I'm still here... alive and well. No, I didn't have a near death experience. We've started a home renovation project and had to move in with the in-laws for a time while they are doing the bulk of the demo work. During this time, I've been writing more of Part IV and generally showing friends and acquaintances a great deal of restraint by not completely hammering them for the manner in which they are conducting themselves when attempting to intellectually present their arguments regarding their political views. 

My wife keeps telling me to smile and nod, let it go, 'you can't fix stupid'.