Hiya folks, just a few updates:

1) Please forgive typos, i am still in a cast, still in some pain, and my sutures don't come out until the 21st.  All seems to be going ok except for some really unpleasant tingling in my fingertips, will call doctor today about that.

2) Simon starts a new job today, a 2 year contract right here in Richmond @ 42k per year.  He'll also get 10 paid holidays, a week's paid sick leave, a week's paid vacation, and health insurance.  I was hoping we'd get out of this town, but in a way it's a relief that we are staying because we'd have had to borrow a substantial amount to move, so at the moment, this is probably for the best.

3) I got an unexpected package from Mason on Friday, a beautiful grey cable-knit scarf!  I say unexpected because I knew he'd completed it some time ago but had trouble getting around to mailing it so I had no idea when it would arrive.  It's gorgeous, Mason!  (Now how about a pair of flap-mittens to match, hehe.  Someone else had promised me those way back before Christmas--and promised me a few other things as recently as February--and then seems to have lost my email address.  Go figure.)  Anyway, sweetz, thanks so much, it's very pretty and I'll be proud to wear it, and everyone who's seen it so far gets a kick out of hearing it was knitted by a trucker.

4) Speaking of promises, WHY do some people even bother?  You know, the only thing I've ever asked for on these forums was an old camcorder, and of course Just John promptly granted that wish. (thanks again, bro!)  Others have read about our difficulties and offered various forms of assistance, of those offers I accepted, they all came through...with a single exception.  (No, Elie, this is not about your coffee, which still seems to be lost in the system somewhere.) 

This single exception has promised me quite a few things over the years, from hard to find teas to other handcrafted items (like the mittens) to a bit of cash to help with bills in March, and....nothing.  I'm annoyed because I never ASKED for these things, the promises were made publicly (via these forums) and then promptly forgotten about or decided against. I couldn't really say which, as she hasn't even offered that much of an explanation.  It's also aggravating because another friend told me they'd seen a pair of the mittens I wanted and would have gotten them for me but didn't because this OTHER person had already said they were going to.

Now, she'll probably be pissed when she reads this, (and I won't identify her unless she chooses to do so herself) but I tend to think that this sort of thing contributes to a lot of her life's problems, these casual promises that aren't followed through on, various endeavors begun and just as quickly abandoned, never to be mentioned again.  Here's a bit of advice for her, whether she wants to hear it or not. 

Stop it.  I know that you make these offers with all sincerity (at least i hope you do and it's not all just for show on these forums) but your WORD is worth far more than say...a pair of mittens or a contribution towards our electric bill.  Take a lesson from Kelly, just surprise someone now and then instead of setting them up for disappointment. Don't even tell someone you're going to do something nice for them until it's already been done, and you'll spare yourself some embarrassment and the hard feelings that come from broken promises.  I know how busy you've been lately, and I'm more than cool with that, but this behavior has been repeated many times over the years, and  there's just no reasonable excuse for that.  Stop biting off more than you can chew, or start being a woman of your word.  It will help you in real life.

5) I went to pick up my cat carrier from the vet the other day and Greybaby is doing fine, has even adopted a second orphan so she's nursing 5 kittens now, 3 of her own and 2 that needed a new mamma.  The techs tell me she allows Dr Jack to handle her a bit now, so maybe they'll get her tamed yet and she'll make some country dweller a good home.

6) WTF is going on with JU?  I can't log in most days, and then only to the forums.  When I go to my blog, it shows me as being logged in, but when I try to create a new article it bumps me back to the login page, which is why I am attempting to post this directly to the forums...and I sure hope that works because typing ain't easy at the moment, lol.

7) Mom's been visiting since the 6th, and is going home tomorrow.  What a great help she's been, taking care of most of the housework and driving me around to doctor appointments before I was able to do so myself.  I can drive a bit now, but have trouble with the gear shift lever and my arm gets fatigued really fast so I can't venture too far from home.  I'm glad she came, and we've had a nice visit, even if we put a damper on Simon's 'celebrating.'  He's been 'celebrating' (ie: drinking obscene amounts of cheap vodka and acting like a dick from its effects) for almost 7 months, since He got laid off, so I don't see that as any great loss, although He may feel differently.  The dogs are certainly going to miss her when she goes, she's spoiled them rotten (rottener than even I spoil them!) and they're going to mourn her departure.

8) I am SO looking forward to getting back into some sort of routine, this past half-year or so seems to have been filled with one identical day after the next...nothing to do and no money to do it with, cooped up together 24/7 in this tiny little dollhouse (which you can see on google street view, btw, but the house #s are screwed up. If you scroll down our street (those of you who know its name) our house is the third one from the corner of Creighton, white with burnt orange trim.  You'll see the golf course at that end of the street, and the field where I walk my dogs at the other.  It's a short block.  Anyway, now that I have my days back, hopefully I'll be writing more often once I get this contraption off my arm.

9) Last but not least:  For those of you who have helped us through these hard times, whether that's been financial assistance, (you all know who you are)  prayers, phone calls, cards, items from my Christmas list (Karma, you rule, and so do you, maso, that knife is still the best tool I have in my kitchen) or just little surprise care packages (Kelly, you rock!) I want you to know I will never, EVER forget your kindnesses, and intend to repay.  What I need to know is if you'd prefer me to repay directly (even though I realize these were gifts, not loans) or just send it on down the line to someone else in need. (Someone who hopefully won't kick me in the teeth for my efforts, like SOME people we know, haha.)

I wrote an article a few months ago about micro-lending, and if I can find the link with JU acting so retarded I'll add that in the comments section, and I'm certainly going to start putting some money into that program, you can start with as little as $25 and totally change someone's life.  Some of you (Karma, Ock and Mari, others too perhaps) might prefer me to recycle your donations to animal welfare programs, and others (like Elie) might get a kick out of me sending that back around via donations to a political cause. (Save the Queens, perhaps?  HAHAH, ducks and runs.)

Anyway, ya'll let me know, and as soon as we're caught up on our own behindedness, (i estimate about 3 months) my goal is to donate an equal or greater sum than what's been sent to us over these past few months.  Gotta keep that good karma flowing now that its taken an upswing on our end.  Let me know if you have any preferences, or if you'd rather get a 'care package' from me instead.

Thank you all so much for helping us get through these rough times.  You restore my faith in humanity more than you know, and that, my friends, is priceless.

And now...oh HELL YEAH, it's time to awaken Mastah Simon and send Him forth to Emp.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor, would ya be mine, could ya be mine.....lalalala