I'm happy for Emmett and sorry for askye. Losing a pet is hard.

In other news, Michael Lewis and Casey Cep in a discussion about federal workers and patriotism and their book Who is Government?. It's pretty cool and inspiring. [link]

That is fantastic news for Emmett! Congrats.

I'm so sorry, askye.

I'm... here and reading along. Looking forward to crossword puzzles and Buffistas this weekend. Bright spot!

All right, Emmett! That's pretty cool!

Well done, Emmett! That is easier said than done.

I'm sitting at the gate waiting to board. The gym across from me is arguing non-stop. With his wife, and apparently with the gate person. Here's hoping he doesn't sit near us. I am in the Exit row, because huge traveling companion. He always says he is fine anywhere, but as the person next to him I say not so much.

Emmett has officially been accepted into the apprentice program of Electrician's Union Local 50-something, starting in the next week or so.

That's awesome. It's a great trade.

It's a great trade.

And it’s one that’s going to be in demand as the world decarbonizes.

I'm going to Vegas in a week. It's for a tech conference so I'll be attending sessions during the day and coding at night.

...and per your tag, Gud, sleeping when?

Also, I first read that as "I'm going vegan in a week... for a tech conference" which was very confusing.

I hope your stay does not have too much ::gestures vaguely:: Drew

It should be fine, but I'm just very aware. I'm on the balance between knowing that if I wanted to I could completely fly under the radar. I'm a white guy in a 50s whith a nice white beard. However, I also should NOT be one avoiding it. I'm wearing rainbow pride toppers on my glasses today. I mean, I'm not looking to start anything, but I'm also queer, and don't feel right hiding just because I can.

Yeah, the world is a lot right now.

I've gone back and forth about whether I should talk about this or not, because I don't want y'all to think that I'm missing Likes or running analytics on every post to see if the response I get back is proportionate or something. But pretend I'm Pam Beesley on Beach Day or something...it was good when she asked for what she needed(Although I'd argue she ended up in a pretty disappointing place anyway, but I digress.)

Which might be my overly-precious way of asking "Are we all right?" Because, on the one hand, my own concentration and attentiveness are not what they usually are, either, and I guess there are a few posts about my life that it's fine that we just chalk up to a venting with no response required, but some of it does take a lot to share(it goes against my grain, in a sense. I'm not trying to tell you that I was held hostage and you missed feeling bad about it.)I really would hate to think that I said something that bothered people here and nobody said anything. It's hard having problems that nobody understands, but "we dug coal together" (and, you know, if we're not really at "Real friends move bodies," anymore, I guess I'd rather know that so I can get my shovel back...um, maybe I said too much.)