vallo

I believe I saw this morning the beast that others have seen near the portals. It was playing near my cottage, but I ended up spooking it when it caught sight of me.

Next week will mark my arrival anniversary into Vallo and I believe that counts as one of the few dates where I am allowed to be sentimental "on main", as my once students used to say. (Note that the other dates include: my birthday, Caleb's birthday, the children's birthday, our wedding anniversary. Other random days must be forgiven, if I am not controlled at brunch and have one too many sips of a mimosa.)

And so, this has been a very tumultuously wonderful handful of years and I am grateful to the people who have given it such joy, both those that have since gone and everyone still here--and, most assuredly, those that will still stumble into Vallo in the future. I am a lucky elf.

Anyway, sentimentality over. Thank you for allowing the indulgence.

I am delivering a new podcast this evening that I am particularly proud of. Normally I would give hints as to the subject matter--magic, soup, book reviews, etc--so as to tempt people to listen, but I wish not to spoil anyone and also I have heard that lending some mystery could likewise tempt people to listen so this is a test. If no one listens, I will know it is a gamble best not taken again and simply be terrible sad. (This is a back up plan: if mystery does not work, perhaps guilt will.) (This is a joke, in case my brand of humor remains less than clear after all these years of attempting it.)

[SHIRO, KEITH, CATRA, ADORA, LEON ORCOT]

I've been in Vallo for 4 years now, which means I've also known Shiro for 4 years now, and I don't mean to be sappy but I genuinely don't know what I'd do without you guys.

I know it's a weekday, and I know everyone has to get up early in the morning, and we've got kids to take care of, but father said he'd watch any of the kids if I wanted to go out, and I really really want to get drunk tonight. I've been good, and I've been sad, and I'm tired of being sad. Does anyone want to come keep me out of trouble? I might ramble about mistletoe again, Catra.

Someone explain to me the appeal of Paw Patrol to small children.

TEXTS TO ADAINE

>> HI
>> This is Kai
>> Erikson
>> Kai Erikson
>> Any chance you'd want to venture out and try pizza?
>> I mean, I know you've tried pizza before, I'm not saying you have to try pizza or anything
>> But you can! If you want to try something less boring?
>> Not that your pizza is boring! You just said that it was, so why not go crazy and try something different?
>> Wow, I am really making an awesome impression here
>> Let me try this again?
>> Hey! It's Kai. Pizza????