patty, we're all working to declutter the US of a despot. Important work. Congratulations to your IRL friend, I understand exactly what she's encountered. Making your time count, and having an impact is something we all calculate. I have a local Democratic state senator (the one who was locked in the Texas House chambers because she wouldn't agree to having a state trooper dog her steps) but the rest are GOP. They get the sharp side of my pen in my missives to them. Sometimes I use my blog to post open letters that I'm sending to them, in case anyone else needs to use the text. Copy and paste is just fine with me.

On the home front, Ms. Argiope is nearing the end, shrinking and listless. I don't think tossing her a beetle would cheer her; if she is discoverable after she dies I'll bury her in one of the potted plants out front. She has led a robust life with several egg sacs produced and quite a personality for spider. (Who knew that spiders are sensitive to sound? My blue heeler sets her on edge regularly.) I'm a naturalist so I understand, but am also a little sad.

There are nearly a dozen completed jigsaw puzzles on the sunroom table now that I've finished the latest. I feared a piece was missing but retraced my steps to the kitchen and back and found it on the door mat entering the room. The pieces were slick and tended to stick to my bare forearms if I lean on the table, so that one went walkabout with me. An eBay search of sold puzzles, in lots (more than 1) shows people tend to buy those that are by the same company. White Mountain, Buffalo Games, Ravensburger, Milton Bradley. I don't have a lot of each of those (just the Exploding Kittens ones) so may list them according to how difficult I found them or the number of pieces. There aren't a lot of the Exploding Kittens puzzles listed so if I lump too many together people who have already worked some in my listing may not be interested. I'll think of something. I'd like to put them all in one box and send them off.

My ex just called, describing something that sounds a lot like sciatica. Tomorrow I'll be driving him to his doctor or to a minor emergency clinic, whichever will see him soonest. And then we'll figure out a way to grocery shop with him or I'll take him home and shop for him. I think the problem is the saggy cushions on the couch in his living room.