Post by: CigarBanter on May 17, 2023, 12:02:47 AM
Post by: razgueado on May 17, 2023, 03:20:27 AM
Wordle 697 5/6
⬛🟨🟨⬛⬛
⬛🟩🟩🟩⬛
⬛🟩🟩🟩⬛
⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Post by: razgueado on May 17, 2023, 03:41:25 AM
This is a picture of my brothers and I talking. You can see the tip of my boot. We did this for most of three hours tonight. That's not amazing. What's amazing is that the skinny, bearded guy in the middle is in the picture at all. That's my youngest brother Nathan.
Nate is a Type II bipolar. He started using again about two years ago. We knew something was wrong, but we have a long history, so we didn't know if he was using or just being mentally ill. But then it took a serious detour and we knew what was happening, and it got ugly. That was about thirteen days ago. He was a dead man walking, but my long-suffering sister managed to get him into an ER at Harborview Medical Center, where he spent 10 days detoxing. Then he crawled up inside my guest room on Friday, while we work to get him into a rehab program.
Tonight, my brothers and I spent three hours talking. Nathan is lucid, present, and for the moment, at least, he is committed to the coming rehab. Thad and I - that's Thad on the left - are just happy to have our brother back for a moment.
It was a good night. We talked. We made plans. We tried to keep everything in perspective, and focus on getting through the day. But there was hope. My brother Nate was there, and he was talking.
I wish for all of you that you never have to deal with addiction issues in your family. If you do, I'll be there. My clan will be there. It is my hope that my brother Nathan will be there.
Peace, my friends. I truly do love you all.
Post by: A Friend of Charlie on May 17, 2023, 06:14:52 AM
Nah, before I say g'night, I want to show you something.
This is a picture of my brothers and I talking. You can see the tip of my boot. We did this for most of three hours tonight. That's not amazing. What's amazing is that the skinny, bearded guy in the middle is in the picture at all. That's my youngest brother Nathan.
Nate is a Type II bipolar. He started using again about two years ago. We knew something was wrong, but we have a long history, so we didn't know if he was using or just being mentally ill. But then it took a serious detour and we knew what was happening, and it got ugly. That was about thirteen days ago. He was a dead man walking, but my long-suffering sister managed to get him into an ER at Harborview Medical Center, where he spent 10 days detoxing. Then he crawled up inside my guest room on Friday, while we work to get him into a rehab program.
Tonight, my brothers and I spent three hours talking. Nathan is lucid, present, and for the moment, at least, he is committed to the coming rehab. Thad and I - that's Thad on the left - are just happy to have our brother back for a moment.
It was a good night. We talked. We made plans. We tried to keep everything in perspective, and focus on getting through the day. But there was hope. My brother Nate was there, and he was talking.
I wish for all of you that you never have to deal with addiction issues in your family. If you do, I'll be there. My clan will be there. It is my hope that my brother Nathan will be there.
Peace, my friends. I truly do love you all.
That's a lot to go through. I wish you all the best, especially Nathan. I'm happy he's got good people in his corner.
Post by: A Friend of Charlie on May 17, 2023, 06:15:42 AM
Post by: LuvTooGolf on May 17, 2023, 06:18:51 AM
DittoNah, before I say g'night, I want to show you something.
This is a picture of my brothers and I talking. You can see the tip of my boot. We did this for most of three hours tonight. That's not amazing. What's amazing is that the skinny, bearded guy in the middle is in the picture at all. That's my youngest brother Nathan.
Nate is a Type II bipolar. He started using again about two years ago. We knew something was wrong, but we have a long history, so we didn't know if he was using or just being mentally ill. But then it took a serious detour and we knew what was happening, and it got ugly. That was about thirteen days ago. He was a dead man walking, but my long-suffering sister managed to get him into an ER at Harborview Medical Center, where he spent 10 days detoxing. Then he crawled up inside my guest room on Friday, while we work to get him into a rehab program.
Tonight, my brothers and I spent three hours talking. Nathan is lucid, present, and for the moment, at least, he is committed to the coming rehab. Thad and I - that's Thad on the left - are just happy to have our brother back for a moment.
