vavarner

Hi! You have reached Valentine Varner. I am not able to take your call right now for reasons known only unto myself, but if you leave your name and number I will be happy to get back to you as soon as I can. Thank you!



( OOC )

Dear Mister Ellis,

Whole year gone by now, since we met in person for the very first time and you bought me a very fine hat. From that moment forward, it has been a whirlwind of change for both of us. Our lives changed so much over the past year, become less lonely and less separate. Republic of us, our nation of two - likely formed on that very day though were perhaps unaware for a while yet. If I had to pick a precise moment that I knew I'd fallen for you, it would be when we were dancing at the drum circle on Venice Beach. Way you held me, way we moved - your breath against my ear as you sang into it. If such a thing be possible, I have loved you more every day since then. Love you more and more all the time, love that grows by degrees in that slow way that you can't even tell - like how the earth rotates but we are unaware of the movement. You have brought so much to me over this year - taught me all manner of things, and helped me grow as a person. I am happier than I never knew was a possibility, because of you.

The other day someone asked me if I was having a 'growth spurt'. I measured myself, and sure enough I have somewhere along the way grown half an inch. I'm now five foot seven and a half inches, sugar. I also weigh one hundred and fifty two pounds, and have some muscle definition. If you asked me a year ago would this be possible, I would not have thought it so. I'm getting so much better about eating things, and eating as much and as balanced as I should. And not being afraid to eat certain things. Like butter. Lord, how I do adore things smothered in butter now. I would've had a conniption just thinking about eating butter a year ago. Sad but true. My stomach is feeling better than it has for years and years, and I haven't been throwing up hardly at all. No pain, either. I'm entirely pleased with that, and so much of that is possible because of your encouragement and support.

A year ago, I did not believe I could play an instrument. I thought that I had no talent musically, that I had no talents outside of acting period. I doubted my ability to attend college successfully, and had little idea what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Now here I am, working on not one but two instruments, leading a band, taking lessons from Berroa, a jazz studies major about to undertake an independent study project next semester. All starting with you buying me that drum kit, believing that I had the potential and the ability. Believing in me, like no one ever had before.

We have both of us come so far in this year, so far together. Look at how much easier it is for us to discuss things now, how we know each others little nuances, how perfectly we fit together. I looked up the quote you told to me the other night. From Antony and Cleopatra, the Shakespeare play. I really need to read more of his works, because I am not familiar enough with him to recognize the quotes. Anyhow, exact wording of it goes like this ... Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale. Her infinite variety. Does apply, doesn't it? Our infinite variety, even as we develop our customs and habits, there are still always things for us to discover. So even as we become so very familiar with each other, we will always be delighted in one another. Beautiful thought.

You are so much a part of me, and I a part of you. I have given you my life - symbolic and literal, in that you take my blood and it becomes a part of you. You have my heart, and my soul... and now, with this gift I give to you on our anniversary, my bones. My body has two hundred and six bones, and there is a piece from each one in the ring I have given you. Uncle Metody removed and shaped them for me (don't worry, it was fairly painless). He says that if you soak the ring periodically in milk and honey, the bones will remain living and not die. Therefore some part of me will remain always living, always with you even when the rest of me cannot be. This is my gift to you, and it is but a small token given in eternal gratitude for all you have given me. Symbolizes something else too - that I am never entirely whole when I am without you. That I belong to you, and with you. There will be many anniversaries to come, doubtless. But this one is our very first, and very firsts deserve something extra-extra special.

I'm finally finishing up this letter on the day I am to come to you. Less than three hours now until I get myself on the plane, until I touch down in Satchmo's airport and you pick me up in that shiny black Caddy and drive me on home. I'm coming home to you, darlin'. I'll be there so very soon.

All my love now and always,
Valentine

I am SO DONE finals, woo! I'm a free man until next semester. Tomorrow I'm leaving for NEW ORLEANS going to go see my baby. Our anniversary on the 19th, and we're going to decorate for Christmas and everything while we're down there. I should be back in the city for Christmas though - Ellis and I are coming up to spend it with my uncles, and I'm invited to a Hanover family thing too. After that will probably be heading back down to New Orleans to ring in the new year and other such, since classes don't start until January 19th. A whole month with Ellis! I'm so incredibly excited right about now. I can't wait for today to be over so it can be tomorrow and I can fly on down there. I have to finish up my packing though, and make sure I'm all set with things for next semester and everything, blah blah stuff. And spend some time with my uncles since I'm not going to see them for a while. But mostly just wait and be excited and wish tomorrow would hurry up and get here already.

