As Willow goes, so goes my nation.

Oz ,'Selfless'


Natter 78: I might need to watch some Buffy for inspiration

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, butt kicking, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


-t - Nov 12, 2026 4:08:11 pm PST #14881 of 14908
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

Hooray defeating phone trees! Boo insurance/open enrollment shenanigans! $1K a week is BONKERS. I can't think of anything that would be a reasonable price for. Dang.

You should definitely get some health insurance, though, Sophia. Seems like a bad time for a lapse in coverage. HR should understand that!

We don't use Outlook, I didn't know it was out. I think I have one customer who invites me to Team meetings or whatever they are called, that's as close as I come. And I haven't seen those for a while, don't remember who that was.

Pretty frames, Trudes

I missed my window for actual lunch and have been getting by with popcorn, which I am pretty ok with. I bought some assorted "gourmet popcorn" from Costco before Halloween, it's not bad


DavidS - Nov 12, 2026 4:09:56 pm PST #14882 of 14908
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

David, how is Emmett enjoying the new digs?

They love it. They are slowly making finds on FB Marketplace to fill out the place.

He's got an abdominal tear at the moment and can't work until it's healed, but otherwise they're both incredibly happy in their new place.

In fact, I'm having lunch with him tomorrow and giving him his belated birthday present - a king size mattress.


lisah - Nov 12, 2026 7:55:11 pm PST #14883 of 14908
Punishingly Intricate

I want those Tiffany frames!! Gorgeous! But sadly my wee nose is too small to hold up glasses like that.


Hil R. - Nov 12, 2026 8:01:11 pm PST #14884 of 14908
Sometimes I think I might just move up to Vermont, open a bookstore or a vegan restaurant. Adam Schlesinger, z''l

I didn't notice Outlook was out for most of the afternoon, while I was wondering why some students hadn't emailed me something they were supposed to email today. I'll get it sorted out tomorrow -- it seems like Outlook is working again.

I've mostly been at home this week -- I only teach on Wednesdays and Fridays, and there was no class on Wednesday because of Veterans Day. It's going to be cold out tomorrow, and I'm not looking forward to that.


Steph L. - Nov 13, 2026 6:28:14 am PST #14885 of 14908
It's actually been a really hard year, when you stop and do the math. Eliot would cry, too, if it didn't take him seventy minutes of therapy, two cocktails, and a Sondheim medley before he can experience a human emotion through the haze of his PTSD.

It's going to be cold out tomorrow, and I'm not looking forward to that.

I am going to miss the 70-degree temperatures at the beach more than I’m going to miss the beach itself. We leave tomorrow and go to Asheville, then home on Sunday in time to watch the Bengals and get a grocery delivery.


Jessica - Nov 13, 2026 6:51:28 am PST #14886 of 14908
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset

I took yesterday's MS365 outage as a birthday present and had a nice quiet afternoon making sourdough croissant bread. Unfortunately, today is not my birthday anymore and all of my work email/calendar seems to be functional again. Boo.

Abdominal tear sounds painful, Hec! Poor Emmett!


Laura - Nov 13, 2026 7:20:30 am PST #14887 of 14908
This too shall pass.

Today we celebrate Hil's birthday! I hope you are having a wonderful day. May your year be packed with happiness, adventure, and good vibes.

Abdominal tears are no fun. MS365 outage didn't bother me, but a few of my practices were freaked.


Jessica - Nov 13, 2026 7:20:49 am PST #14888 of 14908
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset

Happy birthday, Hil!


Matt the Bruins fan - Nov 13, 2026 7:24:55 am PST #14889 of 14908
You have to remember that being a 5-time Olympic medalist means Hilary Knight has been playing hockey at an elite level at least 16 years. It's impossible for her to be a teenage girl less than 16 years old, thus the President's complete lack of interest.

Yikes! Quick healing vibes to Emmett.

Happy Birthday Hil!

We got the news from my mom's urologist that her second cancer screening checkup since her last surgery was clear! That's longer than any interval since her very first surgery, so the hope is beginning to dawn that she's worn her cancer out and outlasted it through dogged persistence. At the very least it'll mean longer between surgeries than she's had in years.


-t - Nov 13, 2026 8:04:51 am PST #14890 of 14908
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

That's great, Matt!

Happy birthday, Hil!

Abdominal tear does sound painful, yikes