It was a good night. We talked. We made plans. We tried to keep everything in perspective, and focus on getting through the day. But there was hope. My brother Nate was there, and he was talking.
I wish for all of you that you never have to deal with addiction issues in your family. If you do, I'll be there. My clan will be there. It is my hope that my brother Nathan will be there.
Peace, my friends. I truly do love you all.
That's a lot to go through. I wish you all the best, especially Nathan. I'm happy he's got good people in his corner.
Post by: LuvTooGolf on May 17, 2023, 06:19:05 AM
Happy hump day, banterers.And to you sir, on this fine PayDayWednesday.
Post by: A Friend of Charlie on May 17, 2023, 06:25:56 AM
Oliva Serie 'G' Belicoso (5.0"x52) - 10 / $37.50
Post by: LuvTooGolf on May 17, 2023, 06:26:48 AM
Speaking of pay day, I believe today is the date my mom gets her first social security check.Happy hump day, banterers.And to you sir, on this fine PayDayWednesday.
Post by: A Friend of Charlie on May 17, 2023, 06:30:15 AM
Door #1 - Nica Libre Toro (6.0"x54) - 10 / $29.99
Door #2 - H. Upmann Connecticut Toro (6.0"x50) - 10 / $49.99
Door #3 - Ave Maria Ark of the Covenant (Gordo) (4.5"x60) - 10 / $34.99
Post by: A Friend of Charlie on May 17, 2023, 06:33:25 AM
That's awesome. May she continue getting checks for decades to come. I always thought they got paid at the beginning of the month. Happy just to finally get some back, I imagine.Speaking of pay day, I believe today is the date my mom gets her first social security check.Happy hump day, banterers.And to you sir, on this fine PayDayWednesday.
Post by: LuvTooGolf on May 17, 2023, 06:44:06 AM
I always thought the same thing, but I think they changed it in recent years to help out with the glut of seniors rushing to the bank at the beginning of the month.That's awesome. May she continue getting checks for decades to come. I always thought they got paid at the beginning of the month. Happy just to finally get some back, I imagine.Speaking of pay day, I believe today is the date my mom gets her first social security check.Happy hump day, banterers.And to you sir, on this fine PayDayWednesday.
She hasn't worked in a long time because she hasn't needed to. She applied basically the moment she hit 62, which was nearly 2 months ago. I think my dad is probably the happiest about the checks. Lol
Post by: LuvTooGolf on May 17, 2023, 07:16:03 AM
Post by: LuvTooGolf on May 17, 2023, 07:51:23 AM
https://currently.att.yahoo.com/news/conservatives-foment-outrage-against-another-194800847.html
Post by: LuvTooGolf on May 17, 2023, 07:51:46 AM
⬛⬛🟩⬛⬛
⬛⬛🟩⬛🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Post by: LuvTooGolf on May 17, 2023, 09:09:33 AM
Post by: LuvTooGolf on May 17, 2023, 09:09:57 AM
Post by: Travellin Dave on May 17, 2023, 09:47:37 AM
Does that mean I'm older than your mom? ???Speaking of pay day, I believe today is the date my mom gets her first social security check.Happy hump day, banterers.And to you sir, on this fine PayDayWednesday.
Post by: Travellin Dave on May 17, 2023, 09:48:36 AM
Nope, middle of the month.That's awesome. May she continue getting checks for decades to come. I always thought they got paid at the beginning of the month. Happy just to finally get some back, I imagine.Speaking of pay day, I believe today is the date my mom gets her first social security check.Happy hump day, banterers.And to you sir, on this fine PayDayWednesday.
Post by: Travellin Dave on May 17, 2023, 09:49:28 AM
Speaking of #2, now ready for Page2Dave.....sorry I'm late, was just taking care of #2.... :P
Post by: razgueado on May 17, 2023, 09:54:49 AM
Post by: LuvTooGolf on May 17, 2023, 10:00:58 AM
Morning, muchachos.Morning, Page2sRazandDave.
Post by: LuvTooGolf on May 17, 2023, 10:01:15 AM
It might, she's 62.Does that mean I'm older than your mom? ???Speaking of pay day, I believe today is the date my mom gets her first social security check.Happy hump day, banterers.And to you sir, on this fine PayDayWednesday.
