That last post was misleading.  The fix Eliot has gotten himself in and into which he has put his parents up to their necks as well is not the worst of times.

He is alive.

No one else is dead because of him.

Because of these facts this is not the worst that times could be.  They're pretty darn awful, but they are not the worst that could be.

Let's go onto other matters because life does have so many matters ever happening.  It would be a mistake to overlook the other happenings.

Today's weather prompted the premiere showing of my winter jacket for this season.  The sudden drop in temperature brought in during the dark of last night which assaulted us on a steady wind was a shock even to the people of this place who expect to be surprised by the weather.  There wasn't much snow, but instead most flat surfaces were coated with thin hard ice that one's eyes usually didn't see.  If it weren't for the way your legs suddenly went out from under you at random times, you might never know that all that ice was out there and that it laughed at the salt spread on it instead of melting the way ice is supposed to. 

Other than that work went well as it has all year.  The classes I have this year are friendly--as am I-- and the mood of the days is positive, even when things go astray as they must because people are just people and kids are no more perfect than adults.  My major worry at work is that there is a second grader whose jacket already doesn't fit her and it's just the beginning of the cold season.  The jacket's zipper has a tooth missing (as indeed the second grader does), and that didn't help matters out there today.  It's easy to slip a few pairs of mittens or gloves and some warm hats where the kids who need them can find them, but a jacket is a lot trickier.   Pride, parents, and dignity is involved when a jacket or a pair of boots is involved.   I wish my Stella were just grown out of a jacket that would need to be handed down so that the second grader could help me to do something with it and free up some closet space here, but Stella hasn't been in elementary school for a long time.

I will have to think about it.  I will also hope that the second grader's parents take her shopping over the weekend.

I've got something else to consider this weekend, too.  I heard something via one of the sisters that is highly significant (please note that I've arched one eyebrow as I say this).  My second born will be bringing his girlfriend to the crowded family Christmas Eve gathering at Rose's house. 

This is important.  Exposing her to the assembled gang of oddballs means that he's taking a huge risk, one he's never taken before.  In general if someone brings the light of their life to that gathering it means that there's an engagement--at least!--to announce.  It could mean that they're expecting octuplets;  as I said this is hugely important.  I pray for the young woman's sanity.  I pray that my son will not die lonely and heartbroken once she gets a gander at his genetic pool.

That's it.  And that's quite enough.