Updates:

- Still no memorial services for Mum. Maybe Thanksgiving week. We've scheduled it 3 prior times only for Czar Cuomo to declare some OTHER state as naughty to try and hide his own incompetence and murdering culpability. And yes, he is a murderer. The day Mum passed he ORDERED nursing homes across the state to take in COVID patients and caused thousands of deaths. Any nursing home that resisted was threatened with closure. We all knew back in November of LAST YEAR that elderly were most vulnerable and he forced the pandemic on them. And now the serial killer is lying and claiming the federal government made him do it. He is a sick man. Anyhow, every time we schedule this thing Cuomo labels one of the states with important people (Queenie's siblings or nieces or nephews) as naughty so we have had to reschedule. Maybe for Thanksgiving? Yeah, that'll be special.
- This pandemic has brought us closer emotionally. Physically is a complete disconnect. There was a glimmer of hope, however slight, over the past 2 years. Now things are .... gone. We're best friends and that is all. To bed alone, wake up alone, a peck now and then. That's life.
- Work is more of a jerk than ever, boss is a mess. They require us to take all of our vacation or lose it but there's no where to go, nothing and no one to see. We've already done all the things taht are open, some multiple times, but Cuomo's naughty list makes travel to other states worse than problematic. I am NOT going back into quarantine willingly!! Anyhow, management are all congratulating each other for this "Take time" initiative that allows us to take a few extra hours off Fridays for education or to 'recover'. The catch is they are not tolerating ANY deviation in schedules or responsibilities so if we take our vacation there are no days to "take time" without a career hit. They're also insisting we all come back to the office in January and require that we'll wear masks all day every day, will not allow meetings, and will not allow us to stop in each others offices for work or for visiting. i.e. we'll be at work but will effectivey be doing no more than we are now as we work from home AND we'll have to breathe throught masks all day. I'm gonna try and play the COVID family card to fore-stall my personal return but am not hopeful that it'll work as my boss is leading the charge.
- It was a banner year for garlic, COVID has locals cooking up a storm and going for fresh. Didn't hurt a local bridge was closed for a while and detoured by us. I had more to sell than ever and sold out earlier than ever. Hopefully it's no abberation, I just finished planting over 2800 for next year, hoping to get a few more in to reach 3000 this week. This year's proceeds paid for the materials for new raised beds for the rest of the vegetables.
- Pop is doing great, though he over-brags making folk think he's back to 'normal'. Truth is he's slipped noticeably to me even if no one else recognizes it. Queenie needs to be there several days a week to help so he has the energy to keep up the illusion.
 - Grits passed away almost two years ago and I still have to stop myself from trying to send funny stuff or updates to him. We're watching The Last Alaskans (look it up if you're curious) and one of the outdoorsman has become feeble and is talking about working his way back to being able to back into the wild. He doesn't look capable anymore. My last several conversations with Grits were centered on HIS feebleness and his desire ro build back up to getting back outdoors. And then he passed.
- Bijoux asked how I was doing. It has been many many months IRL since anyone asked that. I guess "not well", "haning on", and "ask me next year" got old. Funny, few ever let the conversation go beyond a quip. This is life right now.
- We're back to church searching, once the pandemic subsides. When we were going through the fire we'd hear from the pastors but once that cleared we only hear from people who want us to do work for them. Made us realize we have no friends there after about 5 years and that's kinda sad, they're all intertwined and don't have room for just one more friend.