Thank you. It worked as Ma always does. She went peacefully and that's all I could ask.

I have a new piece up at Hilobrow on Nathanael West, best known as the author of Day of the Locust but a fascinating confabulist and all-around intriguing guy.

Please to click the FB Like at Hilobrow, and/or retweet if you are inclined. Danke schoen.

I'm taking a big risk, career-wise today.

Please, could I have some 'it's going to be awesome and we can't wait to get it out there' ~ma at 1pm DC time?

I'll say more when I can, and would appreciate all the good thoughts possible.

I have a closing date set for Nov. 6ht, y'all. It's almost over. I just have to get the homeowners policy taken care of an it's all done but for the signing.

Then I have to get my stuff out of storage, and it'll all be over. I can't wait (though dealing with my stuff is going to be a slog given the amount of space I've gone down to.

My sister Liz passed away today early in the morning, at 4:30 am.

I was hoping to let everyone know about it sooner, but I've been running around like crazy all day. She wanted to be interred traditionally, so a quick burial. My other sister and I have spent the whole day arranging her internment, taking care of banking, etc. And crying.

She was not always easy to love, but she lived life large. And for those in her circle, she showered them with love and affection and she has a hugely devoted group of friends.

It's official - I'm a homeowner now. I'm feeling seriously less stressed-out now. There's still a lot to be done, but this was a big hurdle. The payments are going to be less than anything I could have rented remotely close to Boston (including Salem - I was definitely getting a sweetheart deal there, at least for the last few years, because Salem has become a much more desirable place to live since I moved there), let alone buy, and the commute isn't that different.

Now I just have to get used to using my car so much (and find a way to get more walking in now that I don't have a daily routine involving it).

We have our wedding pictures back, and for anyone who isn't on Facebook, I put some up on Flickr, here: [link] (Actually, even for people who ARE on FB, there are over 100 more photos here than I put on FB. That, of course, implies you WANT to see 200 pictures, many of whom are people you don't know. Although the dancing pictures are fantastic. Tim's family knows how to cut a rug.)

Highlights for people who don't want to wade through the whole set:

My absolute favorite, taken by a cousin (so it's not as sharp and swanky as the professional pictures, but I don't care).

Handsome fella, tying the tie that was a joke on many levels.

Me, reaching a level of adorableness I didn't know I had in me.

Hello, I'm your bride for the day.

Dramatic staircase shot.

First look. (I think Tim is checking out my bosom. To be fair, that dress did give me a rack o' doom.)

My brother the preacher man.

Fairly damn adorable.

Based on Tim's and my brother's expressions, I think this is the part of my vows where I said "I love you more than the semicolon." (No, I really did. And I do.)

Warning: there is kissing.

Victory is mine! ...uh, ours!

Tim is now legally obligated to grab my ass.

Our cupcake toppers, which should surprise exactly no one.

First dance, being slightly fancy.

Dancing with my dad. That man looks happy as hell to have his daughter married off!

My mom and I, dancing like a couple of dorks.

Dramatic photo in front of the B&B.

May I please have some interview~ma at 1:30 today, and some yes this will all work out and start the GCS media empire ~ ma tomorrow at noon? Job recruiter call today, conference call with a production studio tomorrow!

(My life is never boring.)