Sorry to hear that, Sua. Best wishes for your mother and your nephew.
Tough breaks for all the Spontes. Hope all ends up well.
Ignore my last letter, too.
Thanks for the expressions of sympathy. I’m probably overreacting a bit - my dad, who’s a doctor, is calmer than I am. I think it’s more the combination of events that’s wearing at my reserves.
Sua
This is a lot funnier if you imagine it in an accent. Perhaps that Bronson Pinchot character, Belkie.
Vince,
I completely understand. About 10 years ago, my mom was VERY sick. My dad, also a doctor, would talk with the other docs in med-speak ( kinda like lawyer-speak, somthing you know all about: A language incomprehensable to most folks for no good reason, used to make the practitioners feel important. 
), and all I could do was just smile vacantly and nod. ( Come to think of it, that’s how I usually react to English ) There was only one time when he and I were alone in a corrodor that he sagged and looked at me with tears in his eyes and said ’ We may lose her, David". I took him into an empty room and we comforted each other as best we could. Happily, my mom recovered and is in perfect health, vigorously debating me about all kinds of stuff today. Except for that one moment, dad was as calm as a clam. It’s part and parcel of being a doc. Go be there for your family, and take all my prayers and best wishes with you.
Dave
P.S. I take it our quintuple stab of Italy, France, Russia, Germany and Austria is off, then? 
It’d have to be - Austria’s now beyond the reach of all stabs. You and Sua will have to settle for a quadruple. 
If you’ll replace Russia with England there, I’m up for a quadruple
Yeah, I’ll bet you are, you perv. I always knew you lawyers were like that…
Winter 1902 in Dip 983 has been adjudicated.
Enjoy!
Oooooh! Call me a lawyer will you? I’ll sue I tell ya’. Lawyers don’t sue people, people sue people. . . with lawyers.
Welcome the new ruler of Turkey in Dip 936…
Abe Babe.
Start hiding the good silver now.
Orders for Dip 936 are kicked back to next Wednesday. Those who have already submitted them may change them at their leisure.
Sua Sponte, I’m so sorry to hear that you’re having such a stressful time of it. I’m sending positive, healing vibes your and your family’s way. Hang in there hon’.
I’d love to take your place, but I’ve still got a lot of stuff I’ve got to do this month. [sigh] There just aren’t enough hours in the day.
celestina, please feel free to take his place. It won’t take any of your time. Really.
I’ll be happy to give you as much advice as you need to, erm, simplify the game for you as quickly as possible.
RTFirefly, [giggle] how you do flatter me. Are you sure y’all want me back? Well, I could play England and get it taken over in a turn or two. Hmm. If that’s what y’all want, then I’ll give it the old college try, but I warn you that I’ve got a lot of stuff on my plate right now.
I’d personally be delighted, celestina, but you have to remember that that’s my fleet poised to thrust its way up England’s back door.
But I’ll be gentle and use lots of Astroglide.
One day, just maybe, I’ll be involved in a game that does not involve threats of sodomy or a vigorous gruppenfick.
We are smart people, we should pioneer some new penetration metaphors.
Yeah, well, there’s only a limited number of basic possibilities. Until they invent new ways of sexual penetration, we’re pretty much stuck when it comes to metaphors of such.
How about: "relinquish Trieste or be prepared for an enthusiastic squicking”
?
I’m sure I can think up something better given time.
Celestina has offered to take up the difficult mantle of England in 983.
Let’s everyone wish her good luck.
When are orders due in Dip 936?
And in 983?