This is also the anniversary of the first F2F in 2002. It was an event that changed my life in many ways and brought me a group of friends I cherish dearly. (eat a muffin whitey)

Same! Also that's when my relationship with JZ moved from casual to deeper feels.

Happy birthday, Vortex!

Good look with the jobbery, Calli and JenP's DH!

I was super disciplined this morning and breakfast was one poached egg on unbuttered toast! Is there anything more strict and focused than dry toast? The commitment!

Thus inspired I went for my first run in two weeks, after three sessions of Pilates this week.

Ozempic update: I've lost about 20 lbs and dropped a pant size. Still have 30 more to go to reach my goal weight but I'm focused and motivated. Abs are definitely a lot stronger and more noticeable after a couple months of Pilates.

My first and only F2F was DC. No idea what year that one was.

2004 - JZ and I were on our honeymoon. I remember meeting you and Amy Preble and Calli on the same couch. The NC crew was strong, with Amych and Smonster too.

I think I may have gotten attached to NC by couch proximity -- which is just fine by me! But I wasn't actually of the NC group. More's the pity.

Also in the NC contingent at DCF2F. First time I met a lot of Buffistas. Caught a ride up from NC to DC with Bicylops and wife and Ginger, and stayed at sophiap's house with other Buffistas.

I'm so sorry to hear about Todd. She was a lovely person to spend time with.

I think I may have gotten attached to NC by couch proximity

You looked like a very comfortable set!

DCF2F is the first time Pix and I met in person. We had no idea at the time we'd end up together years later.

I am so glad that I was able to meet Todd several times. She is missed.

Huge explosion in Palm Springs at a fertility center yesterday. Right by the Desert Regional Hospital (I was birthed there) which was also visually damaged. (Indian Ave and just south of Vista Chino for meara, K & D and others familiar with the area.)

The suspect who was killed in the explosion was from 29 Palms. A huge area of the city was evacuated by the FBI seemingly because of the risk of there being more explosives which could go off.

According to his audio manifesto, he did not consent to being born. So there is that.

It's just never good when my home area shows up on CNN. (Except the town hall with Jay Obernolte with people yelling "No King," because that was pretty awesome.)

Edit: No eggs or embryos were harmed.

According to his audio manifesto, he did not consent to being born. So there is that.

It's so so weird. A bizarrely nihilistic and self-involved philosophy. Why not go talk to your parents rather than commit an act of terrorism?

Ugh.

In other news, I have started listening to Mike Duncan's "The Martian Revolution", which is the current season of The Revolutions Podcast. And while most of it was written last year, it's so incredibly relevant to our current circumstances. Worth a listen if you like that kind of podcast.

Today is Bay to Breakers in San Francisco.

Last year I had the surreal experience of trying to find a crossing in the parade route so I could dash through people jogging in dinosaur costumes to take some of JZ's ashes to her mother, who was staying with Jacqueline's sibs at an Air BnB across the Panhandle.

It was a weird capper to the Memorial Weekend, after which I collapsed with relief and exhaustion.

I would not have felt so much relief if I had known how difficult the following six months were going to be with Matilda.

But here we are a year later and...she's still depressed and unmotivated by anything that isn't socializing with her friends or seeing her boyfriend.

It's so so weird. A bizarrely nihilistic and self-involved philosophy.

Right? I honestly think people should have the right to die if they choose. But I'm pretty much 100% against the domestic terrorism. At least he was the only fatality.