Ellis told me last night he washed the caddy up so it would be all nice when he comes picks me up from the airport. I feel special. And he's making me steak dinner for our anniversary, too! I really hope he likes the anniversary gifts I made for him.

Our band's first show-ish (Okay, two songs at the record store's open mic, but it still counts!) went over real well. The suits looked GREAT on stage. I'm real happy with how everything came together. Now we've just got to get the rest of our songs and routines down, and get us some shows booked for the new year. I'm going to be phoning my part in while I'm out of town, hah - band is going to practice and i'm going to set up the webcam so I can play along / communicate with them from New Orleans. Go modern technology! I'm really hoping that I'll get to jam some with the Dillon brothers while I'm down there, speaking of music - I want to show them how much I've improved since last they heard me play was over the summer.

We had a 'bros Christmas' today after finals - me, Jay, Kitty (honorary bro- she smacked Paul when he suggested the title 'Bros and Ho Christmas'), Paul and Cam hung out after finals and and a late lunch/early dinner kinda thing and exchanged presents. Among the things I got was a set of tarot cards from Cam, which are pretty neat. I'm going to have to figure out how to use them - I'm sure my readings won't be scary-accurate like the folks I know what got a talent for it, but it'll still be fun. If anyone wants a reading when I've got it figured, let me know! I also got a present the other day from Berroa - he gave me an amazing pair of his cymbals (he has a line named after him- fancy!), all hand hammered and such. They got a real good sound. Was going to bring them on the airplane to show Ellis and the Dillons, but figure they might mistake me for some sort of sonic terrorist (plus they're heavy). Ellis can see them when we come up for Christmas.

If you want to catch me before I leave town, hit me up on the cell tonight or tomorrow before mid-afternoon (I'm taking an evening flight), otherwise catch you likely some time in mid-January!

"You're not going to be able to carry it home on the subway," Berroa tells him over the phone, and he allows as how he can't carry anything right now anyhow, way his arm's still in the sling. He can stop on the way home from finals - his bodyguard-slash-driver been taking him to those anyhow, and it's just a matter of getting him to swing by the Collective on the way home.

Val walks into the familiar practice room and meets the steady gaze of the man sitting behind the drumset where normally he'd be seated. This is a man who's played with Dizzy Gillespie, who's won Grammy awards, who has full discography and a regular name for himself in the industry.

This is also the man who arranged, along with Val's jazz professor, for him to take Special Studies next semester. The man who once told Val to go home and either 'jerk off or get yourself laid, but don't come back here until you've got that tension out.' He doesn't pull punches. He doesn't give empty praise. When he told Val come down here and meet him before he goes 'running off to New Orleans' , there was no question that it was a command performance, not a request.

Berroa looks the boy over, head to toe. Takes in the sling, shakes his head in mute disapproval.

"It's getting better," Val mumbles.

Berroa grunts. "Got to take care of your arms and hands, Valentine. That's your bread and meat right there. You can't be screwing around getting yourself into fights if you're serious about this."

Val hangs his head. There's no sense in explaining the details, so he just nods along because it's true enough.

"Not here to talk about that though. We're gonna have ourselves a little talk about something else." Berroa doesn't offer him the single chair in the room, and doesn't get up from the stool he's settled on behind the kit. If the boy sits, he sits.

Valentine chooses to stand. "Did you want me to schedule my lessons for when I get back? I know it'll be sometime mid-January before my schedule normalizes again..."

Berroa shakes his head, waves dismissively. "Whenever you get back in town, you call and set things up. I just wanted to give you something. For Christmas."

Val smiles a bit awkwardly. "Thank you. You didn't have to--"

"You're right, I didn't." Berroa fixes him with a look from behind the drumkit. "There's a lesson for you there, though. Someone says they have something to give you, accept it gracefully. You never know who's gonna give you something you can use in this world, Valentine. You got an opportunity, you take it. Don't go munging it up with 'you shouldn't have' or 'no, that's alright' or whatever apologetic phrase you've got going in that head of yours." He picks up one of his sticks, points towards his desk. "Leaning on the other side of it. You get that guy you got with you to carry them."

