I'm going dark until Tuesday or Wednesday, as I'm turning in my cable modem shortly, and then leaving LA to return to the land where there is winter.

(btw, if anyone in LA knows anyone who wants a fridge, like, today, for the love of God, let me know)

I will miss the LA-istas terribly.

Thanks for any and all well-wishes; the DF'svalve repair was a huge success, and he's recuperating incredibly well (and is at Nordstrom with his parents now, 12 days after surgery).

The Bitches know my grad school saga well by now. During a year-and-a-half of this PhD program in pharmacology, I have rotated in five labs. All but one (who hardly saw me anyway) of my mentors said the same thing each time they didn't take me in their lab: I lacked motivation, and they questioned whether I wanted to be here, whether I was committed to getting a PhD.

Turns out I'm not. What I want is to be a science writer, and I don't need a PhD for that.

Today, I set up a plan to leave here with a Master's by May, after which I hope to embark on a lucrative and exciting career writing about science (among other things).

Some requests: loan/job/money-ma, so I don't starve and can pay my rent; acceptance/understanding-ma for my parents, so they don't totally freak out; and general luck-ma that this will all work out.

Today is December 13, 2004, and I just made a life-changing decision.

Christmas comes early for the McWarnigles.

I've just received word from the lawyers that they have just received word from USCIS that my application for permanent residence has been approved.

Green card, baby!

Excuse me while I remain dazed.

LA-istas (or anyone else that wanted) that were interested that anyone wanting to visit the new baby was welcome.

I am in the middle of a job crisis and am asking for lots of ma to find my way. Basically I can't afford to stay at my current position and things don't look like they're going to change. So I need the collective ma's for resume-writing, job-searching, and interview-um-interviewing.

And I've been a Buffista for two years today. The time, it does a-fly.

Hi. Does anyone have Fay's number in Egypt? I know it's a long shot, but it's kind of important. If you do, please email me at sathinks at gmail.com. I'd be very grateful. Thanks.

SA! Fay left a message for you in LJ.

(Sorry to use Beep Me this way, but it's pretty important that the 2 of them connect today.)

Tomorrow morning, I fly to India. I will return in three weeks. I don't know the likelihood of my being anything but cave dark during that period, as the last time I was there, they didn't even have toilets.

Happy holidays!

In more neverending-details-from-SA, I'm off to London for the start of my traveling for the next six weeks. I have no idea what my internet capabilities will be like, but I'm not expecting more than occasional email checkage or the occasional yes-I'm-still-alive-Britain-is-pretty post. My profile address is good to get in touch with me, and my mobile number has changed, so if you'd like it, please email me and I'll give it to you. I hope you have a wonderful holiday, ya'll. Take care.