{{{{Maria}}}} Lots and lots of ~~ma to them.

And I got distracted.

I am all verklempt from the gift Teppy just sent me via Paypal. I had to mute my phone for a couple of minutes to get my sniffles under control. My Puritan ancestors are proud of me, because I keep whipsawing between "Did I make them feel guilty?" and "I can use this for bills" and "We're going to the fancy place for lunch this weekend!" (Brazilian carnivore-fest grill). I am going to hold some of it back to cover the fees for my website, and, probably, the registration fee for my car, which comes due in January (I don't need that adventure again).

Thank you. Blessings on all of you, whether you donated or not.

(Then again, there's Buffy DVDs I don't have yet)

{{{Maria}}} I'm so glad they are not totalled themselves. All the best for excellent surgeons and speedy healing for them.

Laura, I so totally feel that you will definitely recognize that jerk, and that it will be him.

~ma as needed. I am so wiped out I'm skipping my boss' Christmas party right now, which is probably not good politically, and I know I'm missing quite the spread, but I just can't stay upright one minute longer.

I am all verklempt from the gift Teppy just sent me via Paypal.

FTR, I was the messenger, not the sole gift-er. t edit (That's not a reply to you, Connie -- just a factoid in case anyone's reading comprehension is still under-caffeinated.)

"Did I make them feel guilty?"

Pfft! Try "made them feel love." So there! Tell your inner Puritans that if they shut up, you'll get them a cookie.

I was the messenger

Messengers get kisses, because they're the ones who are there when the good news arrives.

That's what makes being the messenger so. freaking. COOL.

Except for the dude way back in Marathon, Greece. His gig sucked.

"The battle of Marathon happened, and then this bloke, he ran 26 miles, the length of Marathon, and then he said, "We won the battle of Marathon!" And then he dropped down dead. Now if you'd lost you could understand that ... But if you've won, surely you just saunter down, you don't run. You get in the car, you get some naked people with you, you take a lot of drugs, "Hey! We fucking won! Three nil!" And you live forever. Surely!"

Having recently driven to Marathon, I'd also like to point out that it's an EXTREMELY hilly run. Mountainous, even.

Of course, that's not the first time in human history that somebody doing something completely batshit insane has become legend.

(Also, "marathon" is the Greek word for "fennel.")

huzzah for that rat bastard getting caught and for generosity in the holiday season!

Maria, I hope your sister's surgeries go well, and that your cousin gets out of the hospital soon. I'm so very sorry for this pile on of life. {{Maria}}

In What is the Matter With People!?!?! news, I just got back from my yoga class and there was someone hacking coughing away in the opposite corner of the room. Sure enough, I hear her bragging to a co-worker of hers that she called out sick to work, but that she could never skip yoga!

Thanks, lady. Thanks for being so considerate as to share your sick ass germs with us RIGHT BEFORE THE FUCKING HOLIDAYS. I appreciate it.

Again, I say: What is the Matter With People!?!?

In sort of "huh" news, Tom and I picked up a whole kosher chicken to roast last night. We got it at Trader Joe's and it comes tightly wrapped in plastic. (we usually buy a bird from a butcher counter and brine it). Anyway, we cut the wrapping off and there are crazy feathers still stuck in everywhere! BANANAS. Man, those things are hard to pluck out. We couldn't get them all out before cooking... also, the neck was still attached, which was not as much of an issue (nothing some kitchen shears can't make short work of) but it was very interesting, and not what we are used to.

However, the chicken was still delicious.

!!!!! Mommy want!!! [link]

Now, if I could find a cheap flight and the winning lottery numbers!