just like when I was on the complete opposite end of India when the tsunami hit.

On 9/11 I got calls all day from people I hadn't heard from in a while being all "Thank GOD I got through, are you ok, you're in New York!".

I'd thank them for being so concerned, but explain that New York was a pretty big state, and Elmira was just fine.

Raquel, there really are non-frat rules?

Oh yeah. When we were in Romania they'd been lifted for the dips but not the Marines. So we'd throw a party, and the staff sgt would keep coming up to me or Robert and asking "That girl in the red? Is she Romanian?" to which we'd respond "No, she's Moldovan, it's okay."

This was one of the reasons the Marines loved us.

Cindy, thanks. You know what for.

No problem at all P-C, and well sheesh, that came out of left field and left my jaw hanging for about 5 minutes. Now it's deleted, but not by my hand. I hope you get word from your friend, soon.

...

Fay,

Okay, I get what you mean by ex-pat, now.

I'm blown away that they refuse entry at the club, in Egypt, to Egyptian guests of the members. Just unbelievable. I wouldn't be able to swallow down their fish and chips, either. I am sorry the bloom is off this boy, a bit.

Fay, please stop feeding my 'shipping tendencies. These long distance 'ships never work out, and I don't have time to make all the fan art.

Well, dan/andi worked out very nicely. Mr tea and I, however, are destined to live out our lives oceans apart. Well, either that or else we'll randomly meet in Thailand one day, have one perfect night of passion, and then discover that we're supposed to be archnemeses. My plans to teach sign language to the world echidnia population will come into direct conflict with all that Mr tea holds dear...

You're not helping...

My dad just called to make sure all of my Buffistas were ok. He's a sweetie.

I just called my mom and asked her didn't we know people in London, we'd stayed with them on our way to India that one time, and she was like, yeah, so-and-so and so-and-so, and I'm like, are they all right, and she's like what? She had no idea.

As I figured, we have a lot of extended family in London. Bollocks.

My dad just called to make sure all of my Buffistas were ok. He's a sweetie

Aww, that's nice.

Honestly, that was probably thought #2 this AM. It still amazes me how much of a life you people have become.

Oddly, thought #3 was a groggy "Bush isn't wearing a power suit."

Holy crap.

One of my extended family over there...is a bus driver.

But he's all right. Totally safe.

No fraternizing with locals? Huh. I mean, I guess I can understand it if you're say, a nuclear scientist or something, but who the fuck are you supposed to talk to? Isn't the point of diplomacy to establish cordial relations with other countries? Isn't TALKING to them part of that?

I would be a horrible diplomat.

Upside: I've lost a total of 59.5 lbs

DAMN, Aimee! Since when? How'd you do it?

Bastardized Weight Watchers points sytem and at least 3 times a week, instead of a full dinner, I have a bowl of cereal. Works pretty well. I have only been walking (about a mile a day) and crunches at night when I remember. And since the day before I had Em. I figure 20 lbs was her and all the fluids and placenta. But the rest is all me.

Aimee, 59.5? Empress, I am not worthy.

TOTALLY worthy. Sillyhead. I have a bridesmaid dress to get into. And, I'm a bit craxy when it comes to BIDs. I look up websites that still sell and ship ephedra and gaze longingly at them. BUT - I will not order. I made promises.

Oh yeah, I forgot to say DAMN, Aimee!