May 24th 2025

It's 6:18 on a Saturday morning and a rare Saturday where Patience doesn't have to be at the studio... kids tumbling on top of us... Yali suited up in Patience's panda body suit costume as they begin creating progressive stories with Oxbear which somehow ends up with asking Alexa what the German word is for “bellybutton”...

The morning continues with a little Colombian salsa as Oxbear asks one of the kids to help him empty out the litter boxes... Yali pauses and looks at his sister... “Patience... you're strong...”

It's an Illinois roadtrip around noon hour... Puck's Facebook Marketplace find of a circa 125 year-old St. Louis built safe (with original interior botanicals-inspired carpet) including working key and combination...

Two and a half hours later we meet a cheerful guy in Decatur... after he and Oxbear conclude swapping life stories... Oxbear stops by local Krekels for ice cream cones and shakes for the young'uns for the ride home... silent rain blanket across farmland sky... none falling...

Home to my jury duty check... eleven dollars and twelve cents...

And even though it had just been unlocked for us that afternoon via demonstration by previous owner... nearly three hours of Puck and Oxbear and myself trying to unlock the safe with the combination card and a ridiculous amount of online research and advice from the previous owner... not happening...