Popping in to ask for conference ~ma. I know I've been asking for a lot of ~ma, especially since I've been all but dark except for this, but this should be it for a while. The conference is in Barrow, March 10-13, and I'm really nervous about people being weathered out and about it going smoothly. Oh, and some polar bear seeing ~ma would be great too, because I don't anticipate being in Barrow again to see them for a long time.

I'm gonna go kind of grey for a few days...try to finish up Opus 1.0.(You are all too clever and distracting. The thought in my head is generally "Wrestle with plot or talk about sex with the Bitches?" You can guess what generally wins.) So, greyness. See you in a few days.

Good karma request:

Anybody know anybody who would like to provide a new home for two innocent little parakeets?

The b&b I have been managing has been sold (I'll Bitch about that later) and the folks responsible for the little critters left in the basement are virtually ignoring them.

One seems to have something wrong with one of its legs, but in general, they are content and in good health.

Vitals:

• Age unknown
• One blue
• One yellow
• Cage and some food included
• Nice birdsong in the morning!

I'd take care of them myself but I'm ashamed to say Bartleby would play death hockey with them.

Profile addy is good, or you can have any interested parties contact the Bullmoose on Capitol Hill at 202.547.1050 or 800.261.2768.

Thanks so much for any transition ~ma you can spare!

Many apologies for hogging the ~ma space but there is another crisis afoot.

My landlord's dog...Wendy...an 11 month old lab mix (taffy with a black muzzle) has gone missing.

She was being cared for by a friend in the neighborhood on Sunday while the ll was out of town at a wedding. Someone left a door open and she bolted.

She's very, very afraid of people...except for the ll, his wife, the friend and me.

I've scoured many a back alley with Bartleby and his buddy Bob, thinking Wendy might respond to the dogs before she'd come to even me. But no luck so far.

The ll's wife consulted a psychic who believes Wendy is still alive. Given the dog-fighting rings in this area, my hope is slim.

Please. Any Wendy-come-home healthy and happy ~ma would be greatly appreciated.

God. I need a nap.

Going dark for several days. Headed to Memphis for Lil Sis's wedding. Also, wish me ~ma. The fam is meeting the BF for the first time.

I'd like to request health-ma to a friend of mine. She fell down her stairs and woke up in serious pain. She went to the local hospital, and they flew her to Boston (she lives on Nantucket) where they found out she had a broken rib and a punctured spleen. She's supposed to be moving from ICU to a regular room today. I haven't gotten all the details because I got the info I do have from a mutual acquaintance who doesn't know anything more.

Anyone know anything about spleens, by the way? Is that one of the optional organs, or is it required for survival?

DCistas, Kristin T will be in town on March 11-13. Discussions of her visit are in the F2F thread and on the yahoo group.

A request:

Our beloved Persian, Capuccino, is dying of cancer. It's been a slow, horrible process, she's not in pain, but it's been horrible to watch. We decided to let her die at home, surrounded by familiar things, rather than letting our horror at having to watch it happen influence us into having her euthanised, and making her last hours miserable.

An easy death, and soon, would be a good thing. She's skin and bone and has been hanging on for a week with no food. Many of you have met her. She can't be treated - she's nearly fifteen and has a severe heart murmur. At this point, general anesthaesia would kill her and the vet wouldn't even consider it.

Vibeage for a quick out, as painless as possible under the circumstances, is requested.