A giant in the infectious disease medical community has passed away. He was also my neighbor.

Dr. George Risi wasn’t a household name but his contributions to infectious disease research were immense...particularly HIV, H1N1 and Ebola. I was acquainted with George through his work at Infectious Disease Specialists, a clinical research practice specializing in testing vaccines for industry and government. Back in the day when my husband and I were poor as church mice, we participated in vaccine trials for H1N1, H5N1 and bubonic plague...we got paid for doing so. It was exciting at the time and helped pay the bills. Dr. Risi was also our neighbor. He walked past our house often and always waved and said hello when I was out front working in my garden. I noticed how thin he had become of late and worried he might be ill. He was, in fact, suffering from an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer. He died December 12th.

From his obituary:

The Obamas Are Producing a Comedy Series About

tRump being a giant F**kup.

Tom Petty...Runaway Trains

How are my fellow Montanans faring today? ETA: And, other friends from red states

who are feeling beat up...

Mental health check in if you feel up to it. I'm tired...I know you all must be too. I can't believe our results. Weed passes but none of our incredible candidates get elected? We have a thug for a governor now. What a tough day this is.

I'm thinking of you all and appreciate every single one of you.

Incredible turnout here in Missoula, MT.

The line out the door of the main Elections Office to vote goes as far as as I can see...it winds down the street, around the block and down a pedestrian path. This is only one of the places to vote in town. I drove past two ballot drop off points and they are well staffed and cars are bumper to bumper for blocks. There are several park and ride places where you can leave your vehicle and take the city bus to the polls. I followed one of the buses on my way to work and there were quite a few folks riding. Everyone is masked and socially distant. I'm thrilled to see this and I'm happy it is sunny and 43 degrees. A week ago we had 10" of snow on the ground. I hope everyone who can vote will have the opportunity to get it done today.

When will Bill Barr emerge from his den?

He is awfully quiet these days...

Vote for her.

I know im preaching to the choir here...but this new TLP ad is so powerful. I tell the guys in my household how meaningful it is to have leaders who look like me and live a life similar to mine. It matters.

This Biden ad! To get us across the finish line...

VOTE!

https://twitter.com/NicolleDWallace/status/1316589055828729857?s=20

Voting view from Montana

I voted!! So happy to have it DONE. I drove the two ballots from my household to the Elections Office here in Missoula and the place was absolutely packed...both the walk in elections office and the drive through. The line of cars for the drive through drop box was wrapped around the block and has been all day long. I can say that because the Elections Office is a half block from my office. The drive through attendant told me he had just filled three ballot boxes and was filling the fourth for the morning. I most likely cancelled out the tRump humper's ballot ahead of me in the drive through line...so there's that.

Just had a black bear visit outside my bedroom window.

I was awake...looking at DU on my iPad and I kept hearing what I thought was my kiddo in the next room thrashing about in his bed. I realized it was outside...I opened my window and saw the plum tree shaking top to bottom. The bear was up in it knocking plums to the ground. The deer have grazed all the fruit from the reachable branches and the bear will get what’s left.