Good news. Bad news. Both postponed. Mom visits, snuck her a present inside a backpack I had borrowed/returning. Recorded, audio cassette mix for a present, scratchy tape quality is harder to accept post digital spoiling. Movie time later, friends roommate rented The Big One, 5 day rental with days to spare. Checkers, viciously defeated, cowering black pieces in the corner. Soup and hot chocolate dinner in her co-op kitchen. Hours sneaking by, 4am before it ought to be.