Allyson, I had to ask my parents for money when I was 29 (?) with a law degree hanging on my wall. I was working supposedly high paying temp jobs until library school started. I thought I was doing just fine, but not paying enough attention. I broke my ankle, which meant I couldn't work, and the temp jobs meant no real health insurance, and I found out just fine doesn't always cover what it should.

It happens.

Poor Beastie!

Perkins, YOU ARE NOT YOU KNOW WHAT-ING!!

I walked out of work after I finished teaching this afternoon. I polled the students, and they all assured me they were leaving for the weekend, so I figured why wait around when no one will be asking questions. I should go to the gym, but I'm liking the idea of cooking a real dinner.

I hope the Beast does better, Jilli.

Allyson, it's nice to have you in Bitches. Help yourself to the comfy chair.

I am so, Sparky.

Also, I'm going home now. Yay! I'll post stuff about the gifts for -t soon after I get there.

Plei, insent.

I am so, Sparky.

NotNotNotNotNotNotNotNotNotNotNotNotNot.

I heard a rumor that you SUCK. Is it true?

Yay! I'll post stuff about the gifts for -t soon after I get there.

In case I forgot to mention it earlier, I want to donate to that.

Jilli, want to co-ordinate with me, and we can send one package to Perkins for -t?

Susan, goes for you, too. I'm wanting to mail something out early next week, giving me the weekend to find more little nifties (soaps, etc) for her.

Sounds great. I'm time and money-crunched enough that my contribution might be something like "small Target gift card," though I'm hoping to make a batch of jam over the weekend.

That sounds good, Plei.

Okay, here's what I've got. Please correct me if I've missed anything or gotten something wrong.

We are going to do a two part present collection for -t. The first part, for which I will be point person, will be for smaller things to make life more sparkly right now plus some gift cards to tide her over until they can go home. The second part, which Trudy is handling, will be a shower, with more tangible gifts.

What I propose for the first part, based on my own ideas and those voiced here, is that people send me whatever smallish and/or edible things they would like to give to -t. In addition to this, I will collect money for three gift cards, one for Target, one for Trader Joe's, and one for Petco. I will buy all three gift cards, and will deliver them to -t along with everything else I get. I will work out the where and when with her. I will also let her know that the bay area people are around to both help out and to go play as she needs.

I have added a bank account to my paypal account. Both my account name and my work address are in my profile, and will stay there for a while. You can send any packages to me at work. If you do not want to send money via paypal, please feel free to send me a check. If you want to send something, but can't right now, let me know how much and I will cover you until you have it.

I am going to post a link to this post in Press, so that everyone can see both this, and any discussion that changes what I have just said.