Jeff
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Post by Jeff on Jun 21, 2021 23:42:06 GMT -4
That's the Brian I know!
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Darren
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Post by Darren on Jun 22, 2021 7:24:22 GMT -4
Brian!!! That's amazing! Congratulations!!!
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Dave W.
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Post by Dave W. on Jun 22, 2021 8:08:59 GMT -4
Great news! Keep us informed Brian!
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Jeff
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Post by Jeff on Jun 22, 2021 8:39:17 GMT -4
Just a reminder: Weird Tales is where H.P. Lovecraft got started. And since Brian is WAY less racist and xenophobic than Lovecraft, think of the mythos that will come from his brain! Wait...maybe being a nicer person will end up making his horror writing harder... Well, whatever! WE had him before Weird Tales did.
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Ken
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Post by Ken on Jun 22, 2021 11:08:38 GMT -4
Damn, Brian - amazing! A deadline like that, though, would certainly trigger an ulcer in my case. Good luck!
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Post by Dave B. on Jun 22, 2021 20:44:37 GMT -4
Way to go, Brian!
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Joe
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Post by Joe on Jun 23, 2021 0:25:37 GMT -4
Outstanding work, Brian! Congratulations!!
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Brian
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Post by Brian on Jun 26, 2021 15:52:21 GMT -4
Thanks, everyone. I appreciate the support.
I finished the story and sent it in (a day early!). It'll be a number of weeks before I hear anything, but when I do, I'll let you know.
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Joe
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Post by Joe on Jul 3, 2021 22:05:46 GMT -4
Hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th of July holiday!
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Dave W.
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Post by Dave W. on Jul 4, 2021 13:05:29 GMT -4
happy 4th guys!!!
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Jeff
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Post by Jeff on Jul 18, 2021 0:16:58 GMT -4
Holy Lone Star State, Ken!!!
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Darren
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Post by Darren on Jul 18, 2021 8:52:27 GMT -4
Holy Lone Star State, Ken!!! Seriously! That was a bit of a surprise...
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Dave W.
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Post by Dave W. on Jul 18, 2021 10:09:52 GMT -4
Yeah, I’m going to need a video of Ken with his Texas drawl….
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Ken
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Post by Ken on Jul 18, 2021 15:47:15 GMT -4
Yes, this was all very abrupt! Some background: We put our house in Dumont, NJ up for sale last month, hoping to take advantage of the post-COVID, Zoom-fueled exodus from the cities to the suburbs. We figured we'd rent for the next 4 years while our kid is in high school (about to start 9th grade!) and save money. At the end of that 4 years, we'd assess. The good news is that we found a buyer for the house almost immediately - with an offer $15,000 above asking price! However, by the same token, we couldn't find a place to rent in NJ -- the few places that do pop up keep getting snapped up, or the landlords don't want to rent to pet owners. The places we DID find would've bankrupted us with their monthly payments. We hadn't given the slightest thought to moving to Texas when we visited our friends last month -- that was never in our plans. In fact, in years past, my wife would watch "House Hunters" and say kiddingly, "Hey, honey, here's a four-bedroom, two-bath house in Texas for $250,000. Want to buy it?" and I would reply, "No f___ing way am I ever moving to Texas!" But we kept striking out in our rental searches in Bergen Country. A few causal peeks at Grapevine, TX revealed that the prices there are WAY less than in NJ, and Texas is more pet friendly, too. Although we'll be spending a lot of money on the initial move, Judy and I figure we'll save at least 1 grand a month down there! Better still.... we get to vote against Ted Cruz! It's a bad time for democracy in Texas, but I look forward to getting into the fight. Also, our kid and our friends' kids get along great (they've known each other since they were 1) and it was really nice to see them all pick up where they left off a couple of years ago. Jordan and our friends' oldest son, Sam, will be going to the same high school starting next month. I also started a D&D campaign for the three kids (at their request!) while I was down there. We were planning to continue via streaming tech, but now we can do it in person! Here's the place by the way: www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/tx/grapevine/829-sunshine-ln/pid_42216585/ Ignore the dead grass in one of the photos. We've seen it live - it's green! Our moving day is approximately August 1, and there's a lot to do before that, especially with regard to the pets. Here's our current itinerary: Fri. July 30: Judy & Ken board dog Lucinda at her favorite place (Bark Avenue) and then get in Judy's car and drive for 24 hours straight with the three screaming cats until we get to Grapevine (or Arkham Asylum). Sat. July 31: Arrive in Grapevine, drop the cats off at a place that reportedly has "kitty kondos," then leave Judy's car at our friend's house and hop on a plane back to NJ that night. Get SOME sleep in Jersey for probably the last time. Sun. August 1: The movers show up! (There's a window from Aug. 1-3, but it'll likely be the 1st.) The movers pack up all of our stuff and leave. We've been told that it could take at least 5 days for the movers to get to Grapevine. Sun. August 1 or Mon. August 2: Judy & Ken get in Ken's car with Lucinda (and our betta fish!) and AGAIN drive to Texas, this time at a much more leisurely place, perhaps 3 days. Fri. August 6 (my birthday!!): The movers show up (MAYBE??) and we can finally relax. As you might expect, posting in DE will be nigh impossible during that stretch, but I'll do what I can. BTW, Dave B: I have some stuff that belongs to you and Nanci. I'll send it to you before we leave!
