Buffista vibes requested for my dear friend, Lee, who will be burying her mother today.

Requesting some jobma. I really really really need to get out of my job. I am following up on a couple of things that I was working on before work got so extremely busy a couple of weeks back.

Still not dead. Western Desert absolutely fabulous. There are two things you should know about the Black Desert: one, it's a desert; two, it's black. There are three things you should know about the White Desert: one, it's a desert; two, it's white; three, it's one of the most phenomenally beautiful things I've ever seen. Really. Surreal, Star Wars-ish landscapes of astounding loveliness and weirdness, and I never wore footwear whilst we were there - the sand was exquisite. We slept under the stars, and the moon was so bright it cast shadows. Vividly. En route to the desert we stopped off in the oasis of Bahariya (not spelled like that, I expect) where Rosie acquired a lovely rug, Alex acquired some very nice baskets... and I acquired a dishevelled white kitten. Um. What can I say? I had an impulsive moment of gallantry, or stupidity, or something. Besides, it was all so very Sandman, with the whole desert thing, and very Soft Places-ish... and then there was this scruffy white kitten crying and filthy and pathetic... and now I've adopted it and called it Daniel. It's quite cute, although undoubtedly pissed off with me, as I've just spent a bloody long time out of the flat - we went to the Cairo Museum and saw heaps of things including the Tutankahmun treasures, and then we went over to Khan A Khaleili, aka The Souk/Bazaar. I have been shopalicious, have had numerous offers of marriage, and have turned every head in Cairo, male and female, because nobody seems inclined to wear great big straw hats covered in flowers these days except for me. More fool them.

Er. Again, not really apocalyptical, but - not dead! And now available with added cat! (Called Daniel, it being a good Sandmanish name.) Love y'all.

Happy news -- some of you may recall me asking for vibes for BIL ( DH's BIL) and SIL -- who were having some bad months with a difficult pregnency. Happily -- our nephew was born today - 5 lbs 6 onces -- and 19 inches long. It is too bad they are all the way across the country in a cold and snowy state - not sure when we will get to see him in real life. But it is very exciting...

I'll be dark this weekend as I'm going to OVFF .

(Ohio Valley Filk Fest, if anyone cares)

So! I know I haven't been talking about this, but my SO & I are starting our own nonprofit to do the work we've been doing under an umbrella organization. We're splitting off from them as of January, and it's been very nervewracking and confusing and filled with copious amounts of paper. For those who don't know, we do a traveling music school -- we go from place to place on the Navajo & Apache reservations here in the American southwest and teach music to kids who might not have access to music programs in their schools and communities.

Anyway, that's not the news. The news is that last night we got a phone call, and we have been awarded a major grant that will cover all the program expenses for next year! Our first one! Whohoo! We're so glad and relieved that we hardly know what to do with ourselves. We weren't even supposed to find out until December, which pushed it pretty close to our January changeover date, but our friends at the granting foundation were all excited and got permission to let us know early.

We are happy.

Good News!

Chicago City Limits will be staying in its current space until the end of the year. After that point we will be moving to a new theater or performing in a variety of venues for some period of time until acquiring a new space.

In order to generate some momentum for the big move we'll be having a benefit performance in the middle of December.

Somehow, I volunteered to organize it...

Any advice, vibes, or contacts with industry people who would hate to see a comedy institution die would be much appreciated.

Can I please have some Buffista Jobma(TM)? They're laying people off on Wednesday, here. I'm not sure whether I should ask for "good severance package and a new job quickly", or "having a job still", but either way...something good please!

Third time proved to be the charm.

I am now a licensed driver in the state of California.

Due to the wonkiness of the board, I would like to request an ass load of -ma, in the silent form. Just a deep thought perhaps, as you read this, with hopes for the best outcome.

My sister (the one that just lost her husband on Father's Day) has been told that she has one cluster in her left breast and three clusters in her right breast.

She has opted to have the clusters removed asap and will find out when sometime this week after speaking with the surgeon.

Benign -ma, coping -ma, fast healing -ma, etc. Any or all would be more than appreciated.