Hi - just writing to say I've arrived at home, in one piece (though that's only being achieved with duct tape.) Will catch up when have more time and energy. And please, get the message out that I didn't intend to scare David Fury, it's just that my social niceties tend toward the creepifying variety.

A request for some patented Buffista health-ma (and lots of it) directed toward my young cousin (12 yrs.) in No. Va. who just had a tumor removed from her clavicle. There is no information on whether it's benign or malignant, and we won't hear until Friday at the earliest. They also did a truckload of additional tests for a range of other bone problems, varying in severity and treatability. She's home now, and all reports are that she's doing well. Her parents and grandparents, on the other hand ... well, you can imagine the stress, worry, abject fear, etc. For that matter, her little brother broke his arm last week as all of this was unfolding, so he could use some good vibes, too. Please generate much positive ma and aim it toward them all. Much appreciated.

Just to let everyone know that there will be no deathmatches for the next two weeks, as I will be away.

I am home! Very tired and thousands of messages behind, so it will be a few days of skimming before you hear much from me.

I have lots of pictures and stories to share, but not tonight. The many Buffistas that I shared this birthday trip with were beyond gracious and accomodating. Thank you all so very much.

Just as a tease, might I just say that the trip was both shiny and adventurous.

Well, shit.

I went through a battery of tests related to pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) this morning. The baby is still in very good health, and I'm not in terrible shape YET, but I now have to go into the clinic twice a week for evaluation, and they only want me to work one more week after this, or at most, two. I'd planned to work through the end of March. Now they're just hoping that with rest and medication they can keep my bp low enough that I can safely carry the baby to the early end of full term--I'm 37 weeks on March 20, and they might want to induce as early as then.

The house is not ready. My office is not ready. I don't so much as know how to change a diaper, and our "baby boot camp" classes don't start until March 23. We're going to have to swallow our pride and get people to help us set up the house, which is a big thing, because we're sloppy anyway, and under the energy drain effect of pregnancy our house has descended to squalor levels in spots, and I'm afraid if any of our friends see it, they won't want to be our friends anymore, because we're such pigs. And I'm scared for my sake and the baby's. I know 37 weeks is full-term, and that even if she were born today she's mature enough that she should develop normally and have a sound mind and body to take her through life. Which is what I want. But I wanted her to go to 39 or 40 weeks and be fully cooked, as it were. I feel like I'm going to be having a half-baked baby.

So, healthma appreciated, and focusma for figuring out what MUST be done and doing it.

Hey Buffistas!

I have been off working on a production of Pterydactyls

Here are somepictures:

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This is the Pink Chanel Suit I was talking about that I am quite proud of:

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Also, 2 students designed and built this 10 ft dinosaur!

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[edited to close an italics tag]

Despite the patented Buffista healthma, my aunt Iola passed away at 5pm central this afternoon.

Thanks to all the Buffistama, but to paraphrase the old medical rules...

#1, people die.
#2, even Buffistas cannot change rule #1.

She will be missed, but as I hadn't seen her in 10 years, a younger and more vital Iola isn't a bad way by which to remember her.

She would have been 80 this year.

ETA: Since I have the post... Leg getting better, still two large holes, but the infection is getting smaller around them. Exercising, eating right. More later.

LA-istas!

Nic and I will be in LA from Sunday night, 14 March, until Wednesday morning, 17 March.

Anyone want to get together? I'm thinking Gardens of Taxco.....

Email at sf_deb@yahoo.com

FYI, I'm going to be a very dark gray for the next few days because I called the triage nurse last night after DH and I got into a bit of a tiff over our differing interpretations of just how much I was supposed to be resting because of my blood pressure and realized no one had given us clear instructions at the clinic on Thursday. Based on what I told her, the triage nurse put me on fairly strict bedrest for the weekend, but told me to call the clinic back on Monday to clarify what they meant. And while we're working on getting me a laptop or something set up, it's not going to happen this weekend, so I'll be on the couch with lots of books and the Tivo remote.

I'm going to be on Jeopardy! this Monday. It usually runs on ABC at 7 or 7:30, but check your local showtimes and listings. I am a girl, so I'll be the short one in the middle named Jennifer.