How is everyone doing?
I've had the week of work, just spent time running around, getting things done, cleaning the apartment, shopping, and relaxing in general.
It's been a weird week. I've been pretty absorbed in this Trump stuff. It feels like it's right up there with 9/11 and Katrina -- one of those huge national disasters that has you glued to your TV and/or computer.
Next week, I'm embarking on a two-week trip. The first week is an all-expense paid trip to New Orleans for a fellowship for journalists who write about aging (part of my job is writing for a special section for people 50+). That will be fun and busy -- doing the fellowship-related things, which involve going to a bunch of panels and talks by the Gerontological Society of America, plus getting together with old friends (as you probably know, I lived in New Orleans for six years). I think I've got a dinner engagement pretty much every night, and the fellowship will reimburse me for all meals, which is particularly great in New Orleans. I'm also getting together with a few people I met at the last fellowship I went to in NYC in June, when I saw you and Meryl and John.
For the second half of the trip, I'm going from NOLA to Denver, where my brother lives. I'm flying my son up from LA to meet us, then we're going to be spending a few days in a rented house in Breckenridge, CO, also with my brother's daughter Kelly, Kelly's mom, and Kelly's boyfriend, whom I haven't met but have heard is quite an interesting guy. Kelly's mom, Pat, was not expecting me and Cy to join them when she rented the house, so I'm hoping we're not too crowded in there. Pat was extremely warm and welcoming about it, though.
To be honest, I'd rather spend the time in Denver, but that's a novelty for me, whereas it's just normal for them, so I can see why they'd like to get away. I think they do this every year.
Lee, if you're reading this, I'd love to see you while I'm there. It will be a tight schedule, though. I'm getting in late Monday night, we're leaving for Breckenridge Wednesday and returning, I believe, on Sunday. Then I leave Monday afternoon. Tuesday I suggested to my brother that we make a pie and maybe some other food (I'm not sure how they plan to handle the food thing), and Cy is coming in on Tuesday night. But if you have time on Tuesday or on Sunday, let me know (I'll contact you on FB as well, in case you miss this).
Among all the other things I have to do, which are kind of stressing me out, I have a packing challenge. In New Orleans, it will be in the mid-70s. In Breckenridge, it will be winter (or something close to it). Jeff, I know you would have started figuring out these solutions about three months ago, but I haven't really. I'm going to have to pack pretty much all of my clothes, including a warm coat. And I don't like my clothes -- I've gained weight and they're getting tight, but I don't want to buy new ones, and I hate shopping, so they're also getting kind of ragged looking.
Macy's has a 30% off event on all clothing on Sunday, and I'm hoping to dash over and pick up a few things.