Our "City Beautiful" is suffering. Christina Grimme from The Voice was shot and killed here on Friday night, and then last night (rather early this morning) a man shot and killed 50 people and injured 53 more in a night club. The victims were mostly taken to the nearby hospital (which is a major trauma center) which is where my husband's uncle has been in the neuro ICU for 4 weeks after his motorcycle accident. I've been driving there multiple times per week. As of this morning, our family members have not been able to get into the hospital to see him.

I am so sorry for all of the victims and family members, and for our City/State. Despite the obvious issues that go along with life in a big city, this is generally a lovely place to be. I have found kind and friendly people everywhere I go... This is just so incredibly sad and shocking.

I'm sorry I have been scarce on the forum. My life has been in utter chaos this past month. I have spent more time in the ICU (with our uncle) than I have ever wanted to (after spending the most stressful 18 days of my life in the PICU years ago with my daughter). The sounds and smells are incredibly re-stimulating to me. My boss left town right after our uncle's accident, and her house had a water leak and issues with the alarm system. In a completely unrelated project at work, I was working to move her office, and mine to another building. Then we had family from out of state come to live with us (because of the uncle's accident) in our 1100 square foot house (two adults and three big dogs). Oh, and my husband just started a new job with crazy hours and a very intense/difficult learning curve. My son is on summer break, and his plans were blown up because the family he was supposed to go visit in Montana are now living with us (but not in a fun way - more of a living-at-the-hospital, stressful sort of way). I have loved catching up with these sweet aunts, even though it has been in the middle of trauma. Tomorrow I have to go out of town for a super quick emotionally draining trip.

Sorry to dump all of this out in one major crazy jumble. This morning's news just put the last final horrific "cherry on the top" of a month long nightmare... I am just so sad for all of the hurting people in our city right now.

In completely unrelated (but fashion related) news - I have been wearing the heck out of my EF Harem pants. Like several times per week. How did I ever get by without them?! Seriously...