Post by: Travellin Dave on May 17, 2023, 10:02:15 AM
There are 228 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History:
On May 17, 1954, a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court handed down its Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision which held that racially segregated public schools were inherently unequal, and therefore unconstitutional.
On this date:
In 1536, Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer declared the marriage of England’s King Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn invalid after she failed to produce a male heir; Boleyn, already condemned for high treason, was executed two days later.
In 1940, the Nazis occupied Brussels, Belgium, during World War II.
In 1946, President Harry S. Truman seized control of the nation’s railroads, delaying — but not preventing — a threatened strike by engineers and trainmen.
In 1973, a special committee convened by the U.S. Senate began its televised hearings into the Watergate scandal.
In 1980, rioting that claimed 18 lives erupted in Miami’s Liberty City after an all-white jury in Tampa acquitted four former Miami police officers of fatally beating Black insurance executive Arthur McDuffie.
In 1987, 37 American sailors were killed when an Iraqi warplane attacked the U.S. Navy frigate Stark in the Persian Gulf. (Iraq apologized for the attack, calling it a mistake, and paid more than $27 million in compensation.)
In 1996, President Bill Clinton signed a measure requiring neighborhood notification when sex offenders move in. (“Megan’s Law,” as it’s known, was named for Megan Kanka, a 7-year-old New Jersey girl who was raped and murdered in 1994.)
In 2004, Massachusetts became the first state to allow same-sex marriages.
In 2010, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that young people serving life prison terms should have “a meaningful opportunity to obtain release” provided they didn’t kill their victims.
In 2015, a shootout erupted between bikers and police outside a restaurant in Waco, Texas, leaving nine of the bikers dead and 20 people injured.
In 2017, the Justice Department appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee a federal investigation into potential coordination between Russia and the 2016 Donald Trump campaign.
In 2020, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was tested for the coronavirus on live TV as he announced that all people in the state who were experiencing flu-like symptoms were eligible for tests.
Post by: Travellin Dave on May 17, 2023, 10:03:18 AM
Five years ago: With six Democrats joining Republicans in voting to confirm her, Gina Haspel won Senate confirmation to become director of the CIA. The Miss America Organization announced that it would now have women in its three top leadership positions, after an email scandal in which male officials were caught making vulgar and insulting comments about past winners.
One year ago: President Joe Biden condemned the poison of white supremacy and said the nation must “reject the lie” of the racist “replacement theory” espoused by a shooter who killed 10 Black people in Buffalo, New York. Mariupol appeared on the verge of falling to the Russians as Ukraine moved to abandon the steel plant where hundreds of its fighters held out for months under relentless bombardment in the last bastion of resistance in the devastated city. Baltimore Orioles pitcher Matt Harvey was suspended for 60 games by Major League Baseball for distributing a prohibited drug of abuse.
Post by: Travellin Dave on May 17, 2023, 10:06:11 AM
Actor Peter Gerety is 83.
Singer Taj Mahal is 81.
Rock musician Bill Bruford is 74.
TV personality Kathleen Sullivan is 70.
Boxing Hall of Famer Sugar Ray Leonard is 67.
Sports announcer Jim Nantz is 64.
Producer Simon Fuller (TV: “American Idol”) is 63.
Singer Enya is 62.
Actor-comedian Craig Ferguson is 61.
Rock singer-musician Page McConnell is 60.
Actor David Eigenberg is 59.
Singer-musician Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) is 58.
Actor Paige Turco is 58.
Actor Hill Harper is 57.
TV personality/interior designer Thom Filicia is 54.
Singer Jordan Knight is 53.
R&B singer Darnell Van Rensalier (Shai) is 53.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is 52.
Actor Sasha Alexander is 50.
Rock singer-musician Josh Homme (HAHM’-ee) is 50.
Rock singer Andrea Corr (The Corrs) is 49.
Actor Sendhil Ramamurthy (SEN’-dul rah-mah-MURTH’-ee) is 49.
Actor Rochelle Aytes is 47.
Singer Kandi Burruss is 47.
Actor Kat Foster is 45.
Actor Ayda Field is 44.
Actor Ginger Gonzaga is 40.
Folk-rock singer/songwriter Passenger is 39.