Val rounds the desk quietly, looks to where a pair of shiny new cymbals are leaning up against it. Bosphorous Versa series, according to the embossed label on each. They're possibly the nicest set he's seen up close. "Thank you!" he says, looking up from the shine of them to smile bright. "Thank you so much."

Berroa gives a grunt that may be pleased. "Yeah, well. I get a discount on them - they're the Ignacio Berroa signature series after all." A little snort to indicate what he thinks of that bit of business. "Good cymbals though. Hand hammered, you'll get a nice crisp sound out of them. Do a little latin number with your band."

A bit more small talk, and Danny's loading the cymbals into the car while Val lingers and tries to think of either a reason to get going or something else to say. He doesn't know why he feels so awkward around Berroa, only that he always does. It's not the 'famous' thing - he's known plenty of folks who were Somebody before. Hell, he was one of them once his own self. It's not that he's particular intimidating , or mean or anything. It takes Val a bit to pin it down, and he's almost all the way out the door after having muttered a 'Merry Christmas' as a goodbye, before it hits him.

It's because Berroa got that way about him that musicians have - that internal metronome - that deep feeling for music, that innate talent that Valentine thought for so long he lacked. He worries sometimes that Berroa will turn to him in the middle of a lesson and say "Kid, stop faking it. Stop fooling yourself, you don't belong here." But he never does. Even when he's not getting it, even when he's tense and wired like a spring and can't play right, there's no 'oh just give it up' or 'you're not good enough for this'.

A bit of admonishment for his mistakes, encouragement for his efforts in the form of a nod or smile or pat on the shoulder, and a hell of a lot of learning - that's what he's got from Berroa. That's the real gift the cymbals symbolize. The knowledge that this real musician, who has no reason to be biased towards him whatsoever, believes in him. Believes he's got talent, believes he's worth teaching.

Val smiles brighter, more genuine, on his way back to the car. Gets in the passengers side, looking over his shoulder to the burnished metal of the cymbals in the back seat. It's a lovely gift indeed.

How To Live To 100
From Health magazine

There was big news recently for anyone born after the year 2000: They’ll probably live to 100, according to new research from Denmark. That’s roughly 20 years longer than the life expectancy of the rest of us. But we could live that long, too, says Walter Bortz II, MD, a clinical associate professor of medicine at Stanford University: “What’s holding us back are bad habits.” Luck and genetics play roles in longevity, of course, but you can’t control that. To hike your odds of hitting 100, focus on what you can do, like loading up on fruits and veggies (add five years), working out five days a week (add two to four years), and cutting down on stress (may add up to six years)

Get a Hobby
+2 years
Having a pastime reduces stress and provides a sense of accomplishment.

Floss
+6.4 years
Removing harmful bacteria that can cause inflammation cuts the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Take a Vacay
+1 to 2 years
Skimping on leisure time can raise your risk of heart disease eightfold. Solution: Go ahead and get away from it all!

Sleep In
+2 years
The average American is almost an hour short on sleep, which hinders the repair of many cells in the body. Try to get your 7 to 8 hours a night.

Have Sex
+3 to 5 years
Intercourse helps you live longer by relieving stress and releasing feel-good hormones like oxytocin. You’ll also burn about 200 calories.


---

Well, I got some of these down - just have to work on eliminating more stress and sleeping in. Right now it's kinda hard to sleep because I keep rolling over onto my sore arm. Otherwise I'm making out okay though - I'm real tired of telling the story though. I keep running into people I haven't seen yet who are like 'what happened to you?!' I should just print up a little pamphlet entitled 'What Happened to Val' and hand it over, goddamn. Two more days for this to get better. I'm tempted to just play anyhow, even if it's still kind of jacked up - but I can't risk it. Got our anniversary and Christmas party coming up, and I'm so not doing those injured. Everything WILL be fixed by the time I leave for New Orleans. At least my bodyguard is helping me carry my shit around, and I must admit it's nice to have a ride places. Lot of things go smoother this way. I'm seriously considering the merits of keeping him full time next semester if he's still available for that.

