It’s especially tough for Avdi right now, what with all the schlepping of kids, and dealing with kid breakdowns, and finding/affording additional psychiatric and mental healthcare, and errands, and trying to find time to work to pay for it all.  It’s pretty desperate.  I do what I can, but it’s not enough.

A bright note, at least for me, was he and I got to go out belatedly for our monthly “date”.  We just went nearby to “Off Elm” WG, an upscale, friendly craft cocktail and whiskey bar, now with “snacks” which were more like superb meals.  The drinks were excellent and creative, and the bartender J was interesting to talk to.  I think she gave us the unofficial “bartender’s handshake” with all of us doing shots of Malört, a Swedish bitter that’s stronger than fernet, and we surprisingly liked it!  Avdi and I got to talk more than we ever do, about “matters of consequence”.  So that was a worthwhile reprieve.

It finally happened.  It got down below freezing for a couple of days, and the peppers and eggplants needed to come in and be frozen the rest of the way.  I’m talking lots and lots of peppers of all kinds.  It turns out I can grow peppers if I just ignore them.  Like whole cayenne trees.  The kitchen and my eyes and lungs were pepper-sprayed!  I hope someone likes it hot!

Just to walk over there without freezing I had to layer up for the first time this season.  But supposedly this is just one of those passing flukes and will get back to reasonable temps today.

For dinner I made a really good creamy Tuscan chicken cannellini soup with lots of fresh greens from the garden, but not hot peppers.

Here are lots and lots of pepper photos, the most I got outside for yesterday.

It hardly matters anymore if establishment dems stand their ground, or cave to save their so-called reputations, because either way, repugs get their way and blame dems, and one way or another Americans of any party suffer.  IMHO.  It’s all part of the evil plan to hold us hostage.  And not just us, but our kids and gkids.  It’s going to take something a lot more aggressive and prescient than voting and compromising.  Maybe even some heads rolling.  Anyway, I have spoken!  What do I know?

It’s freezing out and I’m layered up, putting off the inevitable, but I’ll get there.

Erev happened amidst much to-ing and fro-ing like rats on speed.  (The actual rats just sleep in piles for much of the day.)

All the scheduling, coordinating, and frequent shuttling required of Avdi daily is mind-boggling.  Not to mention the constant worry over one of the kids having a mental breakdown in their own private cirque de solipsism.  Reminds me of a line from The Police, “Darkness”: “Life was easy when it was boring.”  Life is never boring.

Outside it’s gorgeous and colorful.  I’ve included the squirrels photo, even though my phone has a worse case of cataracts than me apparently, because it would have been a great shot.  As with my chippy friends, they were not moving at all, nor was the camera.  I wish my phone would do the same to my few selfies, but NO, those unfortunately are in focus.  So random.

Speaking of phone, I was temporarily without it overnight, because it slipped out of my pocket while I was absorbed watching a musical performance at the HS Courtyard, featuring E’s a cappella group.  There was some real talent among the high school singers.  Avdi, Allie, Jess, and I sat outside around a little fire that wasn’t even necessary, it was so beautiful out.  (They retrieved my phone later.)

The days have been mild and springlike so far in Nov., perfect for walking, working, and enjoying nature do its work without my help.

The house was unusually empty all day, just right for my devious cleanup projects!  I doubt they even noticed when they came home.  The office is somewhat restored to order, as is Y’s rat cave.  Now if only Avdi can find affordable, accessible solutions for the kids’ mental/physical health, and thus be able to work in peace to afford it all, that will be the ultimate order.

A’s partner Allie has been in town from TN, so that helps with his own mental health for the moment.  She has been assisting remotely with his/kids’ medical/healthcare business and scheduling, taking a lot of the load off him.  I stuck around in the evening so they could go out to dinner.  Later Jess brought us frozen custard (a food group in STL), and took me home.

This friendly little chippy was happily sitting right in front of me for multiple photos, but my poor refurb hasn’t quite gotten the idea yet, so forgive the blurriness.  It’s starting to get flowers, at least.  It will be assimilated.

Things on the home front have been further complicated by trumpian attacks on national healthcare, so even more stressful, but if recent elections are any indication, a crack in the regime is widening.  There may be some hope for this stupid country yet.

All I have time to say this morning is a qualified “there’s still hope for our country”!  (I know, don’t get hopes up too high, but this is a good omen.)

Yesterday I shoveled out the Eldritch Narnia that was Y’s closet, almost the same volume of artifacts as in the room itself.  I finally sorted it all and returned the room to a semblance of order (for the moment).  I also exercised the rats in their playpen, which S enjoyed.  Later he got to help me return them to their cage, which he loved.

That was his final night here.  Today Avdi is taking him to do the halfway exchange and bringing K and Y back.  Sadly, the deranged dictator got to Michigan first and frustrated their plans and hopes, so we have to find a plan B.  If it makes us angry, imagine how the kids feel.  I can’t wait until these criminals are utterly destroyed.

Yesterday we saw Stacey, K, and Y off on their mission to Michigan.  S is staying behind for the few days.  He seems much more self-regulated and well-adjusted.  He kept himself entertained all day, and had a friend over for hours, playing outside for much of the time.  Avdi was able to work at home undisturbed, and I had my work cut out for me.

My rat commission allows me to go in Y’s dumpster of a room and make some sense of it, and it was a nightmare!  Avdi and I got some before-and-afters, and it really was the hazmat from hell.  It will take me the three days to sort it out, but I made good progress.  The rats mostly slept through the shoveling, laundering, and disposal.

Later on we had a very abbreviated charcuterie meeting.  E consented to come out of hibernation for a few minutes.  S’s role was to eat.  Jess joined us.  Later, her sister Rachel came over with rum and coke, and we watched a “scary” Brit movie.  I got bored and played with rats.  They love me now.

I “lowkey” enjoyed hanging out with various components of the family, the ones who weren’t hiding out in their room full of existential angst.  S and I actually “lowkey” had a fun time together.  (I’m practicing using “lowkey” slang in a sentence.)  Of course everyone was in and out all day, doing this and that, with Avdi as shuttle-master.

In the evening, E and K went to their high school “friendship” or homecoming dance.  E wore his suit and tie, and K wore a cute skirt and tights.  Sometimes all the extreme transitions are hard to keep up with!  The rest of us hung out together waiting for pizzas to finally find us, and gaming, and talking about things.

Y finally came out of hiding and snuggled up with his mom for reassurance.  He’s trying to “lowkey” not get his hopes up for this quick trip to Michigan tomorrow and back Tuesday, along with K, for healthcare purposes that can’t be addressed in MO right now.  E will go later, after his latest drama performance of Romeo is behind him.

For their sakes, I hope they accomplish their objectives.  Sad that parents have to travel out of state to get affirming care for their kids.  Also that essential healthcare costs have risen so high as to be inaccessible to most people, including us.

While Y is gone for a few days, I get to rat-sit and S-sit!  It means something that Y entrusted me with entering the smelly holy-of-holies.  It gives me an excuse to straighten up a little.

I got the clever idea of using the rats’ discarded litter shavings on my latest raised bed project.  It doesn’t go to waste, and adds organic material to the pile.