Hello Princess TickyBox!

Announcing the arrival of Lillian Esme Elizabeth Marcontell!!

Born at 9:18 PM, PST 18 & 3/4 inches 6 lbs 8 ounces

Paul reports that she is a happy, active baby with lots of black hair. Plei is doing fine and is chatty.

Yay, new baby Buffista!

Does anyone have Deena's cellphone number? I managed to get tied up in a huge traffic jam and missed my flight. Naturally I seem to have every number but hers. I will be arriving at 5:53 on Delta 1195. I'll be here for another 10 minutes.

ETA: Nevermind. She knows now.

So I'm sending out a rather extensive job portfolio to apply for a freshmen writing instructor position (full time faculty on tenure track) to a private college. I'm very excited about this potential job and very nervous since I haven't applied for anything for eight years. Job-ma would be appreciated!

Harvey update: my precious purring prince has a chronic kidney infection and will be on antibiotics for a whole month at least.

He peed on my bed rather than in the special No Sorb crystals for collecting urine sample for follow-up testing.

Finally squeezed enough out of him to find out the above.

He also has to eat Hills Prescription Diet canned food to make sure he is properly hydrated. He does not seem to like it, but ate some after a level stare from the other cat. I assume Sammie was telling him, "You need to eat." She was sitting next to the dish, waiting.

Pictures from Ohio: [link]

ETA: Resolved, I threw in the towel and just want to meet Andi. Went with Priceline and got Avis.

Dan & Andi tour April 2005 -Car Rental Revisited

Priceline claims I can rent a car for $100 for 5 days, because I bought my ticket through them, then adds $65 for "taxes and fees."

Anyone else who can find coupons, rentals or such cheaper than this for Phoenix from April 21 (1 am) to 25 (6 pm), let us know.

That price includes airport pick up and drop off, but does not provide for Andi (Windsparrow) to meet me at the airport.

Best case scenario would be some place Andi could pick up a car in Casa Grande and pick me up at the airport, then drop it off on the 26th in Casa Grande.

Talking it through with all you seasoned travelers may help.

Especially since I'm getting burned out.

Rent a Wreck is in CG, but only has email or phone inquiries, and abominable hours (8-5 daily!) And I haven't even heard back from my query.

Any research/tips/fait accompli would help.

I'm not trying to nickel and dime visiting Andi, I just don't know much about the rental game. (Okay, maybe a little nickel and dime-ing, but in the end, I'm damn well going!)

I used to get coupons for Hertz and others, but I cannot recall from whence they came.

AAA finds me higher rates than Priceline.

Argh.

Profile addy good.

It's Jeff's sister again. He's still in the hospital...will be there for a little while. Thanks everybody for all the well wishes and healthma. Jeff says to tell you he'll be out soon and will be looking forward to talking on the board. Thank you! : ), Jodi

Doc-ma to Hubby and me, please. This afternoon we talk to the electrocardiologist and find out what--if anything--can be done to try and stabilize Hubby's erratic heartbeat. Hubby's terrified and trying not to show it, I'm trying not to think the words "laser burning out part of my husband's heart!" too often.

I keep telling myself, "This could fix everything," but it's not helping the incipient ulcer.

We're home. The cats are curious, freaked, and aloof, depending on the cat in question. Lily is sleeping. Paul is making appointments. All is well.

Sadly, the recovery room had no internet connection, so I could not entertain myself between feedings and visits with nattering, and will thus be skipping and skimming like a mofo once I figure out how to type with the lemur in my arms. (Right now, she's so zonked that she's not really noticing the jarring effect of the keystrokes.)

Photos and birth story to come, after we've managed to bring in our bags and settle in.

More Ohio Trip photos. See the llamas at the Safari Park. here