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Brian
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Post by Brian on Jul 18, 2021 17:04:04 GMT -4
Wow. Best of luck in the Lone Star State. Sue and I have visited and really liked the state. My best to you and Judy and Jordana on the move!
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Post by Dave B. on Jul 18, 2021 18:26:21 GMT -4
Wow, Ken! Good luck with everything. Where does Jordana fit into the itinerary or is she still in Texas?
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Ken
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Post by Ken on Jul 18, 2021 19:33:51 GMT -4
Oh duh, good question, Dave! She's going to summer camp in Pennsylvania on Wednesday and will be gone for about 4 weeks. So I'm flying into Philadelphia on August 14, staying at Mike Ferguson's house near Bethlehem that night (and recording an episode of the podcast IN PERSON), and then picking up my kid and flying back to Texas later that afternoon. BUSY!
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Jeff
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Post by Jeff on Jul 18, 2021 19:52:16 GMT -4
Those are some dizzying plans! Makes my recent 10-to-12-hour drive back from North Carolina look like a cakewalk. Stay awake!
The East Coast'll be a little sadder without you guys. But it looks like Texas is getting an upgrade. I do have another friend there, so that's two reasons to consider a drive-through someday!
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Jeff
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Post by Jeff on Jul 18, 2021 22:20:34 GMT -4
Ken, are your jobs transferring somehow? Working remotely is a go?
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Ken
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Post by Ken on Jul 19, 2021 0:03:53 GMT -4
Oh yeah, my job will continue as is! I checked with my manager (and his manager) and both of them said it's no problem! I mean, I've been working 100% remotely since I started the job in January, so no real difference aside from the fact that I'll start an hour earlier because of the time difference. And my salary will go further in Texas.
As for Judy, the therapist who runs the office out of which she works has been awesome. She's looking into the paperwork necessary to allow Judy to continue working for her and to see Texas clients. In the meantime, Judy can continue to see her existing NJ clients remotely even though she's in Texas - they checked and there are no legal issues. Judy won't be able to pick up Texas clients until she gets her Texas license.
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Joe
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Post by Joe on Aug 6, 2021 17:38:49 GMT -4
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Joe
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Post by Joe on Aug 11, 2021 18:56:37 GMT -4
So, Saturday evening, I was exposed to COVID-19 thanks to a friend who had been "battling a bad cold." Said friend was dropping off his two cats which we are fostering while he finds a new place to live. I am asymptomatic and have been fully vaccinated and will go in to be tested on Friday. I am, to say the least, unhappy about this. I am also grateful to have gotten the Moderna shots, my 2nd came four months ago. So...will keep all updated on status. Stay as safe as you can out there, my friends.
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Jeff
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Post by Jeff on Aug 11, 2021 19:21:07 GMT -4
Ugh! Well, sit tight, Joe. Most likely you'll be more than fine, and if you test positive, Covid'll roll off you like water off a duck's back, or reason off a Trumper's brain. Let us know how it goes, okay?
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Post by Dave B. on Aug 11, 2021 20:48:55 GMT -4
Oy, Joe! Stay safe. Hope it all works out for the best!
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Ken
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Post by Ken on Aug 11, 2021 21:36:29 GMT -4
Ugh! Best wishes to you, Joe.
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Dave W.
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Post by Dave W. on Aug 11, 2021 23:43:01 GMT -4
wishing you well joe.
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Brian
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Post by Brian on Aug 12, 2021 5:29:06 GMT -4
Be well, Joe. Fortunately, the vaccines work quite well against the Delta variant.
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Darren
Kalarian d'Deneith (human)
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Post by Darren on Aug 12, 2021 9:16:11 GMT -4
Thank goodness you are smart enough to have done the right thing. I'm sure you'll be okay.
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