OK, two less-momentous things to lighten the mood.
While hiking at Great Falls a week ago, Tina and I saw a water moccasin/cottonmouth, lying (perhaps in wait, perhaps in repose) on a branch jutting out over the Potomac. Cool!
And today, our dog Machig, for no apparent reason, kissed our cat Krishna on the lips. She didn't appreciate it much.
:-)