((((Nora))))

You're on the East Coast, correct? Can you wander off for a lunch break?

I ran out at 11am and devored a burrito and an ice cream on a stick, which helped slightly until I came back.

I have a meeting, which is sure to be stressful, at 1:30. This should be interesting. If anyone has any ~ma to direct so that I don't start crying IN MY MEETING that would be great.

I can't talk to anyone right now, so that precludes leaving, but hopefully that will change soon. My stomach still hurts but I can breathe withour sobbing, so that's an improvement.

Well, I hope you can get out of the office ASAP, just to get a break and maybe chill a little (if that's possible).

{{{Nora}}} Love you.

You're under a lot of stress. You just bought a house. You're trying to be a grown-up. You've got work issues. It's okay to be feeling like this. It's okay. There's nothing wrong with you. Deep breaths...maybe promise yourself that if your brain/chemistry/stress/whatever gets you through the meeting, you will let it cry all it wants once you're home. It might help.

Remember you're loved and valuable and important and it's okay.

{{{{{Nora}}}}}

An acting trick I was taught to help stop unwanted crying was if you try to force crying, you won't. So in moments where you really don't want to cry, try to force tears out and tell yourself "go ahead, cry now, cry, one tear." and it usually stops things.

Our yams have a variety of colours of their flesh, running through to yellow (most are variations on white and beige). They're not that sweet. Sweet potatoes are light green inside, and sweeter.

ita eats mutant yams.

that's good to know, Robin!

{{{Nora}}} I'd say think of beer, but I don't know if that would help.

Don't forget the Alice's Restaurant Massacree....

And I said "Kill! Keeeellllll!!!!"

Robin gets it. Three dead at the scene, and two mortally wounded

I wouldn't have gotten the number correct, but wasn't the first (let's see if I get this right) Crispus Attucks, who was also black. He was considered the first official casualty of the Revolutionary War, if I'm remembering correctly.

Hey, by the way I want to make clear that I am not the lurker who met any Buffistas (that I know of) IRL. It's coincidental that d and Dee are similar.

Oops, spreading misinformation wherever I go. My apologies to d. and Dee.

Hang in there, Nora.

billytea, your peregrine falcon story reminds me that the last time we walked up to Tank Hill, a red-tailed hawk came sailing by on an updraft and hovered over our heads, just 10 feet away from us. It was thrilling.

Gud, I love hearing Leif's little cracking kid's voice.