January I had 35000 reddit karma points, we got four days of fog, Suzanne moved to the neighbourhood, the Russian war of aggression hadn’t started yet and Putin was under the impression that the west would abandon Ukraine again like it did in 2014. Somebody methodically read all 350K of my fanfic. Jeff started the whole long process of getting a tooth implant. I had a bizarre neurological symptom, not since repeated (and it’s a damned good thing, too, it was deeply weird and troubling.) I also had weeks of abdominal and joint pain thanks to not swallowing my pills with enough water and shovelling snow. Mike got COVID. It became clear that the BC government by plan and insufficient staffing was underreporting COVID deaths by as much as a factor of five. The lies and propaganda about COVID have continued alas. It’s still airborne. It’s continuing to wiggle out from under vaccinations. Mike bought the Delica. The Tonga Tsunami occurred with great suffering as 85 percent of the islanders were impacted but there thankfully only three recorded deaths. I kicked Wolf Tivy’s ass deconstructing an essay he wrote about ‘work’. Jeff finished decrufting and assembling Alex’s computer and took it to him and he received it with great joy. Rude amounts of snow and shovelling, another atmospheric river, couldn’t find walkway salt, no fun.
February
Jeff brought my borrowed Nokia non phone back from the dead for the nth time. I threw out my collection of racist humour. Why would I want to make my kids look at that when they clean out my shit. Got incontinence underwear and it CHANGED MY LIFE. RUSSIA INVADES UKRAINE.
March
Jeff was exposed to Big Star Sandwiches and it CHANGED HIS LIFE. I got my first proper haircut in years. Family started openly worrying about Paul and driving. We learned he hadn’t been taking his BP meds, and it was in consequence of high bp that some months later he was told not to drive. He was in and out of hypertensive crisis but always refused to go to hospital. I held Ryker at the pool and my arms nearly fell off but it was so much fun. Paul had his cat Ayesha euthanized without telling anyone in the family, which set off many of the events we’re all living with now with respect to a diagnosis for Paul. Paul was a lot of things, when he was healthy, but wantonly cruel was not one of them. Personality changes are a sign of dementia. Jeff and I had what would turn out to be our last ever Swiss Chalet meal.
April
Bought a FluentPet starter pack, turns out I never used it. I’ll try to repurpose it. I have ideas, they don’t last, but the kitty is still here. Tried to spring clean my bike and the tire exploded in my face, traumatizing me. Learned that Elon Mustard wanted to buy twitter and WAS UNHAPPY. CONTINUED THUS. Established that Russia is and was committing war crimes in Ukraine. Stopped eating our favourite mint chocolate because the manufacturer supported Russia. Got called for jury duty, reported my brain trauma (from the skull scan) and got excused. Ontie Mary gave me an illustrated museum book about a Scythian exhibit and I nearly died it was so up my alley. Ryker met his mother’s grandparents and it was the single nicest family visit in history.
May
Leo and Linda visited, and how good to see them. Most incredible camping trip with Mike, he did all the cooking and cleanup and I had a magnificent time. I love my friends so much. Donated blood for probably the last time, didn’t realize it at the time. Got a mammogram. Found out that ALL THE SCYTHIAN GOLD IN THE MUSEUM BROCHURE my Ontie gave me was stolen out of Melitopol by the FUCKING RUSSIANS. I received validation for activism I had done a decade prior and it was amazing. Renee Spakowski and Jean Donaldson passed and I learned of it. They were my church comrades, their names should be remembered and their accomplishments and merry laughter cherished. Suzanne was falsely arrested and the love of her life died. I have no idea how that woman keeps going sometimes. Roe v Wade overturned. Keith caught COVID.
June
Roasted Air Canada in a memorably vicious post. Saw Slash/Back and loved it. Tenth anniversary of Kaitlin Schmidt’s passing. May she be remembered for how lovely and helpful she was, how her presence was a gift to us. May her parents be comforted. Another painful conversation with Paul about his cognitive losses and how it was impacting his housing security (x 2). Housefilk at Peggy’s. After searching for years FINALLY found Trainwreck at a weed store. Yes it’s as nice as advertised. At some point Dave encouraged me to write more poetry, so I did. Lots of progress on Totally Boned which I had started earlier in the year. The Downton Movie was watched and the last ten minutes spiralled into horror. We drove to Alice Lake and my incompetence caused us to miss the turnoff multiple times. Doug Ford returned to office as Premier in Ontario. Breakfast with Leo and Linda at the Foreshore.
