I think we're good, Fay. Plenty of egyptians in her class.Egyptians, Sudanese, Afghanis, all united by their inability to write an expositiory paragraph...it's probably a very illiterate Benetton ad in there, although God knows what they've been through. And I knew about "salaam aleichem" because very few of my crime novels fail to have a storefront or jailhouse imam in them, but Mom doesn't always read my things...except "Practical Homicide Investigation"(I guess it's genetic)

Cheers. Freaking out a little bit over here.

Also, have just acknowledged to myself that yes, I should go and sell (essentially 'give away') all my graphic novels. Because those suckers are Too Fucking Heavy to take with me. I am purging myself of as much stuff as possible, including text books that I use for teaching. Clinging on to Sandman and Lucifer and League of Extraordinary Gentleman is stupid. I can't afford this weight. I'm living out of a suitcase. Deal with it.

rocks back and forth, keening.

Can't you ship it, Fay?

Also I suggest you go to the police offices wearing your gorgeous hat from the other day and allow the nice nice policemen to help the pretty lady out of her predicment.

My mom has not received that memo.

Nor mine. I think she still hasn't grasped the idea that I am not her appendage, and therefore she isn't entitled to know every last detail of my life, because it's *my* life, not hers.

ION, I finally just got The Boy out the door and on his way home. Good night last night. Yes. And he made the bed this morning, which just strikes me as oddly sweet.

t /carrots

And I knew about "salaam aleichem"

Still, this gets you extra brownie points

Muslim: Salaam Aleicum

You: Way Aleicum salaam, a rahma t'allah bereketu

Muslim: !!!!!!

(No, don't ask me what it means. 'And upon you be peace, and the blessings and grace and forgiveness and all that good stuff that God gives out, yo', essentially, but I'm not clear on precisely what. Still, it's the approved form of 'right back atcha!') eta:

Can't you ship it, Fay?

Expensive much.

I'm by nature a horder. I think that this kind of purging is good for me. It's all just stuff, and books are things that are always out there - you can go buy them back from a book store, or a second hand bookstore, in the fullness of time. Lacking a home and storage space, I need to really embrace this attitude.

Can't you ship it, Fay?

Is it horribly expensive to ship it home for you family to store? I've given away so many books over the years because they are such a bother to move.

It's all just stuff, and books are things that are always out there - you can go buy them back from a book store, or a second hand bookstore, in the fullness of time.

But...buying them back is not the same! It's not just the text; it's the specific copy of the text that you yourself have come to know and love! Memories! Tangible!

Yes. I don't need to spend that much money. I have read them already. I do not go back and reread them every day, or every week, or every month. I do not need them. I like them, I want them, but actually I don't need them. And I really don't need to spend hundreds of pounds sterling on moving something I don't use on a regular basis.

There.

I am strong and rational.

lower lip trembles.

Bummer. Your Arabic postings reminded me of a story I read in John Hockenberry's book about covering something in Iran once. Hockenberry is paralyzed, but still insane enough to be a foreign correspondent and he was there for Khomeni's funeral. So he had Iranians pushing his chair and helping him and still saying "Death to America!" for the cameras.

Strength to you and yours, Zenkitty.

One of his brothers was served with surprise divorce papers, when he got home from work. I'm just sitting here shaking my head.

Good lord. Surprise and divorce are not two words that belong next to each other.

I finished my skirt and it looks pretty decent. I can actually wear it out in public and everything.

That's so cool. I canna sew.

Poor Laura's friend and son (especially son). I'm glad the school stuck to its guns and made the point that the son could handle the address change himself.

She might like to practics "Sallarm-a-lay-cum" (Peace be upon you)

I learned this from Oz.

I am strong and rational.

Go you, with your strong and rational self. And best of -ma in dealing with the details you need to get done. It will happen.

Observation: People at this library do not understand the whole idea of SILENCE. What the hell?