I'm just going to assume it's okay with people for me to be point person. I need to run to work now, but I should have time today to get organized about it, so I will post more later.

A Perkins Point Person sounds good to me!

Heather, I think a shower for your family members would be faboo. Let me know where they register because I'd like to send them something too.

Ooh! The Christmas after my family's thing we had an ornament party just before it came time to decorate the tree. It was simple -- just cider and cookies and carols and shiny little packages. My friend Dotty thought it up, she figured, sure people would give us ornaments ON Christmas but that would be a bit too late. It was such a wonderful day.

I'm just going to assume it's okay with people for me to be point person.

::points emphatically at Perkins::

Aidan's teacher is very nice and she was amazed at how smart he is. Of course, all my babies are smart. The visit went well and she totally pretended not to notice that the dining room floor hadn't been vacuumed yet.

Of course he's smart! He's a Buffista baby!

My DH just got his papers back with grades and comments. One of the instructors, a PhD, applauded a point by writing "Here Here!"

He got good grades, but if he'd agreed with the instructors he would've done better. They marked him down on the Ethics of War paper for "falling prey to the sickness of political correctness."

points at Perkins

Perkins, will you be collecting money also? I'm not sure what I have to send in physical goods, but I'll check.

applauded a point by writing "Here Here!"

That's so off!

I think I'll call it the "~ma shawl". She won't be offended that I was praying for the her while making it, will she? I mean, mostly it's the same thing as thinking good things for her.

Speaking as someone who does not pray, I would only be touched and appreciative. Also, it sounds lovely.

Pointing at Perkins!

I am attempting to retrain myself as a non-packrat. I've made a lot of progress actually, though I have to be vigilant. And it is amazing what it does in terms of making things look and feel cleaner, and making me feel more in control of my environment and my life.

t braindump E and I have been edging towards "WANT BABY NOW" mode for the past year or so, and this past week, E's been freelancing at Child magazine, and he keeps coming home with new parenting tips. It's adorable. But then I look around our apartment and it's clear we don't have room. I don't want to have to choose between kids and Carroll Gardens. Maybe we'll win the lottery. Technically we could turn E's office into the baby's room, but then E wouldn't have an office, which, as a freelance writer, he kind of needs. (Plus, neither of us is remotely socially equipped to raise an only child, so we'd need a bigger place in a few years anyway.)

I hate FedEx today. They've been and gone with one package, but not the one I was waiting for (the one I *specifically* scheduled to be delivered today). On the plus side, the package they delivered turned out to be a DVD of the next BSG ep, so at least I have something to watch until they come back with my mom's anniversary gift. (Which is probably money, which we REALLY REALLY NEED.) As it is, I can't even leave the apartment to get lunch. I'll have to have something delivered.

There needs to be a moratorium on articles titled "Serenity Now!" Please, publishing industry, think of another pun. Anything. Really.

I was going to clean the apartment today, but since I'm stuck at home waiting for FedEx, I can't go buy cleaning supplies. I guess I can still tidy things up. Oh, and do my hand-wash-only laundry.

I still can't process the Katrina damage. It's too big. The closest I can come is flashing back on the book The Rift, which I thought was staggeringly accurate even at the time I read it, before all this happened.

t /braindump

Jessica, as 2 people in a biggish 1 bedroom apartment, it's maazing how far space can stretch. And, when you do get pregnant, you've got time (9 months IIRC-hee) to rearrange. Plus, if you breastfeed, you won't want the baby that far away from you (at least, I didn't. You might. Not sure.) so you don't really need to think about giving up the office so quickly.

Just my 2 cents that wasn't asked for but since I became a mother I am allowed to spout off advice at will. Or ad nauseum. One of those.

Get a haircut! t /mom

I am attempting to retrain myself as a non-packrat. I've made a lot of progress actually, though I have to be vigilant.

I've found that the more I de-clutter the easier it gets to be ruthless. Also, honestly, watching Clean Sweep helps a lot too. I think about what those organizers say to the homeowners as they help them get rid of stuff. Basically, "What does X thing really mean to me? How does holding on to it enrich my life?"

I really don't need to keep books that I just liked okay and will never read again just because they're books! They can go to the free book exchange and somebody else can enjoy them and my shelf space is freed up for something better.