We hit New Orleans on Thursday and are more or less unpacked. We won't have cable or internet till Tuesday, however, because the torrential downpours here knocked the power out at pretty much the exact time the cable guy was here yesterday.

Now that we are here, the reality of the situation is sinking in and the weekend's feelings of isolation due to the rain and lack of internet are making things a little tough. Any ~ma that can be spared for finding our place here would be appreciated. Also for Tom's first day at the new job tomorrow.

I have an interview half on Monday at 9AM pacific and half on Tuesday at 9AM pacific. So if I could get some Buffista-ma that I don't sound like a half-awake dork who doesn't remember how it goes, working at an actual company (I haven't had to GO to work in two years!), and crossing your fingers that not only do they like me, but that *I* like the job....

May be overreacting (3 or 4 of my colleagues are still in my building, and 3 more are even closer to the Hot Zone) but when the occupied territory spilled into the far end of my little street, as well as the main road adjacent to it, and a foreigner got taken out by a sniper, I decided to take my boss up on her offer of alternative accommodation.

Currently staying in a service apartment on the other side of the city; however, The Cat Daniel is still in my old apartment. I figured it would be easier to move out in stages, if that was what I'm doing - trying to flee with clothes etc AND a cat in a box in an emergency situation - not ideal. This way I've got somewhere set up to be safe, and can just focus on cat wrangling if it seems like I need to make a more-than-short-term move.

Paging Corwood Industries! amych informs that Federal is closed , so we'll be next door at James Joyce.

My very old, very good dog Frank had a seizure or something this weekend while he was boarding at his vet's. The vet called me this morning while I was on my way to pick him up and said he wasn't able to walk and she said it may be time to euthanize him. I picked up Bob and we went over to see him and it was clear that he was in pretty bad shape so we did euthanize him. He was quite elderly and in failing health for a while so it was not a huge shock but still very hard. He'd been an amazing companion to me for the last 13 years.

SERIOUSLY bad shit going down in Bangkok at the moment. I'm safe for now, but kind of freaked the fuck out. Stock exchange in flames, Bangkok's biggest, swankiest mall (atop which was the restaurant where I took my parents & sister for New Year) complete inferno, TV building torched with people inside - basically, crazy apocalypse now bad times.

Am presently in apartment fair distance outside hot spots, but at this point the protesters are scattered through the city, rioting & causing mayhem. Curfew in place from 8pm to 6am. Currently I have electricity & internet, but no mobile signal. Cat trapped in apartment miles away - tried to evacuate him today, but he holed up under the bed & I wasn't prepared to stay there more than half an hour; left him with food & water & got the hell out of dodge, crossing fingers that my apartment would remain intact. (Electricity apparently went down shortly afterwards.)

Cannot see any happy outcome. Trying to stay zen, but getting quite scared. Unfortunately, remain atheist in foxhole; however, would be grateful for your -ma, or prayers or magic or good wishes or whatever you personally do to in the way of -ma. Because it makes me feel a bit less freaked out knowing that someone gives a shit.

Thank you for last week's job-ma for my husband. In an hour: round two! I would appreciate your crossing any spare body parts you can cross.

By the grace of all things beneficent, my beloved Niki made it through her surgery today. She is still in recovery, but the doctor said it went as well as any such thing could.

I give profound thanks for every good thought and speck of ~ma.

Can I ask for ~ma on behalf of one of my best friends? Her little brother went into cardiac arrest, hit his head when he fell, and has been in ICU for a week.

While he can breathe on his own now, one lung collapsed due to a blood/mucus clot. They've tried 3 times to get it out; today will be the 4th, full surgery with general anesthesia.

The surgery is at 11:30 board time; any bits of ~ma you can spare would be wonderful, as they can't do anything else until this clot is dealt with.

Buffista ~Ma is powerful. My friend N is being called back with 7 other finalists for a second interview. (N refers tot his as the "Evening Gown competition.) If she gets through that she gets called back with 2 other finalists for a final interview. If she wins that she gets an offer. So ~Ma for her on getting through that process. Also she has a resume out to another place that she thinks is her dream job so ~Ma on that too.

Umm, and I'm have a biopsy on Monday. So ItsNothingMa for me on that please. A heck of a lot of requests at once I know.