Thank you all for the wonderful fruit basket!

(For some reason, the card was behind the packing materials folded into the packing slip, so I had no idea who sent it until I was separating the packaging out into recyclable and non!)

Didn't hear back when I asked the question in Natter, so I'm going to assume it's ok.

My husband's group has set up an account for the nearly 100 unemployed service industry people who worked at the places that burned down Tuesday. Donations may be made at any Share Plus Federal branch. Account is totally transparent to any who ask to see activities/balances. Account #3049710.

At $500, he'll put it in the local account that was set up by the bank across the street from the businesses and start over.

Things tend to go this way, I know, but being aware doesn't make it any less painful.

Niki, my surrogate mom, is now in hospital with congestive heart failure. She has not been taking her medication appropriately and had difficulty breathing on Friday. Today, she has gone into ICU and it does not look good.

Despite our near daily, cheerful, planful and positive conversations since Gordon died, I'm wondering if Niki has decided to follow him.

Quite apart from my selfish, "please don't go" feelings, more than anything, I do not want her to suffer.

Please, any warm and peaceful, let things be what they need to be ~ma would be greatly appreciated.

Paypal account for people without Share Point relief@TasteOfGreenvilleAvenue.com

On February 28th, while I was still on forced leave by evil exams, my sister finished her army service in IDF.

(It was a bureaucratic mistake, in a sequence of bureaucratic torture IDF gave her in the past 6 months, for trying to make a career in intelligence. She was supposed to start another role, out of Gaza Strip, that day. But they didn't processed her files in time).

I'd like to thank you, so much, for bearing with me in the past two years and four months. Your help and support with some of the anxiety peaks, esp. in Cast Lead, were tremendous. I... I can't thank you enough. You've been the place I could come and be silly for worrying in vain so I won't make my parents more worried.

These days, Little Fiend is resting and will start soon getting through all of the tests and money she needs to start studying medicine. There will still be calls for reserve army, for she had a Big Important Job there, for the next 6 years, but it's mostly over now.

Thank you all, so much.

I'd like to request some health~ma for my mom. She has a bad case of bronchitis that is not responding to treatment and has finally been put on a course of steroids.

Some ma~~ for my DH's brother. He has his own business, but at best, it looks like it is shrinking , if not qqite going under. Just some less stress, and a smooth transition. But a minor miracle would be cool too.

We found out last night that Bob is just going to have to have surgery as treatment for his cancer, rather than radiation/chemo and then surgery. This is very good news. The doctors think the cancer is at an early enough stage that surgery alone will take care of it. There's a chance he'll have to receive some radiation/chemo after the surgery but it's low enough that the doctors are confident that it's worth taking the risk. Thank you all for your good thoughts and support. It really does help!

Ugh. I'm back with an even greater need for ~ma.

Niki, my surrogate mom, has been heavily sedated and intubated, from the 5th, until yesterday. Today, she is conscious, weak and laughing, at the same time, wondering aloud if her 'accident' (having to call the paramedics when she couldn't breathe) is connected to Gordon's death. She misses him so much. She is also fairly certain she won't have the strength to do any of the things she was planning for at this stage of her life.

I'm not even sure what to pray for at this point. I don't want her to suffer, but I selfishly want her to live and be her jolly self again.

She has had a good life...and has saved mine in so many ways, I couldn't even tell you. I'm okay, whichever way it goes but would appreciate whatever good thoughts for 'non-suffering, as it should be, outcomes.' She is so dear.

Not that anyone here needs such a reminder, but seriously, hug the ones you love.