☘️ Good afternoon to the 'Nauts across the ocean! ☘️

Looking to connect with members that are Irish citizens, please feel free to message me directly, respond to this thread, or send a passenger pigeon. 😉

A happy PNW morning to you, 'Nauts!!

I'm looking to connect with anyone here that is an Irish Citizen. I've some questions about citizenship, and possibly relocating in a few years (most likely Galway or Roscommon area). Please feel free to respond in this thread or send me a message, and thanks!

TFW they call you in early for your appointment, and you end up sitting around and waiting.

Yes, Mrs_Syn and I could teach them, but for something like this I'd prefer to have someone else to emphasize the gravity of the situation. That way there's no parental bias involved and we can reinforce afterwords.

I'm thinking our girls might actually be the best bet for finding someone, versus an old dude like me that could be viewed as an outsider.

Happy weekend, hope y'all are able to disconnect from the news for a bit and decompress.

Could use some hints/advice. I let my CPL lapse and am going in next week to renew - that got me thinking about getting the older kids into a firearms basics and safety course. However, all my web searches are turning up results drenched in NRA and shadow-MAGA rhetoric.

I know I'm coming from a position of privilege, but how can I find a good instructor my kids will trust, so they focus on the material?

Well, I think this sums up my feelings about this week. Time to unplug for a bit - have a great evening, my precious ’Nauts.

And remember- YOU matter! 💜

https://youtu.be/J7cgUhkEB_U

Kudos to the WA Department of Licensing. Scheduled an appointment online for this afternoon for mini_Syn. Walked in, nice gentleman verified our appointment time, gave us our ticket, and warned they'd be called out of order, since we had an appointment. Waited less than 10 minutes, took about 7-8 minutes to review documents and old ID, and another minute for mini_Syn to take pic and sign name.
Check another emergency plan box, as everyone now has enhanced ID/DL's in case things go south.

Guess it’s time I finally get around to watching that Alex Garland Civil War movie.

Wonder if it’ll be as good/thought provoking as Ex Machina? Side note: thinking about Ex Machina in the context of today’s LLM AIs makes it a touch more sinister. Huh.

Some good news, at least:

Sibling's offer on a house was accepted today! They're prepping their house for sale now, and will cut the last ties to Texas soon!

I'm shocked! Shocked, I tel...

Ah hell, who am I kidding?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/report-colorado-s-housing-crisis-linked-to-billionaire-investors/ar-AA1tB9J7

I think I found the portion of the electorate that overwhelmingly turned out...

I miss my grandma. Was thinking about one of her favorite sayings while walking the youngest to school today:

"Don't cut off your nose to spite your face."

Clearly, more of America needed to hear that while growing up.

4) Start working on a "go bag" with 3-5 days of supplies per person, in case things get bad.
5) Work your exit plan; enhanced licenses (for our state) will get you across southern or northern borders, but have a plan for how to get there.

Kiddo's are spiraling a bit this morning. Sent some advice to them:

1) Keep your heads down, don't talk politics with anyone that's not family or 100% trusted friend. And NEVER in public! Some MAGA folks are actively out & looking for trouble.
2) Get online, and get a passport appointment scheduled now. The Post Office should have appointments that include doing your photo's.
3) Scrub your socials. They've talked about coming after donors and others; hopefully it's hyperbole, but... Musk.

Welp, rather than more doomscrolling, gonna do some window shopping and light research.

https://www.daft.ie/property-for-sale/roscommon/houses

I can't believe so many people in this country chose hatred.

This is not what I spent 24+ years defending. I'm honestly a bit gob-smacked, I expected more from people.

Guess I need to be more... cynical.

My golly, it's hard to be a Seahawks fan right now. Startin' to feel a bit like the 90's. And not in the good grunge music way.

Ugh, time to unplug for a bit again. The sheer amount of unsolicited text messages, emails, and phone calls involving candidates and ballot initiatives has reached level ludicrous.

The one that tipped me over the edge? Local candidate for a county Supreme Court position. *sigh*

Ugh. Teen_Syn and I walked over and got Flu / COVID boosters this morning. Just reached for my coffee and stretched just a bit too far... just a small twinge, tho. Nothing close to what the 2nd (I think?) shot was, "back in the day."