Dancer-choreographer Derek Hough (huhf) is 38.
Actor Tahj Mowry is 37.
Actor Nikki Reed is 35.
Singer Kree Harrison (TV: “American Idol”) is 33.
Actor Leven Rambin is 33.
Actor Samantha Browne-Walters is 32.
Actor Justin Martin is 29.
Post by: Travellin Dave on May 17, 2023, 10:06:41 AM
Raz Over/Under is 10
Post by: Travellin Dave on May 17, 2023, 10:07:52 AM
Yup, by 4 years.It might, she's 62.Does that mean I'm older than your mom? ???Speaking of pay day, I believe today is the date my mom gets her first social security check.Happy hump day, banterers.And to you sir, on this fine PayDayWednesday.
Post by: LuvTooGolf on May 17, 2023, 10:24:15 AM
Today's Over/Under is 65
Raz Over/Under is 10
Post by: LuvTooGolf on May 17, 2023, 10:26:25 AM
My dad is also 62. :DYup, by 4 years.It might, she's 62.Does that mean I'm older than your mom? ???Speaking of pay day, I believe today is the date my mom gets her first social security check.Happy hump day, banterers.And to you sir, on this fine PayDayWednesday.
Post by: razgueado on May 17, 2023, 10:27:24 AM
That's a lot to go through. I wish you all the best, especially Nathan. I'm happy he's got good people in his corner.
He was always a good kid. Smart, funny, generous. Amazing to watch on a dirt bike. But from the day he was born we knew something wasn't right. He screamed like he was being tortured for most of his infancy. He was in his 30s when doctors finally figured out he had a herniated esophagus. But by then he was self-medicating and the mood swings had started. He got clean 16 years ago before his daughter was born, but he started spiraling after our mom died in 2013. Marriage fell apart. Attempted suicide in 2015. And always the stomach problems. My sister - the Silicon Valley exec - assumed guardianship of him and got him on disability. He moved into Dad's basement and seemed to stabilize. Then about 2 years ago he seemed to start unraveling. It was like the therapeutic drugs for his bipolarity and anxiety stopped working.
Well, duh. When you mix Meth into the regime, and start freestyling benzodiazepines, the therapeutics don't work right. But like I said, he's smart. So he hid it well, until he fell and broke his collarbone. Beth was working out scheduling surgery for him. Blood was drawn. Whoops. Jig was up. Surgery was out of the question, said the doctor. He wouldn't survive it. Off to detox.
So now we're starting again.
Post by: razgueado on May 17, 2023, 10:32:23 AM
Today’s Birthdays:Eleven.
Actor Peter Gerety is 83.
Singer Taj Mahal is 81.
Rock musician Bill Bruford is 74.
TV personality Kathleen Sullivan is 70.
Boxing Hall of Famer Sugar Ray Leonard is 67.
Sports announcer Jim Nantz is 64.
Producer Simon Fuller (TV: “American Idol”) is 63.
Singer Enya is 62.
Actor-comedian Craig Ferguson is 61.
Rock singer-musician Page McConnell is 60.
Actor David Eigenberg is 59.
Singer-musician Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) is 58.
Actor Paige Turco is 58.
Actor Hill Harper is 57.
TV personality/interior designer Thom Filicia is 54.
Singer Jordan Knight is 53.
R&B singer Darnell Van Rensalier (Shai) is 53.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is 52.
Actor Sasha Alexander is 50.
Rock singer-musician Josh Homme (HAHM’-ee) is 50.
Rock singer Andrea Corr (The Corrs) is 49.
Actor Sendhil Ramamurthy (SEN’-dul rah-mah-MURTH’-ee) is 49.
Actor Rochelle Aytes is 47.
Singer Kandi Burruss is 47.
Actor Kat Foster is 45.
Actor Ayda Field is 44.
Actor Ginger Gonzaga is 40.
Folk-rock singer/songwriter Passenger is 39.
Dancer-choreographer Derek Hough (huhf) is 38.
Actor Tahj Mowry is 37.
Actor Nikki Reed is 35.
Singer Kree Harrison (TV: “American Idol”) is 33.
Actor Leven Rambin is 33.
Actor Samantha Browne-Walters is 32.
