If anyone can spare some health~ma, could you sent it my dad's way? He had a bone marrow biopsy today (great way to spend one's birthday!) and we're crossing our fingers that his sketchy bloodwork is just side effects from his anti-seizure meds rather than something worse as an underlying cause.

Much -ma to your dad, Matt.

In, I hope not related news...

Saw Mom this last weekend and the jaundice is horrible. It looks like yellow makeup - I've never seen anyone with significant jaundice before. The hospice people think its days, not weeks, at this point. I know that is what Mom wants, but it's still hard to digest mentally. Painless passing is what I'm hoping at this point, so -ma for that would be great.

I have a new short Hilobrow piece up on Spike Jonze.

Please to clicky like it at the website for the FB and Twitting and whatnot if you are so inclined.

It's shameful, I know, to come asking for something when I have been so, very absent. You all have been in my heart, but my mind has only been able to manage the occasional whinge in Tech.

Tomorrow, my beloved Niki, surrogate mom extraordinaire, is going to have her replacement knee replaced. Apparently, the 'cement' portion of the original rebuild has crumbled into her leg. She's been in terrible pain for a while and hopes that the 'vacuuming' and replacement will alleviate that.

She called tonight to have the 'just in case' conversation. She is cheerful, but did mention that the doctor mentioned that there is a 5 to 7% chance she won't wake up.

Her previous recoveries were very, very hard. After the last one, I had to pretty much reach into Hell to pull her out. I can't be there now (though I do trust the people who are with her) and feel pretty powerless.

I'm asking for smooth recovery and pain-free days, however long Niki can live.

I can never be greedy, so grateful am I, but I would hate to lose her. I have never felt like an orphan since the day I met her.

Mom took a turn for the worse yesterday. Her kidneys have started to shut down, and they've started her on morphine, so she's basically out of it at this point. The hospice people were saying three days was about the most that would be expected, but it could be anytime now (and could conceivably be longer in extraordinary cases). No real -ma is needed at this point, but I thought I'd update folks.

I'd like to ask for some good test results/health~ma. I can't be too much more specific than that for now.

The ~ma is flowing. Can you direct some interview~ma to DH who is in Worcester, MA for two days and then in Seattle? Thanks!

I have yet another piece up at Hilobrow about the Surrealist photographer Claude Cahun, a woman whose life I think had a big influence on V for Vendetta.

Should be of interest to comic fans, photographers, folks interested in questions of gender construction and identity. So...people around here.

Please "like" if you like it. It helps.

Grateful update: Niki came through her knee reconstruction fine. She is being evaluated for how soon she can be moved to a rehab facility.

Many, many thanks for the good thoughts.

Thanks for the health~ma. That was for K-Bug and test results are basically ok...just need to keep an eye on things. Best response possible at the moment. Worried mama-bear is trying to dial back the worry.