mr. flea is defending his dissertation this morning at 9. Passing ~ma would be greatly appreciated.

We'll also be going dark soon - probably tomorrow - because we're moving to Athens GA. Maybe up in grey (= poached slow wifi) by Saturday.

Another attack in Jerusalem: I'm fine.

Need some ~ma for my dad. He fell on the golf course on Saturday and hurt his knee. When he was at the doctor on Monday, he went to sit down and missed the chair, thereby twisting the other knee and hurting his shoulder. He's in good spirits and not too uncomfortable. He's going into surgery today, we'll know more later.

Looks like Mom is going to be ok, but she was admitted to the hospital last night hemorrhageing (I'll never spell that word correctly) from what turned out to be gastroenteritis and an ulcer.

The good news is that its not cancer, so far they've been able to get away with just fluids and no transfusion, and though they brought the crash cart last night she didn't actually code. (They didn't tell me that last part until today. The sister who was there wants Hallmark to make a Good Job Not Dying! card.)

The bad news is that they want her in ICU for 48-72 hours. And since I'm in my first week at work (in a job market where it took several months to get a good interview) I'm not going out there until the weekend. Which just fucking kills me -- I'm learning expense report software and fax room procedures while my Mother is being monitored in case she starts bleeding to death again. (That's a little melodramatic. Maybe. - I'm being assured that the ICU is just a precaution. Is that EVER the truth?)

And, just for the comedy of it I suppose, my eyes have been having this freaky allergic reaction for the past three days so they're all swollen and red and start tearing up whenever I look at a computer monitor for more than ten minutes. I've been going from training session to training session assuring everyone I meet that its not conjunctiveitis and sticking a cold compress on them when they just hurt too fucking much. Turns out the only thing less fun than starting a new job with a ziplocked washcloth in my purse is doing so while my Mom is in critical care.

So, good vibes for the Mom for a quick recovery. Good vibes for the Sisters that they get some food and some rest and recover from the crash cart scare. Good vibes for the Doctors and Nurses who bring my Mom a crash cart. Good vibes for me that I can at least appear normal for the next two days until I can get out there.

I'll be at comic-con and dark until Sunday night. Wish me patience and the lack of desire to cause pain to the over abundance of humanity that will be there.

As a believer in the efficacy of Buffista~ma, I'd like to ask that some be directed towards Bicyclops. He doesn't get around here very often anymore, although I update him on major developments at our weekly trivia game.

On Sunday, there was an unfortunate intersection of new rider, Vespa and mailbox, resulting in a destroyed knee and a leg broken in six places, including a lateral break. He has had extensive surgery, including rebuilding the knee and a plate in his leg. Right now he has a fever, possibly from pneumonia. Please aim some faster-than-expected healing and go-away-fever vibes in his direction.

To add to the requests of Buffista~ma for family members, please send some East Coast-wards for my brother and his family. Mom just called to tell me that brother and SIL are breaking up (two weeks after their 20th anniversary), and any vibes you can send to all of them, especially the three kids, would be appreciated.

Could I get some of that patented Buffista job~ma in half an hour? I've got a second iterview with an engineering consulting company (actually, a coaching session) and then an interview with the company I'd actually be working for. Thank you!

Mom did end up needing a transfusion. I'm not sure if she bled more or just didn't recover enough with what they were doing. I'm pretty sure I'm going out tonight -- its nice to have roommates who'll walk the dog!