I'm surprised you hadn't run into each other, Hecubus.(When I get a You May Know....it's weird how bad they always are, like, I don't care how ordinal the math is, no, I'm not following the crazy skank J. left the family for, even if he's now over her too.) At least that seems to be proof we are holding off robot overlords for a while longer.

Oh, damn damn damn. Tom Stoppard has left us. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead was the first play my mother and I read together, and I have her nearly-complete shelf of his plays sitting right in front of me.

We read Jumpers together very soon after acquiring it at City Lights Books, and saw Arcadia together at the American Conservatory Theatre in SF. I did a reading from The Real Thing for a theatre class at Sac State in 1989, and one of my classmates said, "I'm not sure I've ever seen you that impassioned about anything before."

Shakespeare, Shaw, Stoppard, Pinter. These were the four stars I navigated by in my young adulthood. Thank you, Mr Stoppard, for your words and your life. You will be missed so, so much.

I'm sad to admit, that though I did like Shakespeare In Love very much, I'm not familiar with his work otherwise. Much like Mamet(Which I pronounced like the soap for about half my life,) his has been a name I know to know without really understanding a lot behind it because I went to journalism school and learned not to have anyone buy me anything and, wow, are they not--maybe I paid a little too much attention sometimes. ETA: Not that I am dying to be Dollar Store Nuzzi Has A Terrible Accident(They really covered "Hands in New Places" too, I swear.

Of the shows I've designed, Indian Ink by Stoppard, which had to have been nearly 20 years ago, is still one of my favorites. Hell, I named my cats after R&G (Rosie and Gilda).

Love reading Natter and just caught up on the posts finally after being 3k posts behind up until last week. Since I quit FB and Insta for a while, I’m glad I can still catch up with people here a bit although I read far more than I post. I feel a little self-conscious jumping in without meara-ing but I usually ready 1-2k posts in sittings over a few weeks and by the time I’ve gotten to the end of them, a meara seems pointless because it’s weeks after whatever has happened has happened.

TL;DR I read every word (and care about y’all) even if I don’t comment!

Pix, I’m so sorry to hear your mom couldn’t make the trip. Glad to know her cat is okay tho.

I had long been planning to be out of the country for Thanksgiving but the last few trips I’ve had have been nightmares coming and going thanks to airport and airplane shenanigans so at the last minute I decided to have a staycation this week. It’s been glorious. I’ve gotten a ton of stuff done, including setting up my home gym downstairs (nothing fancy - the elliptical I bought from the previous home owners, and a nice bench and weights) and a freeze dryer. But more than anything I made the downstairs a place I don’t HATE anymore with new storage space and a couple of coats of paint.

Thanksgiving was delightful since I was lucky enough to be included in Jess and Ethan’s family Thanksgiving. Like you, Pix, Jess expected more people. But in the end it was J&E and the “kids” (A is in high school and D is in college). And let me tell you, what a delicious night that was! Fantastic meal and really nice conversation.

Then Friday, Vortex and I met half way for lunch (and post lunch coffee) and it reminded me that we need to see a lot more of each other! And so in 2026 I’ll be headed to Hartford, you can count on it.

Nilly, so sorry to hear of the loss of your mom. May her memory be a blessing.

java, that sounds like an excellent staycation, and with bonus F2Fs!

Pix, I know your found family and friends Thanksgivings must be so lovely and appreciated--awesome of you guys to do that.

I am on my last day here at my sister's--just packing up now. It's been super low key and fun, and DH has gotten more family time with his family than I've ever seen him do, and, while exhausting, I think he really enjoyed it. I spent some time with them, too, and that was nice.

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My deepest condolences to you and your family for the loss of your mother, Nilly. May her memory bring you comfort.

Oh, Nilly, I’m so sorry for your loss. Sending love and light to you and all your Mom’s loved ones.

I'm so sorry, Nilly. My condolences and love to you and your family.

Thanks for letting us know, Shir.

So sorry, Nilly. I'm pretty angry that a lady that I phonebank with, who's disabled and already in assisted living went to a Thanksgiving thing there and got fucking *food poisoning* or something from the buffet. They had *one* job, you know? Beverly works so hard and doesn't get a lot of breaks. Sounds like she'll be all right, but REALLY?! Fuckers.

Shir, thank you for letting us know; please give Nilly our condolences and love and as many hugs as she wants when you see her next.