I just found out my mother has a detached retina in one eye in addition to cataracts, and will be seeing a specialist tomorrow to determine if surgery on that eye will be possible, or if they will merely focus on saving the other eye. As much ~ma for her as possible, please, and some for my SiL who has been running around taking care of her quite a bit the last few months.

Please, some calm ~ma and best outcome ~ma for between 11:30 and noon eastern time today. I'm counter-offering on my landlord's rent increase and doing my very best to keep 9 years of anger and righteous indignation out of my voice.

Thanks!

Latest news on my mother: She will be having laser surgery on her detached retina, which may restore some vision in that eye, next Friday. So continuing eye~ma and steady hands for the surgeon~ma through the coming week would be most appreciated. Thanks, everyone.

I'm iffy about whether or not I should post this here, so if you feel it is inappropriate, please let me know, and I'll delete.

Some of you know that I used to sell Pampered Chef. Well, one of my dearest friends from the business has had some difficult health issues. She is finally doing a little bit better, and is just coming off of a leave of absence. But, she really needs to rebuild her business quickly so she doesn't lose her 18 years of work.

I want to help, so I am hosting a catalog show. This couldn't possibly be any easier for you guys. The following link leads you to my catalog show's website where you can look at the products, and you can order directly through the website. If you live near me, you can have them shipped to me for $4.00 (Boston Area). If you don't live near me, please choose direct shipping.

To see the guest special, click on "guest special." This month's guest special is 20% off of Pampered Chef's Simple Additions, which are really quite lovely serving dishes.

So, keep this in mind as you do your Christmas shopping for yourself and others. I know money is tight around this time of the year, so do not feel obligated. I just thought I'd throw it out there.

If you have any questions, just drop me an e-mail. And, if you don't own a pizza stone, you really should.

Oh, I'll be closing out the catalog show on December 12, so we can ensure holiday delivery.

Thanks. And feel free to pass this on to people you think might be interested. I'd love to really have a great show for Naomi.

Click here to shop

Calling all L.A.-istas: I'm going to be in L.A. and free of my parents from Dec. 29 through Jan. 2. I have no solid plans, but it would be nice to see people. Who's available and interested?

DH has said some things to indicate that I can release all keep-your-job~ma for him back to the general pool. This has been a tough couple of months and I owe many of you enormous thanks. For the powerful ~ma, and d- for the truly kick-ass bodywork.

Some ~ma would be greatly appreciated on behalf of a friend of mine, who was struck and dragged by a truck while riding her bike earlier today. She's been in surgery for the past five hours, repairing rib fractures, forearm fractures, a hip fracture, and a collapsed lung. Plastics is working to repair a facial laceration right now, and hopefully she'll be out of surgery soon.

Her parents are elderly, frail, and in Oklahoma. She has no siblings. Any good thoughts, prayers, white light, anything, would be greatly appreciated by myself and my friends, who are trying to be her family now. Thanks.

My grandfather passed away this morning. I'll be flying out to Cincy tomorrow and going very dark until probably Tuesday.

DCistas! I will be in your environs from Sunday am December 30 - Tuesday afternoon Jan 1. Let's do something! F2F thread or my addy is good for planning. My time is pretty free on Sunday or Monday. Also, if you're at loose ends for NYE, drop me a line.

Just got word that my mother's eye surgery, while not completely smooth sailing, went pretty well. They are optimistic that she will regain some vision in that eye, and will find out for sure after a month. It was kind of a long day for her as she also moved into her senior citizens apartment. Thanks for all your kind words and support. Releasing the eye~ma back into the wild.