It was an emotionally charged week. I was very happy to send the kids back to school. Voss started to get a little whiney and tried to steal my heart by telling me he'd miss me, but I played Jock Jams every morning to get them pumped for school. It worked for all of us. Phil is still working from home and following me around the house. I played a lot of tennis. I won with a new friend, Mary Lee on Tuesday. Danielle and I got to play up (to B) together on Wednesday at Club Continental. I spent the day with coach Jen- got a lesson with her, Jane and Marleigh at TCC after. Danielle and I didn't quite pull out a win, but we did well and got 3 sets out of them. It still sucks to loose. Wednesday was a crazy day because Trump supporters stormed the Capitol and tried to block the senate's confirmation of Biden's win. As if that alone isn't completely nuts, I still have friends who support Trump and feel like the rioters were correct in attempting to block the stolen election. My neighbors are all still rocking their Trump signs. It's a Twilight Zone around here. It's not just back woods hooligans, either. These people are smart, educated, productive members of society. I kept thinking of that Rabbit Hole Podcast and wonder at some point if you don't believe the FBI, CIA, judges, scientists or doctors but you do believe an Instagram personality (whom you've never met) with no credentials....do you ever just pop your head out of the hole and say, "Wait a minute, maybe this is not true"? My mind is blown. On Thursday I pulled Marly out of school early and took her to my friend, Emily's funeral. Her son, Miles is in class with Marly so I wanted her to be there to support him. Emily lost the fight to cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). The funeral was probably the most difficult one I've been to. Seeing her children there (the same ages as Voss, Abby and Marly) was so rough. I'm praying for her husband, John and those kids and all the parents she left behind. Geeze, #cancersucks. So, Wednesday and then Thursday was just too much. I was still reeling on Friday and very grateful for adoration and a good run with Spot. I finished my two books and am working on finding another good one. Ellie came home crabby and I was happy to send her off to youth group. Phil and I met the VanWies and Burhytes for dinner (happy TCC is back up and running again). It was a cold week. I was happy to go home to a new hot shower and snuggle up with a book (hello Dryanuary week one!). Saturday I tried to sleep in but Abby and Voss had other plans. So loud. Phil and I challenged Richard and Krista in tennis and lost horribly- 2-6, 2-6 and then 3-6 for kicks. I even got a bloody knee to no avail. I was still happy to play. Abby went to play at the Nixons. Phil and I took Marly to her basketball game (where she also got killed). She did get her free throw and got a few good rebounds. Suzanne came to cheer her on, too. We ran into our ole pal, Kevin Valent at Dailys (hot chocolate!) and caught up with him. Marly spent the night at Brooklyn's. We had dinner with the Nixons (Bodrum take out was delicious). We were actually early for 8:30 mass. Ellie expressed her interest in being a lector. We went to Panera with the Hershorins during religion class. Marly, Voss and I took Spot to my parents for a visit. It was super cold today. We had a movie marathon day and watched the first 2 Star Wars movies. No, none of us had ever seen them. Phil and Marly fell asleep in the middle of the first two. Ellie organized all my wrapping paper and the downstairs closet (Christmas coupon book win!) and watched some. Abby popped in and out. Voss was glued to the whole movie. The second movie had everyone's undivided attention for the first hour. Then, Voss lost it and we sent him to bed. Still, fun family time. Just what we all needed after this week.