Hugs Shir!! Good to hear from you and condolences.

Gentle hugs, Shir.

I’m back to MI. An 11 hour drive is a lot, but that’s 11 hours I didn’t spend watching the news, and these days that’s a nice break. In the future I might break it up, though.

Sophia, your mentor sounds like a remarkable person. I’m so glad you had her in your life.

Welcome to my psyche, I had dreams about killing people.

For some reason this shit today in DC has sent me over the edge. I’m so fucking angry.

Nothing that has happened has surprised me, which is sad enough. I am angry, and ashamed, and terrified, and a whole host of other overwhelming emotions. I'm watching a lot of music videos and streaming series. Minimal dose of news a day because I can't be totally uniformed.

It is good to hear that Matilda is coping so well and adulting so admirably.

Both blacksmithing and glass blowing sound awesome. A retired police officer friend of mine makes knives and he really enjoys his blacksmithing results. (and sells the knives) He also does bonsai. He was a sniper, and the most patient even-tempered person ever, so these hobbies which require steady patient personalities work for him very well.

Sending love to Shir, and all. My cousin left at 5:30 this morning. He is wonderful company, but it will be nice to catch up on some of my house chores.

Oh, on the work front! Despite my retirement, at this time of year we have to do a whole bunch of government reporting for our medical practices, which requires my help. Some of the doctors are flipping out because although they score 100% on a bunch of measures the estimates still show a deduction in their future Medicare receipts. We won't know what their actual rates are going to be until late summer. I have patiently explained to them that even if their scores are perfect this administration may just randomly decide to cut what they get by 30% and we have no control to do anything about it. First, none of my doctors are suffering, second, they are mostly Republicans. Their whimpering is falling on deaf ears.

Shir, I’m so sorry for your loss and for the difficult months that proceeded it. I hope shiva (and the brief break from it) brings you some peace that you can build on in the days to come.

Sophia, I love hearing stories about people like that and the impact they’ve had in the people I know and love. It’s especially welcome in these times.

Nothing that has happened has surprised me, which is sad enough. I am angry, and ashamed, and terrified, and a whole host of other overwhelming emotions. I'm watching a lot of music videos and streaming series. Minimal dose of news a day because I can't be totally uniformed.

All of this. I’m also struggling to break out of a seriously unhealthy diet. February turned into pretty much my own personal restaurant month, both in London and Chicago, And I’m fine with that. But there’s also been a significant Girl Scout cookie and junk food and just lack of moderation component, which I am much less fine with And I suspect is not unrelated to [waves around at…everything]

But there’s also been a significant Girl Scout cookie and junk food and just lack of moderation component, which I am much less fine with And I suspect is not unrelated to [waves around at…everything]

Man, SAME. I wish baby carrots and snap peas were as soothing for eating my feelings as cookies are.

Right there with you. I have gained back 40 of the 60 I lost over the last year. I've gone back on Keto now and have one day in a row where I went to my building's gym this morning. Keto gets easier all the time with the incredibly tasty Hero breads and sweet treats. I eat French toast, sandwiches, as well as the usual protein and roasted veggies. Tortilla pizzas are tasty too. It seems the only diet that works for me and my doctor pushed it at me again when I saw him last week.

Blood tests were all in range, except my cholesterol, but I know how to fix that so it will be normal by the time I go back in May.