For some reason, I am very chatty this morning. So, sorry.

My brother, Ben, was a wanderer. He wasn't particularly mischievous like Leif, but he certainly wandered off. One weekend, when he was about two, we were in Ohio with my grandparents. He wandered off twice that weekend...mom said that's when she started to gray. The first time was at the amusement park, King's Island, I think. I don't remember the details of how he wandered off, but he did. Apparently, he found a litter-getter, and said, "I lost my mom and dad. Can I go to the toy room?" (Yes, he wandered off so much that he knew that there would be a toy room.) So, the litter-getter took him to the "toy room," and the officials there started trying to track down my parents. Of course, they were terrified, and when they came to pick him up, the workers said they'd never seen a lost child so calm.

Later that weekend, he wandered off in a mall. He found his way to the Information Desk and said, "My mom is buying a wicker basket, and I lost her. Is there a toy room?" They didn't have a toy room. He was quite disappointed. But, they walked him to the store that sold baskets, found mom, asked if she was missing a little boy, and delivered him back safely. Kids can be freaky.

I'll refrain from telling the story of the time my little brother got lost, because it involves a major highway and the closing of eyes and running. He was four.

Opinion needed.

A friend recommended yesterday that I start a CarePage [link] to keep people in the loop. That way I don't have to be sending out so many update e-mails, etc. Do we think this is overkill or a good idea?

I think of using that for someone with something serious, but I guess maybe it would be helpful...even if I don't have it for very long.

Heh. I know one of the people who runs that service.

I think it's not a bad idea, generally, but I wouldn't want it to make you feel like you couldn't update other places.

Wow- I just saw some pictures of my dad that my sister took when he was visiting a couple weeks ago- he looks so skinny! He called last nigth and said he'd lost over a hundred pounds since last spring (he had the gastric bypass surgery in January- he'd lost about 15-20 pounds during the 8-9 month period between his initial weigh in at the beginning of the process and the surgery)

Just seeing his weight loss is really breathtaking. I can't wait to see him in person!

Good luck with the electrodes vw!

I'm wishing Hec lots of calm-ma for today (should he need it.)

Wow. Did you recognize him, Nora?

Nora, that's wonderful! When do you get to see him in person?

Oh, and on Top Chef -- I totally agree about Stephen.

Easter.

sumi, he's still a pretty big dude (I think he probably wants to take off another 60 pounds or so) plus he has the very distinctive Jerry Garcia wild man facial hair. So I could still probably pick him out in a crowd... but it's wild. He's always been overweight/obese, and it's mind blowing to see such a physical transformation.

Nora, that's great news about your dad!

I think of using that for someone with something serious, but I guess maybe it would be helpful...even if I don't have it for very long.

What's the plus side to it? Are you trying to keep people in the loop who aren't here or in LJ?

Our friend with leukemia uses the site and we use it to keep up with her treatment. I have that association with it, and so part of me, just thinks NO, but it's an irrational part. The rational part of me is split between thinking how useful it is, and wondering if it's going to mean you'll be spending all your leisure time talking about your health issues. I mean, you're essentially starting an illness blog with the Carepage site. What does your gut say?

On Top Chef, I was happy to see Candace go. Stephen's a prick and a tool and I want someone to shove a chef's knife between his eyes, but Candace was a terrible cook. Her food was embarrassingly bad. Plus she was whiny and annoying.

Tep, sounds like a good talk.