I've been dark for a bit, due to duck nibbles...but in case you are planning your travel to South American countries with high crime rates that hate Americans, I'm moving to Venezuela this summer.

(with the DH and Mal and the cats).

Asking for some baby~ma for my twin sister. She's 30 weeks but the baby is measuring 3 weeks behind. They're hospitalizing her for observation. This has been a tough road and I just want everything to be ok for them.

ND and I are the proud new pet parents of two 4 month old gray kittens: Simon and Wilson. Pictures to follow!

Keep the ~ma coming. My sister is going in for a c-section tomorrow morning at 9am EST. At 30 weeks, odds are high for a safe delivery but the baby isn't quite 2lbs yet so we are just hoping that any complications or problems for him are kept to a minimum.

Thanks for the ~ma! Reece Charles is 1lb 14oz and 13 inches long. Mom and baby are doing well.

My old diabetic kitty Swifty is not doing well. He's had a couple of bad seizures today and is at the vet. It looks like there is some sort of general neurological something going on. We're seeing how he does for the next few hours. We are in making a hard decision territory I'm pretty sure. He's 16 1/2 and his health isn't great but he's still a bundle of personality. Good thoughts our way and his would really be appreciated.

How long can you leave a dog in the car in 27 degree weather? Can you respond ASAP in natter? I am trying to determine if I should go into the store and ask them to call the cops. The weather here is 27 degrees.

Edited: Thanks all. The group talked me off a cliff. I decided it wasn't an emergency.

Help!

So many of you know that my district has been doing this crazy grant with Donors Choose. Many of you have given and have helped by using our gift cards. Now I've encountered a problem.

DC has decided that a teacher can only have 50 gift cards redeemed IN TOTAL and not for each project as we were told.

K has been working her butt off getting the projects at her school funded, but she can't have any more gift cards donated to her, so even though we have another $15,000 in cards, none of them can be used on her projects and she is worried she will lose the matching funds in February.

Can you help fund her project, especially the eligible for the match? Her Donors Choose Page is here: [link] I know I ask all the time for me, but this would make her day to get this funded. Even if you give a $1 it will help because she will move up to the front and be more likely to be funded.

Please please please help.

Could I get a little -ma, and maybe a little help?

I'm trying to win a contest from The Girl's Guide to Web Design: I need it, really. PLEASE vote for my entry at [link]

I'm there under my super-secret pseudonym of...Erin G. Just click on my entry at the above link and "Like" it. Of course, you are MORE THAN WELCOME to Tweet it, too, so that more people can vote for me, and I can win.

Please...don't make me quote "I coulda been a contender..." My site needs help! And I like me some learnin'.

Thanks!

Odd thing for Beep Me, but it seems the best place:

Mac would like a GameBoy Advanced, yes, the old GameBoy. If anyone has one in a back drawer and would want to sell it. holler at me.

Similarly, we have a version 2 of the iPod Shuffle with charger cord that works great. Would be happy to sell that to anyone interested. $20.