I'm in Luxor, AIFG! However, just wishing a handful of -ma the way of my friend, who's arriving in Cairo right now. Cairo being a city notable for its present lack of me. Ahem. All being well, the taxi service will pick her up from the right bit of the airport as per my arrangements and usher her off to meet an Egyptian friend of mine outside the train station, where he will have successfully purchased tickets for her, and she'll have a nice safe journey down through the desert to arrive here at 4am. Ahem. I am, however, flapping madly right now, and although this isn't a big deal and I'm sure it'll all work out fine, any spare -ma would be appreciated.

(Hugs to LJ and wishes that this will be the start of something better. Deepest condolences to Theo and friends - so very sorry for your loss. How utterly awful. I am happy that your friend is at peace now, but I'm so sorry for you all having to cope with it. God bless.)

A quick request for a little clear lung~ma for my mother. I just made a quick trip over to her side of the state because she is in the hospital with pneumonia. Never a good thing since she is in her 80’s. She is upset because she was scheduled to come see me tomorrow for a jazz show on my side. (we live 140 miles apart)

I'll pop into Natter with an update after I see her. Thanks in advance for the good thoughts.

Hi, this is Susan W.'s DH, who's never posted here, but anyway.

Here's the current PTBNL news: We went into the hospital on Saturday morning and have been trying to induce since then. It's been a lot of fun -- in the way that attending a seder with Mel Gibson would be fun.

We've now been in hospital for 34 hours, and Susan is only 4cm dilated. They kept increasing the pitocin all day long until she was having brutal contractions every couple of minutes. Unfortunately, it hasn't helped with her dilation, and since she didn't get a lot of sleep last night from the early contractions caused by the prostaglandin gel, she was completely wiped and hellaciously frustrated.

After some discussion with the midwife we've shut things down for the night -- no more pitocin, Happy Pill (TM) for Susan, and start fresh tomorrow with some water breaking. PTBNL is in great shape. Heck, she's in better shape than her mother. I'm hanging in being a guy and trying to advocate for her in between my snarky comments.

So, that ma thing you guys talk about, we need some right now. Thanks.

It's hard to follow up on the breathless wait for PTBNL news with something nowhere near as big, but I've qualified for the US Fencing Association Summer Nationals in Division III Women's Sabre. Div III is the lowest adult division, but I still had to finish in the top half in the state to make it this far.

I've been fencing for a bit over two years, and fencing sabre for exactly one -- you all have encouraged me through it all. Even though I thought for many years that it was a reallyreallyreally cool thing, I would never have actually started fencing if it weren't for the Buffistas. It's all your fault, really.

Can I ask for a bit of timely warmth, to send a dying acquainance?

Allen Cohen, founder of the Oracle, old San Francisco poet, and general beautiful man of peace, is about to lose a long battle with cancer. When he goes, a very lovely light in this world will go out.

Just a bit of warmth to ease him on his way, if you would. If anyone on this earth would sense it out there, Allen would.

Thanks.

This is Susan's DH again.

Annabel Charlotte W. Born 0423 GMT -7 (PDT) 6 April 2004 7 lbs 6 oz (3164g), 20" (50.4cm)

A hellish labor. If it could go wrong, it probably did. But mom is doing OK, dad is hanging in there, and Annabel is doing the best of all.

More details will follow after mom and dad get some rest.

Dinner/BBQ/eat-good-food thing at Deb's in SF, 4 PM, this Saturday (the 10th). Ha! I will finally be on the inside looking out when it comes to Grabien Cooking! Because man, I've been jealous.

She needs a headcount by Friday, so any local folks who want to come, let her know.

Speaking of cooking:

To those who requested lemony baked goodness (Matt the Bruins Fan, KristinT, Amyparker, Lee, Vortex, sj, Astarte and Betsy), all went out this morning via Priority Mail. If you can let me know when they arrive safely, that would be a Good Thing. And the lemons came from Betsy's trees, so it's double-Buffista baking.

Remember to heat your goodies up; they're infused with lemon syrup, and heating melts it down nicely.

damn. I think my DH just gave birth to a guitar. This is the second one he has made - but this is really the first.

Not apocolyptish, but...

I recently bought a pair of Vans sneakers , and have since found I just cannot wear them (they taper too quickly on the left foot and are pinching my small toes). They're a size 7 1/2, and barely worn, if anyone is interested.

ETA: taken.