A friend's daughter is graduating and I'd like to get her something. I know that cash is always welcome, but I'm hoping to think of something else. She's going to a small college about two hours away. She loves The Lord of the Rings. Also, I need to be clever before Friday, when I go to her graduation party.

go cash, choose cash. Or maybe an Amazon.com gift cert.

I gave my niece a big Starbucks gift card, which she LOVED.

For those of you pondering giving money to high school graduates who will be going off to college next year - I put before you what I did with the money I received. I used it to buy new clothes that were much more sophisticated than I had ever had before. It helped me invent my new adult (ok, as adult as a freshman can be) self. That was a pretty significant gift, in my view.

ETA: one of the items was a black dress. My first LBD evah.

Alpha-bits.

Because there is simply too much cuteness in the world, I bring you mycathatesyou.com [link]

Andi, I wonder if those cats were first victimized at this site: [link]

Okay. I'm giving money. Now I have to decide how much.

Vortex's suggestion led me to determine if there is, in fact, a Starbucks in Macon, Ga. There is one.

iTunes gift card is also a good one.

Well, folks, I'm on a jury starting tomorrow. Joy!

Though there could be sex. Perhaps it could cure the Ick.

Please let me know if that works and I will fill a prescription myself.

Allergies- Tom is deathly allergic to cats (also a later in life thing) and fine with dogs. Crazy dander.

GODDAMN THIS FUCKING ICK.

I can't miss work tomorrow but getting out of my bed again (which is where I am going after I finish posting this) makes me want to cry. I've been crying and dozing and driving in traffic all day long, thought thankfully none of these at the same time.

I would also say GODDAMN THIS FUCKING DYING OF FATHERS LEAVING THREE HEARTBROKEN CHILDREN BEHIND. goddammit. Could my heart stop breaking please?

anyway, there it is, funeral on the ick. spreading illness to those who are having a much worse week than I am.

{{Nora}} I hope you sleep and wake up ick-less.

{{Three Heartbroken Children}}

{{Nora and other Ick sufferers}}

I do not appear to have the Ick, yet. A bit of post-nasal drip, but I'm not sure how much that may be allergies and/or pre-Ick drip. My poor daughter, though, does have the Ick. She had it when I got home, so it would appear the Ick is a Universal Ick and not a localized SF2F Ick. I think it's just the time for it. All the wet and now blossoming plants and mold and who knows what else floating around. Perfect breeding ground for Ick.