of no ocean and no incredibly fresh seafood. :(

That said, I miss our scapegrace of a kitty, and as always, I miss my own bed. But it's been a good vacation. Lazier than most years, which would have seemed impossible to me before, but we pulled it off. Though today we're going to wander down to the tiny museum in Topsail Beach that has, among other exhibits, an exhibit about pirates. I'm planning to exclaim "Where's Wee John? Where's Buttons?" as many times as I can before Tim shushes me.

No exciting plans for the weekend. Looks like it will be rainy so I really should do some housecleaning. With construction in progress I lack motivation, but I really prefer a clean environment.

Went to the chiropractor this morning to perhaps unstiffen these stiff bones. We've been going to the gym every morning where I have just been biking and doing the hip PT. I need to do some upper body stuff but haven't yet. I know the only way to be able to do more is to do more, but it would be so much nicer to sit in a rocking chair sipping tea and reading.