I emailed my sister yesterday just to say hello. I was upbeat and hoped that things were calmer and better back in NJ. Unfortunately, she wrote back that my nephew is in the psych hospital a third time since Easter. He had severe vomiting and shaking throughout his body. We have no clue yet what's causing it, but they're examining his medications. He had been taken off of Adderal pretty much cold turkey after decades on it. Could that be a possible cause? Severe withdrawals? He apparently still has concerning mood issues, too.

Sis also wrote that a bad thunderstorm passed through the area the other day, causing a huge old tree to fall on my dad's property, directly on my brother's chicken coup. All of the chickens are dead, save one rooster who is wandering in the field (the fence got damaged, too). If any were still alive, but injured, an animal finished them off (lucky fox?). I feel for him as they were like pets, and since he's a lonely fellow, I think that hurts a lot. I emailed him and received a rare quick response. When cutting the downed tree with a chain saw, he had to wear bee protective gear since the tree fell near his hives, though didn't damage them. He does have some baby chickens brooding in the basement since hatching a while ago. They're the lucky ones.