Maria, definitely no less of a situation, though, hopefully, less [insert relevant adjective] of one.

Cass, so noted.

Caffeine is so non-optional.

I am you in the wanting data, debet. I've spent a lot of time looking at risk assessment, because nuclear power is all about quantifying risks, and then I got stage 3b breast cancer and became a statistics fiend. I spent a lot of time muttering, "It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data." My most comforting thought was the knowledge that all five-year statistics are more than five years old.

Aside from the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which account for about 4 percent of cases, the family connection is fuzzy because it's thought that a combination of genes can increase your susceptibility to breast cancer and even with family members on both sides, the genetic deck gets reshuffled unpredictably.

I do hope your mother's cancer stays simple. Without lymph note involvement, the survival stats are excellent. And I don't think you'd be human if you didn't sometimes think, "But what does this mean for me?"

Let me know if there's anything I can do.

Thanks, Ginger. I may run more data by you, if/when there is more data.

Ginger is a bad-ass data fiend.

Ginger is a bad-ass data fiend.

Yes.

Thanks, all. It was pretty good day.

Debet, what everyone said - of course you're thinking about what it means for you. It's a sucky situation. All the best for your mom, and for you.

Statistics, ho! We love data.

smonster, awesome that your team's finally a team!

Debet, I don't think you are overreacting at all.

Nora, you and Taz look great!!

I made a point of telling my team how awesome they are in front of my supervisor, and he corroborated. We got so much done in a short day, and no complaints, and lots of helping each other, and no incident reports!! Woot.

And then I went and had free drinks and raw vegan food with a bunch of other environmentalists, and it was good.

And now I'm going to eat a small dinner and go to bed and I hope sleep for twelve hours, which is what I usually do on Friday nights.

I forgot to say, Nora, how gorgeous you and Taz are! The Queen looks quite royal, but I just can't get into hairless cats. But the "warm suede bag" description makes me want to cuddle one.

I made a point of telling my team how awesome they are in front of my supervisor, and he corroborated. We got so much done in a short day, and no complaints, and lots of helping each other, and no incident reports!! Woot.

Cutting loose PB has had a huge effect. I don't know about you, but I'm really seeing the difference one person can make negatively in a team effort. I know you went out of your way to "save" him, but in the end it was costing too much.

It's true, Hec. We've been dancing around saying so, because we all like him, but it's undeniable that we have gotten much more cohesive and productive in the last week. I actually texted PB tonight - trying to hook him up with an unpaid art thing, maybe it could lead somewhere, who knows. He's been texting my boss repeatedly asking why he was fired. Just. Doesn't. Get it. Truly a mind-boggling lack of self-awareness. I told him I'd meet up if he wanted to discuss his strengths and a path forward, but he doesn't seem to be interested in that.

Anyway. Thanks to you all for your support and listening ears/eyes, and good counsel through that whole business.