Mom update: they took her off the ventilator for a few hours, but decided to put her back on. She's still in ICU and heavily sedated, but her color is much better.

Oof. Jilli, I am so sorry! Many prayers for your mom. Quick recovery to her.

Buffistas! HELP! I need assistance with a t-shirt design for my academic decathlon team. I'd like a one sided design that has both my school's name and Academic Decathlon 2011 on it. The theme this year is Geology (Dust Bowl) and the Great Depression.

Anyone with some design experience willing to put something together for us on the quick? I just need the design and then I can get them printed on shirts.

Can I get some of the good ~ma? I'm kinda almost sure my dysfunctional ass is getting fired on Tuesday, and I... just don't know what~ma it is I need. I actually want to get out, but I also want to pay the mortgage and be able to get another job, like, ever, ya know?

Sigh.

Can I get some ~ma for my sister? She was admitted to the hospital tonight with a weird heart arrhythmia, and they don't know what's causing it. I'm worried - she's never sick!

Thanks all for the keep-head-on-straight ~ma all weekend. I managed what's probably the best outcome in the circs -- dysfunctional ass is not fired but is outta here at the end of the week with my unpaid vacation intact. First time I've ever been thankful for my habit of never taking enough time off.

Then I came home and opened a bottle of Prosecco.

I can't say how much it means to know that y'all have my back.

The organization that I (and smonster) work with in the Lower Ninth Ward is up for a $250K Pepsi Refresh Grant. I can't even begin to tell you how much of a difference it would make to The Village and to the community. I am hoping that daily Buffista voting power might propel it to the top!

Vote here every day... [link]

And thanks!

I'm leaving on Saturday for Australia to start my cruise ship job! I'm very excited, but I'm not 100% sure about what sort of internet access I'll be getting, so if I vanish, that's probably why. But I'm going to try really hard to keep up with my online life. Every time I go an get a "real" life, it's the one thing I miss. I know I haven't been around here too long but you all are pretty awesome so I thought I'd let you know.

Also! I would really love to send postcards from random exotic locations, and so if anyone is interested, send me an address at jackimurphy at gmail dot com!

My sister is going home with beta-blockers and is doing fine now. Thanks for the ~ma!

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers for my Mom. Unfortunately, the doctors say she has only a few days left.

I haven't said anything about this anywhere on any of the social networking sites, but ... you people are my extended family. I wanted you to know why I may seem a bit off.

When she passes, I'll let people know.

My Mom passed away at 9:29PM, on January 20, 2011. My Dad was holding her hand and telling her that we loved her. Thank you all for your kind words, thoughts, and prayers.