I would appreciate it if that ~ma were to continue Ohio way, as Aidan swallowed at least one piece of a plastic fork today. It's blocking his esophagus and he is on his way to the big city hospital to be scoped by a pediatric gastroenterologist. In case your ~ma needs focus, we would like it to be easily removed without perforating anything and for him to come home by tomorrow morning.

Update: Not only is there a piece of fork stuck in his esophagus, but he has a coin in his upper intestine. I'm thinking I need to vacuum better. They're going to go in and try to pull the fork bit out in about 3-4 hours -- assembling the team or something. In 90% of these cases, the doctor said, they have no trouble removing the offending bit and sending the baby home in the morning. Oh, they're leaving the coin there. Nature is supposed to take care of that one.

And the end of the story:

The doctors went into Aidan's esophagus expecting to pull out a piece of plastic fork, and found a 1" carpet staple. They went on down into his stomach just to be sure, but found no plastic fork -- so I guess he just left the crumbled pieces of plastic on the floor for set dressing.

He did so well they kicked him out and he and his daddy got a ride home with a cute nurse who was headed this way.

All is well again and the ~ma is free to go elsewhere. Thank you.

Play It Again Sam opens tonight. Broken-leg thoughts appreciated.

After taking a month off, I'm tentatively returning. After being here since Buffy was in high school, I thought I might have earned some trust, or at least some tolerance. Apparently I was wrong, and well, I'm wrong a lot. I've been trying to figure out what exactly caused this event - what exactly did I post that constituted "harassment" or "deliberate flaming" or even "homophobia" as several people informed via email.

I was shocked to discovere that my ambigous responses to this imbroglio were immediately and almost unanimously assumed to be "taunting" or "baiting." The worst conclusions were drawn about the meaning of my remarks, and the worst intentions assigned to my intentions. Any sort of penitence was automatically translated as petulance.

This was a highly subjective matter that was taken care of in a matter of three emails between the two people involved. I don't see why the all fronts attack on the board, on email and on IM was necessary, or any purpose it could have had other than an individual poster's desire for retaliation.

But I have been here for years, and I've loved it here and most of the people here, so I'm giving it another try. I do have to say that I don't think I can take another of these attacks. If this sort of thing happens again, I'm gone. It took a month to get over the fear and pain of this first assault, and I'm not willing to devote this sort of time and anguish to a group that makes this a habitual sort of thing.

Madrigal

ps. To the person who wrote to inform me that I was "an immature piece of shit" - my mother is suing you for plagarism.

My grandmother was apparently just taken to the hospital. "Glassy-eyed and unresponsive." Hopefully it's nothing life-threatening, but any health~ma you could send her way would be greatly appreciated, and calm~ma to my mother, as well.

Can I request some surgery -ma for my Grandmom? She's 84 and getting her bad hip replaced today. I know the operation is pretty standard now, and much less invasive and traumatic then it used to be, but surgery is always scary. Actually, she's a lot less worried about the surgery itself then the rehab after. So some easy-rehab-ma would be great. And that the surgery does what it's supposed to and eases her pain and improves her mobility. thanks!

It appears to have been a false alarm. Thanks, everyone, for the ~ma, and you may now let it fly away elsewhere.

Good homes needed for the following:

Motherpeace Tarot deck (with helpful book!)
Celtic Tarot deck (also with helpful book)
The Pagan Book of Living and Dying
A Witches' Bible

Profile addy's best.

ETA: And they're gone. Thanks, folks!

My poor little chariot has been towed away as a non-starter.

I'm looking for houses this month, and have a couple other big expenses. Please vibe cheap repair~ma. This is the 3rd major breakdown in the less than a year I've had her. She's used, but she's mine. I just want her running, and cheap.

A little health-ma for my father-in-law, please, who has surgery scheduled for Wednesday noonish. Apparently there's something suspicious in his colon and he will have it and a few extra inches removed. Information is sketchy at this point, but he's 76 and has been in a decline for the past 2 years or so-- all good wishes, prayers, candles and ~ma appreciated. He is Jim and my MIL is Carolyn.

Thanks muchly, good Buffistas.