Last Wednesday I got a phone call from my girlfriend.  She was hysterical.  She'd just received awful news about a family member.

My girlfriend has preferred to not be named on this site and that has always been to my consternation.  She lives in the square world and it isn't that she's  embarrassed of me; she's just afraid that her associating with me might not be the best thing as far as how potential employers/constituents may look at it.  I've honored it the best I can while still being true to the confessional person I am.  I'll not give many details so as to continue that courtesy. Plus,  the idea that she may want to go into politics someday is sort of sexy. All that really needs to be said is that it was the kind of news that would make a person angry at God. 
 

The news would get worse on Friday.