I crack up every time. Point and laugh. I can't help myself.

I used to love a hot drive through the desert, but I'd choose cooler if possible, too. I'm not sure if that's about getting older or if it's a reaction to climate change. I hope the pieces fall into place for you all to make it work.

That could be lovely. I've never done precisely that route but have been to a lot of the places that would lie between and spring hits early I think. February, March, and April, are my favorite months in the Bay Area, too. The greenest, lushest months, and so many flowers.

It seems like the best time of year to do that particular drive (if you're thinking of doing it soon).

This would have saved my dad possibly dozens of trips to the ER and saved my mom years of anguish.

(Prompted by discussion of one of the union demands that there be protections against automation). Support labor, always, if that has to be said.

It was the early 70s, so containers were in use on many ships. Our late arrival in Italy threw our plans so dramatically we ended up living in Greece for 2 yrs. I've heard the story many times but this is the first time my mom said it all would've been different if the cargo had been in containers!

She described all kinds of cargo lashed to the top of the ship, unprotected. Lumber, clothes, cars. She painted a picture of chaos often interrupted by rain, including men trying on hats from the cargo. We got stuck in various ports due to weather so our trip took almost a month instead of a week.

There are so many jobs - so much work - that I’d love to do but can’t afford to.

I can see it.