Melina is back, and as badly-behaved as ever.

I would like to offer my apologies to my faithful readers, and offer a general catch-up:

• The full time job I began in December 2021 is still going on. I like it very much. 
• I returned to Texas for a few months to save on rent and assist Ian* with repairs to the rental property, but am back in Chattanooga in a new, larger flat.
• I am still seeing Reed*. My eight months in Texas were rough on him. I did visit him for a week in February. I still remember how he looked when I arrived and he half-walked, half-ran to me. I saw something in his eyes that I still cherish: passion, want, need, and love.
• After almost a decade, Cincinnati* surprised me by visiting me at my new flat earlier this month, before a local cycling event. It was platonic yet quite pleasant. He did eventually admit he did not feel the spark he'd hoped to feel, but I had done quite a bit to prevent this as it didn't seem to be the best way to re-unite.
• I still have Buddy the cat although he is elderly and in renal failure. I cook him chicken to encourage him to eat, although he is thin and sad-looking. He has a friend, a small orange female named Loretta. My cousin found her last year near a Loretta Lynn restaurant in central Tennessee.
• The only downer is that I stress-ate myself into being around 18 pounds heavier during my time in Texas, but since I'm not stressed here in Chattanooga, it should come off fairly quickly.

More soon, I promise.

 * See The Usual Suspects - also updated today.