Especially with this Soap Net thing going on - they're running All Our Tomorrows in their lineup now, and their website features a Timmy Lane (my character) photo on the front page which links to a Timmy-heavy photo and video gallery. Also, according to the fan site, they got my face coming out as a series of collectible covers for next month's Soap Opera Digest - including the one of Timmy in drag, and the one where he's dying of the inoperable brain tumor. Hate those publicity photos they took of Timmy dying, because that's when I was real sick - I look like hell in those pictures and it's not just costuming and makeup. I'm about a shadow away from death myself. And of course, the fangirls all excited and have to catch them all about it.

Have I mentioned it's really killing me not being able to practice? I so want to play drums right now, and I've tried messing with piano one-handed and it's just not happening. And this weekend's lessons were the last ones before I leave for New Orleans too - I felt real bad when I had to call and cancel them. Berroa told me to stop in anyhow if I got time, he want to talk to me before I leave. I wonder what that's about? Maybe to set up my schedule for when I get back. I'm going to try and stop in there this weekend. At least it's almost time for me to go to New Orleans - little over a week now. Eight days. Everything's better when I'm down there with Ellis. Just have to get through the show this weekend, and finals next, then I'm all set.

1) How much of the character's backstory did you know when you started to play them?
I knew the basics, like he was a former child actor and that he was leaving LA to come look for his uncle Hans, and some of the formative events that went into his personality.

2) How specific or vague do you tend to make a character's background? Why? I start out with things pretty general, like just having an idea of a few major events and a rough idea of when they occurred, then flesh things in as they're revealed through playing or writing. Val's backstory is now pretty extensive as I've played him about a year now and done a lot of writing for him. It's also ever growing as he reveals more about himself, and goes into specific details about certain things.

( More under cut... )

Got jumped in the subway on the way to college today. Am mostly okay thanks to having my knife on me, other than some bruises and cuts and a goddamn sprained right arm which I so didn't need right now. They x-rayed it and such at the hospital - it's just a sprain, nothing broke. I'm supposed to ice it for 24-48 hours, and got an elastic bandage and a sling. Keep it elevated blah blah blah. I have exactly four days for this to get its damn self better, because that's when our band is performing at the open mic. I can shake things and such left handed, but I can't play the melodica this way and that'll really throw things off.

I need to call my bodyguard tonight and arrange to be driven for the rest of this semester, apparently. At least it's only 7 more days - rest of this week, then my finals next week, but fuck I did not need this. Ten more days until I'm in New Orleans and I won't have to deal with any of this. A whole month with Ellis - trying to focus on that and not fall apart over this. I got too much to do to let this mess me up, too much going on. I can't get all shook up before finals, and with the show coming up and everything. Got to keep my head together and just do what needs to be done.

Never mind that I feel like collapsing into a little ball and crying Got to cancel my lessons this weekend, call folks, do homework, so forth.

Typing this one handed took FOREVER, FYI.

Christmas Gift Toy & MySpace Layouts at pYzam.com

So okay the key to understanding all that... the tank top and boxers, that or less pretty much what I wear when I'm down in New Orleans, with the other stuff being more what I wear up in New York. Robe and slipper socks what happens when it's extra cold. Pretty much I wear a comfortable pair of lounge pants / pajama bottoms with some t-shirt, usually one of the ones with a saying that I wouldn't really wear otherwise, 'cause I wouln't want most folks to see it. Like... Free Hugs , 'cause I don't want most people hugging on me so I wouldn't wear that one outside the house. The undershirts and boxers are usually Ellis's.

For the curious, I sleep under my jazz quilt - a quilt with all kinda neat jazz pictures on it what Ellis had his church ladies make for me.

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN023732820091202

I don't even know what to say to this. I thought that New York of all states would support gay marriage. I mean, fucking IOWA is ahead of New York on this. This makes me just such a combination of angry and depressed and overwhelmingly sad that we're still so far from where we need to be for all people to have equal rights.

"This is an enormous victory," said Maggie Gallagher, the leader of the anti-gay marriage group, National Organization for Marriage. "What you saw was the will of the people. ... The culture really hasn't shifted on gay marriage."

Will of the people my ass. Will of the back-bred intolerant bigots, maybe. But that can't be the majority of America, can it?


Well, here's something less depressing - it's the song of the month meme. Yes, it's that time again - beginning of December means it's time for a new song. You put your mp3 player on shuffle, first song that plays is your song for the month. This is mine. More of a summer song I'd think, but hey at least it's a positive-ish one.



