National Park Service has removed the T and the Q from the Stonewall Monument. The goddamned STONEWALL monument. Where a black trans women threw the first brick.

I can't take this anymore. It's a relentless stream of bad news and evil fuckery.

Cash, that one is especially infuriating.

Yeah, Cash. That's appalling. I'm so disappointed in so many agencies. OTOH it's clear that any pushback at many agencies is being punished with immediate (if illegal) firing. I mean, the SES doesn't know how to change the language on the webpage, they had to have a GS do that.

flea, I'm sorry for your DH. My friends at EPA out here are telling similar horror stories. One friend is now a 14, another a 15, and they're both at risk of being targeted through the Schedule F thing.

I got my hair cut this afternoon, and my stylist just didn't know about any of this. It was shocking to me, but then I feel like I have to know what's going on for my own protection...

I'm finally caught up after being behind all week! No meara, but let's see what I can remember...

I can't believe no one commented on David's "crotch-mahogany" chest. It's like I don't even know you guys any more.

David, what school in San Diego is Matilda considering? If SDSU, then I'm pretty sure not driving would really be a problem. If UCSD, I think it's more manageable. I feel like I always see so many more international students in the UCSD area making SD's not-awesome mass transit work for them. I'm having lunch tomorrow with a girlfriend whose daughter (I believe she's 21 or 22) doesn't drive. I'll ask for her/their take on it (the daughter went to UCSD).

Steph, thanks for the info that the shingles vax is good for up to 7 years. I got it last year, but my oncologist recommended against shingles & covid vaccinations due to poor timing with my infusion meds this year. I was able to get a flu shot through a work thing earlier in the fall, but not the other 2. And I have been concerned about shingles. I can mask up and play hermit against flu & covid, but shingles is apparently already ... lurking ... in me since having chicken pox when I was 6. (So, does that mean that all the kids who are no longer getting chicken pox because of the vaccine no longer have to worry about shingles 20 or 30 or however-many years from now? Cool.)

I feel almost guilty for how much I'm avoiding the news lately, but ... I just can't. It's too much. But good luck to all of you who are fed or fed-adjacent. I'm sorry this national nightmare is hitting so close to home.

How bad is it that 45/47's fuckery has made me somewhat relieved for the cancer? Like all the shit that I may not have to live through. That's fucked up, right?

I just realized a few minutes ago that today is my work anniversary. 20 years! I feel like I might have remembered sooner if not for the WFH ever since my first surgery (May of 2022). Ah well, we'll see what the new owners do for a big anniversary. I had my 15th during the pandemic under the former owners. (Useless glass trophy, but there was a bit of cash too.) Maybe this will be my thing from now on - celebrating work milestones from my own house.

I wish to report that I am sitting in the library wearing a mask from a box I bought on the way here because of Steph's advice, thankyouvverymuch.

Except I need to find a new seat, because it is freezing right where I'm sitting.

Epic, avoiding the news is likely better for your health, which, frankly, I care more about than that you are caught up on the firehose of crap, hate, and cruelty they are spewing.

I masked at the movie theater today because of Steph.

Epic, limiting your inputs so that you are not overwhelmed to the point of paralysis is a valid choice.

Thus far Ken is all right - he's directly involved in patient support at the VHA. If he's not, he moves to Whidbey with us and I don't have to worry about finding furniture for the living room, only where to put two TVs.

Steph, thanks for the info that the shingles vax is good for up to 7 years.

I am sitting in the library wearing a mask from a box I bought on the way here because of Steph's advice

I masked at the movie theater today because of Steph.

Yay! I love my peoples being safe!

In an ironic twist, I feel totally crappy today. I didn't go anywhere this week, so if this is an actual factual illness, I'm going to blame Tim for bringing it home (even though he isn't currently sick). Ugh. Send pho and Reese's cups pls.

I'm working on putting together my reappointment paperwork, which always stresses me out, but this year even more so than usual.