by MustBTVDay twenty-nine of furlough. I woke up at 0600, greeted once again by the faithful White Chocolate Mocha, my morning compass through government limbo. Remington received a Pup Cup, maybe as a bribe, maybe as an act of love. Either way, she took it as both.
Last night’s birthday dinner for Amy went mostly according to plan, until it didn’t. She decided to take a chance on salad, a food group her digestive system has long declared war on. About halfway through dinner, she confidently said, “See? I’m fine.” By bedtime, she remembered exactly why not. Still, the evening was a success overall, and the mission concluded with smiles, laughter, and maybe one too many bites of “I’ll be fine.”
Today’s mission is prep, Amy’s business trip on Monday means packing, planning, and mentally bracing for her absence. When she leaves, the Living Room Republic temporarily enters bachelor governance, a fragile system powered mostly by caffeine, leftovers, and misplaced optimism.
As for me, Monday brings my own grand adventure, heading into the office to sign paperwork confirming that I still want the job I’m not currently allowed to do. Nothing screams “productive governance” like formal documentation of irony.
Meanwhile, the cruise countdown is officially underway, a little more than a month to go. The thought of sea breeze, sunlight, and a complete lack of meetings feels like salvation in nautical form.
Morale check: steady. Coffee hot, pup content, salad lessons reinforced, bureaucracy waiting in the wings. The Living Room Republic remains afloat, one Pup Cup, one suitcase, and one cruise daydream at a time.