The Hazards of Love 2 - Wager All

And here I am, softer than a shower
And here I am, to garland you with flowers
To lay you down in a clover bed
The stars a roof above our heads

And all my life I've never felt the tremor
And all my life, that now disturbs my fingers
I'll lay you down in a clover bed
The stars, a roof above our heads

And we'll lie until the Corn Crake crows
Bereft of the weight of our summer clothes
And I'd wager all
The hazards of love
The hazards of love

And take my hand and cradle it in your hand
And take my hand, feel the pull, the quicksand
I'll lay you down in a clover bed
The stars, a roof above our heads

And we'll lie until the Corn Crake crows
Bereft of the weight of our summer clothes
And I'd wager all
The hazards of love
The hazards of love
The hazards of love
The hazards of love

I'm going to be working some days this month with Uncle Hans's charity. I think Fritz is going to too, at least I hope he still is even though um, things have changed for him. They're having a food, winter coat and holiday toy drive - it's a really good cause if you got some time and/or stuff to donate!

I have my room all decorated for Christmas now. I have a little tree in here, and some lights and ornaments. Uncle Hans and Uncle Met said we can decorate the rest of the place sometime this week too. I wonder if Ellis has anything down at the house in New Orleans? I should ask, 'cause I'll be down there for part of the season and it would be nice to have a tree and lights and all there too. I think I am going to stuff stockings for Ellis and Mister Hairless this year. I need to start Christmas shopping for everyone - I have no idea what anyone wants yet though! I have a couple of things I've put away during the year, and some stuff I'm making, but there's still a lot of folks I just don't know what to get them. So post your lists.

Here's my list so far - I figured I'd post it here, and I'll keep adding to it as I think of things. Though really, most of these things are more in the WANT category. I don't really need most of this, and this isn't any indication that you should go out of your way to get me something. And really, anything at all is appreciated. Lots of little things make me happy, I'm not difficult at all I swear. I also really like Christmas cards!


Assorted
telescope
zoot suit (preferably from Suavecito)
lava lamp
fuzzy slippers
hats! fedoras, homburgs, porkpies, maybe a derby...
jazz jigsaw puzzle
toe socks!
board games
stuffed animals
couple new pairs of jeans
a nice suit jacket
an electric blanket
drawing supplies
coins for my coin collection
a short sword
fancy boots like Ellis has
teach me how to do something / make something / cook something


( More things... )

Your result for The Which Golden-Girl/TMNT are you Test...

Donatello / Sophia

Your ki is made up of 47% Vigor and 75% Wisdom

Take The Which Golden-Girl/TMNT are you Test at OkCupid

I'm also eating lunch with Jay, Paul and Cam (who are also taking this stupid quiz haha), so it's not entirely just tooling around on the iphone and leaving silly memes in my wake. Lunch is good too! I have a soup and salad combo - broccoli and cheese soup and a chicken Ceasar salad. I also have a big buttery roll and I keep stealing some of Jay's cheese fries - yum! Drinking a Raspberry Peach Snapple, the lid of which helpfully informed me that emus and kangaroos cannot walk backward. Just in case you were ever wondering if they could, or if you had constructed some sort of Rube-Goldberg machine which required an emu walking backwards to trip the mechanism - NOW YOU KNOW and can make plans to include a more backward motion friendly animal instead.

Shout out to all the people out there in internet land - what are you doing today?

My dad and sibs are back in Seattle now. I kind of miss them. We had a real nice visit - my dad even bought me a melodica for Christmas while he was here. I got the Hoiner ST-32. Now I just got to learn how to play it! I've been messing around with it a lot, and reading up at http://www.melodicas.com/ . Good news for the band too, while I was there at the music store we went to, I also managed to pick up a nice used double bass. Just in time for practice this Friday! I also got some ideas about wanting to pick up some shakers. I think I'll add http://www.bali-treasures.com/ to my Christmas list, so if some folk want to pick me out a strange drum to add to my kinda-collection they can. I've been actually coming up with things I want for Christmas now, woot. I'll have to post my list later this week I think.


( More rambles and Spring 2010 schedule under cut )

It's a 17 song message about living and dying and what happens after that, so you know... a bit lengthy. Under the cut is a playlist, and there are partial lyrics- the relevant ones. I think the story tells itself especially if you know me well, but if you want explanation on any of them, just ask.

