I was wondering how many work absences there were on this beautiful day in Seattle, Beth! I hope a LOT.
Lessee. Short version: did two sprint and two Olympic length triathlons last summer, fell in November and totally destroyed two finger joints which have now recovered to a moderate degree, am rebuilding from a couple of months off because of that, and starting to feel like the rebuilding is taking. Lost our elderly cat Nina last year and got two Aby kittens, brother and sister, who are a total hoot. 
Glad to see you back, Silver. And you can talk about anything you please.
"My predominant feeling is one of gratitude. I have loved and been loved;I have been given much and I have given something in return...Above all, I have been a sentient being, a thinking animal, on this beautiful planet, and that in itself has been an enormous privilege and an adventure." O. Sacks