This is one of those posts that should start with a reassurance: Everyone in the house is fine, no one was hurt, we haven't had to be evacuated, and the wind is blowing away from us.

The San Bruno explosion took place about 1500 metres from our front door. Getting into and out of the neighbourhood is a little tricky -- lots of sirens and spinning lights. But no one from our motley little household was injured, and we're safe.

I echo Karl. Many of you have been to my old house on Fleetwood, and Charlie still lives there. It's two blocks from the main fire, and he happened to be visiting me here in Oakland, when the fire struck.

He's gone back to his house to get his cat and he'll be staying in my place while I am gone to Seattle this weekend. He's pretty shaken up but we both realize we're only inconvenienced while others are really suffering or injured.

I'm headed to Vermont to visit the bro today. Back Monday night.

I'm massively, almost overwhelmingly anxious about flying, because it's been about 4 years since I've flown, and, well, a lot of bad stuff has been happening over the past couple of months, and part of me feels like flying is tempting fate.

I realize that's silly, and I know the statistics about flying being safer than driving, etc., etc. And I know a lot of all y'all fly often and it's obviously been okay.

But I'm still very, very, VERY anxious. A little calm-your-ass-down~ma would go a long way.

I feel the need to say thanks to everyone . This board has helped me just by being here so many times. Today, of all days, I feel the need just to say hi to everyone , because this is where I was when the world felt like it went crazy on 9/11

Not quite apocalyptic, but desperately need some advice. Lewis' birthday is coming up and he's expressed interest in a Rosetta Stone language program. (He wants to learn Korean, since many of the game companies he's looking at consider fluency in Korean a plus.)

Anyhow, if anyone's used this program (for Korean or any other language) or any other language program can you please ping me with comments? Profile addy is good.

Thanks!

Hey peeps - anyone got experience with setting up online donations for a non-profit? Specifically how to let people "subscribe" - make an automatic donation every month? Non-profit in questions is a 501(c)3 currently using a PayPal button.

Profile addy is good. Many thanks.

eta that Paypal has a subscribe button. Here's hoping that'll work.

Hey all - I have an interview at 8:00am (5:00 am board time)tomorrow morning. Some "don't fuck it up~ma" would be faboo. Thanks!!

Happy ND Update!

Finally, I can say that things are headed in the right direction. The doctors agree that Drew hit a turning point a couple of days ago and seems to be making consistent progress. He is still very sick and has a long recovery ahead of him, but his numbers have improved and he is off the pain medication completely. The hardest thing at this point is the extended hospital stay--he is really ready to come home. The cards, emails, flowers, and gifts people have sent to him have meant SO much. We decorated his room, and the nurses even comment on how obvious it is that he is loved. Thank you, thank you, thank you for continuing to reach out to him.

My mom has been unbelievably helpful since she got here this past Thursday. She has helped me keep the house running, the pets (and me) fed, and been able to be at the hospital to meet with doctors while I am at work.  She is here until the 27th, and I will forever be grateful for what she is doing for us.

So, YAY! Things are looking up.

Great news Pix. May Drew's recovery road be a very fast track.

In me news...Oh boy, things seem to be going from bad to badder.

Today I've had the worst hacking cough of my life. It sounds like the houses of the plague around here with all the hacking and spitting. I'm having trouble breathing and just can't sleep.

Please, deep, deep sleep ~ma, if you've got any lying around.

Ironically, the original problem seems to be clearing up nicely but the collateral damage may just do me in.

Thanks to everyone who has called. You are all so sweet. At the moment, I'm an old lady with nothing to talk about but my ills and the breathing difficulty makes conversation rough, so please do not be offended by my turned off phone.

I'm stocked with soup and juice and the like.

And I'm infinitely grateful to say that Bartleby is having the time of his life at 'summer camp' at M&J's. M sent me a 'letter from camp' with photos today. The little guy is so much better off with them and I am beyond grateful for their generosity in keeping him. It hurts me to be away from him, but the energy around here is so bad, it would just be terrible for him.

I won't be around the threads much for a bit, but know that I am so very grateful for your good thoughts.

Just an additional ~ma request. Things are trending well on my recovery and it sounds like there is a chance my feeding tube could come out as early as tomorrow night if I continue to ramp up well on my food tolerance. Getting this tube out would make me very happy.