July
‘nother mini house filk at Peggy’s. Jeff fixed my ‘how to get the Kaossilator to talk to the computer’ problem with a piece of tech he bought for me. Fucking hot nearly every day. Air Conditioner kept working. Feasted Mike for his 55th. Otto went and returned from the krankenhaus. I seemed to be temporarily allergic to peanuts. Made paneer and it went bad in the fridge. Alzheimer research was bullshit for two decades. Heard a great blue heron honk like a goose, repeatedly, for the first time. Record corporate profits during a toxic drugs, COVID and housing crisis. Finally saw ‘The Trouble with Harry’. Continued to play with my Kaossilator. I’ve regretted many things but never that. Terry G came to town and I spoke to him on the phone and never saw him. First noticing swelling ankles. Katie got COVID. She never tested positive. Height of Alex’s Among Us craze. Watched a hummingbird attack every other bird on the street. Received first word of Jim P’s illness. Cindy hosted a barbecue the FOOD AND COMPANY WERE CHOICE.
August
Paul brought his girlfriend home without giving his housemates a headsup. I won’t say what the kids said to me in public. Later that month, the diagnosis – and the unfolding consequences. Broke the news to his sisters via phone. Watched Nope, was blown away. Played my first coop game (PvZ) with Alex. They grow up so fast. Made a family spreadsheet to help manage Paul’s illness. Neil Gaiman mocked the people who hated his Sandman casting and I was THERE for it. Road trip to Big Bar with Suzanne, it was beyond wonderful. Et moose for the first time. Katie’s reconciliation with Daxus starts to take shape. Alex got friendly with a baby goat in Saanich; all part of another LOVELY family visit. We took custody of the family viewmaster and the first slide I looked at was the Addams Family IN COLOUR (squee). Read ‘On Rotation’ still haven’t reviewed it. Anne Heche died in a single occupant car crash and after months of speculation including mine it turned out she didn’t have a single drop of alcohol or any drugs in her system at the time of the accident. Nearly broke myself falling on the back steps, bruised for weeks. Hexavalent chromium spill into the Huron River…. there’s another one in October. Reporting on this was/is sparse. Watched 13 Lives, it was amazing. Wrote a poem for the peyote plants in the house but set it to private. Watched ‘Prey’ and loved it.
September
another negative COVID test for me. Visitation Dream of Tom; Bonus dead guys Ralph and Dennis. I miss them all so much. Their wives and loved ones must as well. Watched Everything Everywhere All at Once with Mike and Jeff. Second bout of COVID for Peggy. Got another COVID booster for myself (4th shot). Started watching Gentleman Jack. Watched ‘Confess Fletch’, Jon Hamm was great in it. Eye exam showed that my blood pressure hasn’t caused too much problems in my eyes. Queen Elizabeth II dies. Saw ‘Three Thousand Years of Longing’ and loved it. Lovely visit to Bowen Island. Paul’s girlfriend came to town and literally did not interact with anyone in the house. Suzanne said WHO’S THAT, startled, when she saw her. Wonderful meal at Big Feast with Suzanne, Katie and Ryker, followed by an even more wonderful day at Whonnock Beach.
October
Washer died. We went a long time without one and then the landlord bought us a BRAND NEW IMMENSE ONE in November. Watched the Hornblower series (we were also watching Sharpe). The Epic of Gilgamesh got another chapter when it was discovered. Accidentally traumatized myself by watching the video from the day Wally and Paul and the kids and I were in an airplane crash. Got locked out of twitter, either for saying something crusty ’bout the CPC or something crusty ’bout Zibethicus the muskerat. Bouts of terrible air quality on and off all month. Started working on the Elementary theme on ukulele. I confess that I cry every time I go grocery shopping. Buster came back from catting covered in blood. He turned out to have a couple of gashes but didn’t need a vet. Watched and loved Andor. Housefilk at Peggy’s. No family thanksgiving meal.
November
pOp trekked to er/hospital, got home okay. Housefilk at Peggy’s with BONUS JEFFREY AND JERI LYNN yay yay. Loaned Alex the Kaossilator. Katie back at work. Her exhaustion is great. Continuing slides in Paul’s cognition and my ability to deal with it. Doctor formally told Paul not to drive reason given blood pressure. He’s in hypertensive crisis half the time. Finished Sam Cooper’s Wilful Blindness, most depressing read in yonks. Started watching Farscape. Tammy confirmed I’d be seeing her Boxing Day. My beloved Dogwood tree in the back yard was knocked down by a storm. I cry every time I think about it. Even now.
December
Brief and lovely visit from Ruth and Lois. Got the Kaossilator back unharmed because Alex takes care of his devices and kept it away from Ryker. Survived another month. Jim P. stepped into eternity. A season of grief descends. No family Christmas meal.
