“Your optimism will never be as powerful as it is in that exact moment when you want to give it up.”

Are you SURE it is...?

Thank you for this, I’m going to try it.

We’ve done the same thing, putting up hummingbird feeders during the pandemic and has been nice indeed.

Not exactly sure what a stootz is, but it feels appropriate and I’m using it.

It’s silly, but I used to be practically known as “the guy in the red hat.” I just liked the look. Been 4 years since I wore one.

Not really on topic, but I just wanted to say I always enjoy your comments and find they almost always add substantially to the story. I probably learn more from comments on some stories than I do the stories themselves.

Read less of this stuff... trust me it helps. I used to have to talk myself down nightly, now I’m down to (roughly) weekly. Kind of wish I hadn’t clicked on this one...

Weird, it sure sounds like it’d be sticky.

If it’s the 2nd half of the year, you can count on my dad to wrap whatever you left and give it to you as a Christmas present. The person usually gets a kick out of it/forgot they’d even had it. Obviously this wouldn’t apply to something pricey like an iPad, but sweaters, coats, sunglasses have all been fair game.

Gotta be honest, I starred this just because of your name.

You are technically correct, the best kind of correct.

It’s alllll down to ego. If he gets canned, Team Red looks bad. 

I believe the good Mr. Swanson is speaking to the anthropomorphized incarnation of the jiggling keys trick. 

I didn’t know about Rene :(

“...the goldilocks zone near this gaseous giant asshole.”

I’m IN Florida and agree with this. Great story.

Yep.