I am late and slow this day, but at last have arrived to announce that today is a day to celebrate Jessica's birthday!! I hope you have been spoiled today and that this year is a very good year.

(Thank you but my birthday is tomorrow!)

You are right!! Good grief, I can't brain at all. I saw it on my calendar and didn't notice that I wasn't looking at today. Have any fun plans?

I’m glad that a number of lower level races are going our way. NC voted Dems for governor and attorney general, and the state congress lost their super majority, so a veto matters again. But I’ll be glad to move to the land of Big Gretch.

I submitted a rental application as soon as I got home yesterday. Now I’m waiting to see if it’s accepted. No reason it shouldn’t be, but I can’t confirm movers and get the utilities going until I have a contract. If it is accepted soon I could move as soon as the 23rd. My sister is already making Thanksgiving day plans for me.

Calli, I hope everything works out the way you want. Courage! Forward! I admire your spirit!

Sheryl, I'm so sorry. Maybe this time they'll find a treatment that works better.

Y'all, I just had a revelation about the Repubs long game. And it's a long, long, deeply held and treasured belief that they're right and will guide the rest of us in the Way.

The last few decades nonsense about public schools teaching to the test and teaching less and less about subjects people need to live, work and improve conditions for everyone in the world have been no accident nor careless wishing on their part. It's all clear now. Public schools have been dumbed down on purpose, slowly but surely, for the purpose of warehousing children of ordinary people and the poor. Public schools will funnel graduates into the military, into field work, housework, janitorial and sanitation work, childcare all at low pay and no exit strategy. Children of the rich will attend private schools tailored toward careers in finance, medicine, law, politics, and government. They will never see or experience the life of the lower class, will have no empathy or understanding, and will work and live and legislate for their own class. Deporting all the immigrants and funnelling our kids into doing that work will insure that nobody has to have servants of color around anymore.

And meanwhile we have stupid TV bread and circuses and no opportunities to learn facts about government and our own circumstances. Well played, Republican long game.

I'm not normally given to conspiracy theories, but it isn't conspiracy when it's becoming reality, right?

Calli, which part of Michigan are you headed to?

We came in second at trivia again tonight! Random word I knew that everyone was like “wtf how do you know that”: spinel (a gemstone). We were tied for 4th after the first half but cleaned up on the second half.

Trying to continue to take joy in the little things.

Today really is a day to celebrate Jessica! (well, we can celebrate her any day) I hope this day brings nothing but joy and delight. May the year to come be everything you hope for and more.

Happy Birthday, Jess!

Happy Birthday, Jessica! May your day be fun, your cake delicious, and your year ahead fabulous!