Actor Justin Martin is 29.
Post by: LuvTooGolf on May 17, 2023, 10:35:14 AM
That's a shame. Seems like detox and rehab is usually a multi-visit situation. Here's hoping this is the one that sticks.That's a lot to go through. I wish you all the best, especially Nathan. I'm happy he's got good people in his corner.
He was always a good kid. Smart, funny, generous. Amazing to watch on a dirt bike. But from the day he was born we knew something wasn't right. He screamed like he was being tortured for most of his infancy. He was in his 30s when doctors finally figured out he had a herniated esophagus. But by then he was self-medicating and the mood swings had started. He got clean 16 years ago before his daughter was born, but he started spiraling after our mom died in 2013. Marriage fell apart. Attempted suicide in 2015. And always the stomach problems. My sister - the Silicon Valley exec - assumed guardianship of him and got him on disability. He moved into Dad's basement and seemed to stabilize. Then about 2 years ago he seemed to start unraveling. It was like the therapeutic drugs for his bipolarity and anxiety stopped working.
Well, duh. When you mix Meth into the regime, and start freestyling benzodiazepines, the therapeutics don't work right. But like I said, he's smart. So he hid it well, until he fell and broke his collarbone. Beth was working out scheduling surgery for him. Blood was drawn. Whoops. Jig was up. Surgery was out of the question, said the doctor. He wouldn't survive it. Off to detox.
So now we're starting again.
Post by: Travellin Dave on May 17, 2023, 10:39:58 AM
We've officially passed GEICO for the #2 auto insurer spot. Wonder if we'll get a tchotchke to celebrate?Way to go Flo!
Post by: Travellin Dave on May 17, 2023, 10:42:19 AM
Post by: Travellin Dave on May 17, 2023, 10:43:26 AM
Post by: Travellin Dave on May 17, 2023, 10:44:15 AM
Post by: LuvTooGolf on May 17, 2023, 11:50:55 AM
Post by: LuvTooGolf on May 17, 2023, 01:18:11 PM
Post by: A Friend of Charlie on May 17, 2023, 01:25:07 PM
⬛⬛⬛🟨🟨
⬛🟨🟨⬛⬛
⬛🟩🟩⬛⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Post by: A Friend of Charlie on May 17, 2023, 01:36:59 PM
Today's Over/Under is 67
Raz Over/Under is 10
Post by: LuvTooGolf on May 17, 2023, 03:07:48 PM
Post by: A Friend of Charlie on May 17, 2023, 03:13:56 PM
Hazzuh!You work some OT on the backend too?
Post by: bluecollar on May 17, 2023, 05:17:27 PM
I've seen way too many families tore up by this. I hope your brother finds his way.DittoNah, before I say g'night, I want to show you something.
This is a picture of my brothers and I talking. You can see the tip of my boot. We did this for most of three hours tonight. That's not amazing. What's amazing is that the skinny, bearded guy in the middle is in the picture at all. That's my youngest brother Nathan.
Nate is a Type II bipolar. He started using again about two years ago. We knew something was wrong, but we have a long history, so we didn't know if he was using or just being mentally ill. But then it took a serious detour and we knew what was happening, and it got ugly. That was about thirteen days ago. He was a dead man walking, but my long-suffering sister managed to get him into an ER at Harborview Medical Center, where he spent 10 days detoxing. Then he crawled up inside my guest room on Friday, while we work to get him into a rehab program.
Tonight, my brothers and I spent three hours talking. Nathan is lucid, present, and for the moment, at least, he is committed to the coming rehab. Thad and I - that's Thad on the left - are just happy to have our brother back for a moment.
It was a good night. We talked. We made plans. We tried to keep everything in perspective, and focus on getting through the day. But there was hope. My brother Nate was there, and he was talking.
I wish for all of you that you never have to deal with addiction issues in your family. If you do, I'll be there. My clan will be there. It is my hope that my brother Nathan will be there.
Peace, my friends. I truly do love you all.
That's a lot to go through. I wish you all the best, especially Nathan. I'm happy he's got good people in his corner.
