My mom trimmed her own hair today.

Susan, it does seem right your Dad has returned to the Alabama clay. I remember my own Mom's funeral being such a jumble of feelings which were complicated rather than alleviated by family. It actually took me a while away from it to really deal with it.

That's a very good description of it--jumbled. But I'm feeling more comfortable with dealing with it in my own way. IOW, I think I've gotten over my fears that I'm doing this all wrong.

Just checking in again briefly. We've got more people in the house than we usually do at Christmas, which means more people sharing the computer, a person sleeping in the computer room, etc.

This morning my nephew called from Baghdad. I'd sent him some books and magazines back in June, just guessing at his tastes, so I asked him what he'd like to read. His reply: "Anything with words." He says his life is sleep-read-patrol-sleep-read-patrol. He sent some pictures that hopefully we'll be able to upload once we're back in Seattle, including one of him standing in front of a background of roiling black smoke--insurgents shot a rocket at their camp and missed, hitting a nearby oil line instead.

My MIL is here from Tulsa and watched Annabel during the funeral, so tonight we took her out for traditional Alabama food (i.e. to the barbecue and fried chicken place that was founded when my parents were tiny children). She drives back tomorrow, we fly back on Monday.

Time to duck out again. I need to check my email, and then Georgia!Brother wants a turn on the internets.

boredom means I already cut it.

That was gonna be my vote!

Told Bec about AS last night. She's thrilled for me. And she's also now dating Other Guy. I'd worked it out anyway, like I told her, she was never able to keep a secret from me. I told her to say hi to him from me and wished her the best.

I'm kind of happy that we're both moving on, no one needs to feel they're being left behind or anything. And I know he'll treat her well.

Billytea, that is all cool and noble.

Buffistas. We're like a book.

Mine has empty pages. Possibly bloodstained, but fairly empty.

I'm kind of happy that we're both moving on, no one needs to feel they're being left behind or anything.

This is really lovely.

--

I am feel whiney. My back is killing me (the buzzing sensation is really disturbing) and since work has royally frelled up my paperwork, I am technically uninsured right now. My contract states I was supposed to be covered over a month ago. I'd like to throw a fit but I don't think I could throw anything right now. Grrrrrrr. And I can't really comfortably reach it to even do more than poke at the muscle and confirm that, yeah, it hurts like hell.

I'm continually inspired by bt's lack of petty, in all seriousness.

Cass, did you find a new chiropracter yet? Can you call your old one and see if he has any advice? Worried about you.

Been skipping and skimming like a madman. Susan W. - Peace to you and to your father memory. Fay - happiest of Birthdays. Billytea - Yay for lack of pettiness on both you and Bec, and hope both your new SOs work out well.