(( OOC note: To read about how Valentine is likely to die, see Sing me to Sleep , three drabbles featuring Val dying. They're connected by the phrase 'sing me to sleep' which features in the song Asleep, by the Smiths, in this playist.))


( Listen to the songs and read partial lyrics below the cut... )

I'm not a big time procrastinator - usually I try to just do what I have to do in order to get it over with and not have to worry about it. Trust me, I have enough that I worry about that I really don't want to add to that load. But when I do, I ...


organize/view my record collection
tool around on Live Journal (in fact, I'm doing this one right now)
surf the web
take a bubble bath
go for a run / do some exercises
play online games on Facebook or Yahoo
play Wii or computer games (I like puzzle games)
talk / text / im / email to friends / family / Ellis
play with my cats
sketch or doodle
recite music trivia to myself / learn new music trivia
try on Ellis's clothes when I'm at his place
read a book / magazine / flip randomly through my textbooks and read something
go hang out with friends
visit the record store and browse around / hang out / talk to folks
think about which musicians would beat which in a battle of the bands / cage match / knife fight
listen to music and contemplate on it, or sing/play along
paint my finger and toenails (or Ellis's, if we're together at the time)
mess around with some of my little toys (yoyo, string, etc)
watch old jazz videos on YouTube
get something to eat, these days (that still feels really weird to say)
daydream (though sometimes this gets productive! really)
masturbate / fantasize about Ellis-time (don't judge! Ellis and I are apart way too often)

Go here and sign up for the gift exchange that's gonna happen at our Christmas party!

My Dear Mister Ellis,

Today's been real busy for me, but kind of fun too. I brought my brother Theo to classes with me today. We have been talking about him applying to some colleges up our way - Columbia and NYU. He graduates this year, so it would be like next fall he'd start college. Uncle Hans has offered to pay for college for both him and Alison, which is real nice of him. If Theo get into a college here, he's gonna come live at our place. I think it would be real neat to have a full time brother, so I hope he do. He doesn't know what he wants to study yet, but I told him neither did I when I started college which made him feel a little better about it.

While we were on campus, picked up an application for him and a course catalog for me. I am looking through it and there are quite a few interesting things that catch my eye for what to take next semester. I have to meet with my adviser on Monday and get their advice on what I need to be taking especially now with my major and concentration declared. I hope there will still be room for some of the interesting things I'm considering taking though. There's this one English class called Novels of Ecological Catastrophe what sounds good. You read a bunch of novels in which some ecological disaster features prominently. One of the novels is Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle, which I have already read and quite enjoyed.

( Rambles on.... )

Had a great weekend down with Ellis in New Orleans. Got to see his show and hang out with him, and with Mister Hairless. My mister and my kitty both happy to see me. I talked to George some about the band thing, but he says I should email Marlowe 'cause he handles their stuff, so I've got to send an email off to him.

We picked up my dad and sibs today from the airport. There was a lot of hugging and such. Uncle Hans got a little emotional, even. They had a late dinner with us at our place, and they're at their hotel now. Tomorrow I'm going to take them to see Central Park, and we're going to go out to eat and all that. Then Thanksgiving!

I've now talked to all the bandmates - Lucky Fedora and the Not Your Daddies is the official name. Still need to find some horn players, but I got a practice schedule set up and mailed out. Our first gig might be a couple of songs at the record store's open mic next month (December 11th) if we can be ready by then.

Do you or your partner start the difficult conversations?

Oh, usually it's me. Ellis don't really - well, he doesn't come from the 'let's talk about things' generation like I do. I think really that's a big part of it, that he spent a lot of his life not talking about things and where talking about certain things was even kinda illegal. Though talking about difficult stuff is really new to me too - not generationally, but situationally. I spent a lot of my life where I couldn't talk about things, even if I wanted to. No one to really talk about them to. Same for him on that count too. Neither one of us really had nobody before they could talk to like we talk to each other now.

One of the rules we got is honesty above all, so I mean we do have honest discussion yes. And we're getting better at doing it without no one freaking out or feeling bad about it. Might take us a while with some things, but we are doing just fine.

In fact, we just had a difficult conversation on the way to the airport this weekend. Went mostly alright.