Post by: A Friend of Charlie on May 17, 2023, 06:13:18 PM
Post by: LuvTooGolf on May 17, 2023, 07:52:49 PM
Only Friday left. That's crazy. Today was touch and go but with perspective to what Bret and family are going through, I won't complain.Are you off tomorrow?
Post by: LuvTooGolf on May 17, 2023, 07:54:01 PM
I did. My mom picked up the kids and took them out to dinner, then I met them back at the school because they were having an art show and the 2 oldest had a couple of things on display.Hazzuh!You work some OT on the backend too?
Post by: A Friend of Charlie on May 17, 2023, 08:53:55 PM
Only Friday left. That's crazy. Today was touch and go but with perspective to what Bret and family are going through, I won't complain.Apparently, there's still Thursday left too! Holy crap, I honestly thought the weekend was closer
Post by: A Friend of Charlie on May 17, 2023, 08:54:45 PM
So no.Only Friday left. That's crazy. Today was touch and go but with perspective to what Bret and family are going through, I won't complain.Are you off tomorrow?
Post by: LuvTooGolf on May 17, 2023, 09:11:18 PM
I was gonna offer that as a possible suggestion, but was giving you the benefit of the doubt.Only Friday left. That's crazy. Today was touch and go but with perspective to what Bret and family are going through, I won't complain.Apparently, there's still Thursday left too! Holy crap, I honestly thought the weekend was closer
Post by: LuvTooGolf on May 17, 2023, 09:11:37 PM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230518/ddbaa5fe98696a0f3cc136cb630ce3de.jpg)
Post by: razgueado on May 17, 2023, 09:22:03 PM
My clan is a tight bunch. This couldn't tear us up. It strains, occasionally, but not enough to splinter us. My eldest niece flirted with drugs and nearly bought the farm when she got some Valium that turned out to be fentanyl. Scared her straight. We got through it.I've seen way too many families tore up by this. I hope your brother finds his way.DittoNah, before I say g'night, I want to show you something.
This is a picture of my brothers and I talking. You can see the tip of my boot. We did this for most of three hours tonight. That's not amazing. What's amazing is that the skinny, bearded guy in the middle is in the picture at all. That's my youngest brother Nathan.
Nate is a Type II bipolar. He started using again about two years ago. We knew something was wrong, but we have a long history, so we didn't know if he was using or just being mentally ill. But then it took a serious detour and we knew what was happening, and it got ugly. That was about thirteen days ago. He was a dead man walking, but my long-suffering sister managed to get him into an ER at Harborview Medical Center, where he spent 10 days detoxing. Then he crawled up inside my guest room on Friday, while we work to get him into a rehab program.
Tonight, my brothers and I spent three hours talking. Nathan is lucid, present, and for the moment, at least, he is committed to the coming rehab. Thad and I - that's Thad on the left - are just happy to have our brother back for a moment.
It was a good night. We talked. We made plans. We tried to keep everything in perspective, and focus on getting through the day. But there was hope. My brother Nate was there, and he was talking.
I wish for all of you that you never have to deal with addiction issues in your family. If you do, I'll be there. My clan will be there. It is my hope that my brother Nathan will be there.
Peace, my friends. I truly do love you all.
That's a lot to go through. I wish you all the best, especially Nathan. I'm happy he's got good people in his corner.
It helps with Nate, this time around, that my sister is quite wealthy, and about to become thrice as wealthy when she marries Bill Roy this summer. It would be a struggle for the family to put Nate through rehab right now, because Dad's scaling down his working life and we're making up the income shortfall for him. We'd do it, if we had to, but Beth has been managing Nathan for a long time, and she says she's got this.
There are two sets of us siblings. I'm the oldest, Thad is three years younger than me. Then, after ten years, mom and dad decided to have another - Nathan. Beth was an accident two years later. So Thad and I grew up very close, and Nate and Beth did the same behind us. Beth can be tough as nails, but she has a soft spot for Nathan, and he does for her as well. When he's at his worst, she's the only one he'll listen to. The sisters-in-law, Thad's wife Deanne and my wife Carol, are not remotely inclined to put up with Nathan's bullshit, but when he's trying to get his shit together, they are very protective of him.
So...we're built for this. I could spend hours telling the story of the Holtz clan, and why those that know us are often fascinated by our clan. But I won't bore you more than I have.