I'm updating my address book today and mailing out Christmas cards tomorrow. If you don't normally get one from me and want to be on the list, email me at my profile address.

Me too! I'm into sending cards all of a sudden.

So, here is a request from ita's sister:

ita's birthday is next Monday (January 4th), and we want to commemorate it somehow. A friend of mine had a fabulous idea (respect, Ghenete!): we could all do something at the same time on Monday that remembers ita in some way.

Wouldn't that be great - to have all of our energy conjuring up ita all across the world all at the same time? She'd love that (and probably figure it's nothing less than she deserves).

So, here at home, my parents and I are going to eat some hardo bread (a Jamaican white bread), which was one of ita's favourite foods ever. I will be wearing my Princess Bride shirt or my Community shirt, and her Batman wrist cuff. I'll probably wear some of her jewellery, and try to slip in something pink.

ita had so many interests that I'm sure you'll be able to think of something to do. But for those of you who knew me more than you knew her, here are some ideas:

• anything to do with any martial art (her favourite was krav maga - she also loved capoeira) - you could wear a shirt with a martial art image / actually do a couple forms / punch/kick someone in the face/body / whatever
• anything to do with comics - you could wear clothes with the images / you could read one/some / whatever
• anything to do with TV shows like Supernatural / Community / anything Joss Whedon has ever written
• anything to do with superhero movies
• anything to do with the movie Princess Bride
• eating any delicious dessert (she loved baking sweet things!)
• eating any Jamaican food / drink
• playing / dancing / singing along to anything by Prince / Bob Marley
• do something intellectually challenging (e.g. play Scrabble, do an IQ test)
• read a scifi book
• do some drawing / sketching / photography

And, given that her favourite colours were pink and black, how about wearing one/both of those colours on Monday? When you're doing your ita thing, or all day - whichever works?

What would also be great is if you could take pictures of yourself doing whatever it is you do (if that's possible, depending on what you choose to do), and then send it to me, so I could collate them for posterity and maybe send them out to everyone as well. This is not at all essential - just a suggestion.

What about 4pm Jamaica time? That means 4pm on the East Coast of the US and Canada....

Can someone please be in charge of gathering photos and then we can send them on en masse to ita's sister?

Where should we send to? Eta: ah, see it is still tbd.

My new website is finally live though I can't really call it done.

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And I have my first post on it.

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I'm going to be on The Joy Factor on KZUM radio (Lincoln, Nebraska) this evening at 7pm eastern time, 6pm central.

The host, Sheila Stratton is a friend from the Great Peace March and her show is dedicated to inspired action and ordinary people bringing something they love to life.

The clicky link is to listen live, if you are of a mind!

eta: I think 'listen life' ought to be a hashtag where people take their pasts to task. But what I really meant to say is that you can listen live.

So... I got married back on January 1st. At some point when I have a minute, I'll post some of the pictures we took that day.

Our vwbug is expecting and due in March. Her cousin is hosting an online baby shower on February 14th. I don't have many details beyond that. I was asked to share this info with the Buffistas. If you would like to receive an invite, please send a note to my profile addy. I will crosspost on FB.

A few years ago, a whole lotta youse provided me with assistance - prayers, ~ma, thoughts, good wishes, and financial - to finish my education and graduate and become a teacher. A long held, once thought out of reach dream.

Our district photographer visited my classroom this past week and took 250+ shots in my room during our calendar/rug time and an MLK project we did with the other first grade classroom. They were posted to our district photo gallery today. I thought you guys might like to see them.

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Thank you so incredibly much. Everyone.

So...apparently I'm doing a marathon tomorrow. I won't lie -- I'm really nervous about the run. My training topped out at 20 miles (a full marathon is 26.2 miles, 42.2 km) and that was my last long run before I pulled my hip/groin muscles. I've given myself time to heal and am well taped up for tomorrow, but with the heat and distance, this will truly be something I've never done and never thought I could do. Thank you to my cheerleaders who have given me purpose and confidence and special thanks to those who donated to my charity, Westside German Shepherd Rescue of Los Angeles. My goal was to raise $1500, and I'm currently at $1674.84, which is amazing!

If you want to track my slow progress tomorrow, I'm bib 11410. You can download the LA Marathon app if you're interested. I had originally aimed to finish under 5 hours, but with the extreme heat and my injury, I suspect it will take me closer to 7. I should be starting between 7:15 - 7:30 board time since I'll be towards the back of the pack.