<<<18 Nov 2056, 13:54—Super Tuesday>>>

Well, the whole sordid affair is over, and I'm back home for now. Still feeling rotten, of course. Don't know what I'd do without Aubrey around to do the cooking and keep things running smoothly while I'm flat on my back recovering from the aftermath of this blasted illness. I wonder if I'm driving him as mad as he's driving me, constantly hovering around wanting to know if I need anything. In a way it's rather nice, though, especially since I haven't felt much like doing more than reading. Maya has been a near-constant companion. Everyone should have a cat around when he or she is ill; I think Maya's good for the recovery.

I've been watching the polls in the UCAS papers; our favourite bigot's approval rating has plummeted, I see. Looks like the story got out with a minimum of fuss and bother. Not every day one gets the chance to influence an election, eh? I'm sure when I'm feeling better we'll all get together and gloat about it.

I've about had it with this whole election rubbish. If I never seen another UCAS political candidate, it'll be too soon. With the exception of Dunkelzahn, of course. Ocelot and Joe think I'm insane, but I would very much like to meet that dragon. He seems a most pleasant sort from the interviews I've seen on the trid. 'Wraith understands. Still, however, I think a nice long rest until after the election is over is in order. Too bad we didn't manage to recover that laser, or we all could have retired in style. If we could have pried it out of 'Wraith's hands, that is. Not a likely proposition. I wouldn't think he'd want it after meeting it rather up close and personally, but he's always been an odd duck.

My paper is coming along well. I hope to have it finished before I return to Seattle. Aubrey's convinced me to dictate it instead of typing, which is fine. All that business in Chicago is providing some very nice field research about the habits of mantid spirits. Wait until old Rodney sees this! Not the kind of thing he normally sees, that's certain. It's bound to be a change of pace for him, albeit not necessarily a pleasant one. Hope his scholarly curiosity is up to the task.

Have to close this now...Maya is getting impatient. She wants to hear my latest notes about the paper. Cats!