Just before 11, Mom slipped away. I promised her I'd be okay, but I'm not sure what that looks like yet.

If anyone is interested in an invitation to join a online trivia league, please contact me for a referral! I've just completed my first season and so can only refer one person right now, so the first person to reach out will get the slot.

Learned League is a lot of fun, and I'd love to share it with at least one Buffista. Seasons are 25 days long and run 3 times a year. During a season, you will go head-to-head with each member of your rundle, answering 6 questions every work day, and assigning point values to your opponent (who will be doing the same for you). You move up or down in your rundle based on your win/lose/tie score.

The only rules that really matter are: don't forfeit (don't join if you can't commit to playing a full season) and don't cheat (answers have to come from your head, no looking things up on the internet or asking friends!)

I am in a preliminary freak right now.

I have JUST gotten well after a shitty year and spent a lot of money on professional development that I know will pull me out of the financial hole I have fallen into since the election changed my client base dramatically.

Today, I was served with an eviction notice stating that my landlord wants the property for 'personal reasons'. The truth is, a Trader Joe's is opening down the block tomorrow and his crappy little business is going to go toes up.

He is essentially trying to cheat me out of the tenant's rights that would convey when he tries to sell the building.

I have no idea what I am going to do and I cannot reach my attorney to know if there IS anything I can do.

Damn. It.

I was just getting to the point where I could relax.

PLEASE: Any outcome-better-than-imagined ~ma would be dearly appreciated.

My uncle who had been in hospice care passed away last evening. Thank you all so much for your help when that was happening. I'd like to request ~ma for my mom and my aunt.

An old friend of the family who recently broke his neck(!) is undergoing surgery today to have a kidney removed. Any health~ma and in particular got-all-the-cancer~ma would be greatly appreciated.

Man, I'm getting tired of hospitals.

I did it.

As of today, I am a Consulting Hypnotist and super psyched to begin offering services.

And, crazy thing happened...

Prior to this afternoon, I would have told you that I was not at all certain that regression therapy was a legit thing.

But, through a weird confluence of events, I was chosen to demo that unit of our study.

I had no idea what to expect but, I'll be damned if I did not have a pretty mind-blowing experience.

Up until now, I've never even come close to treating people with childhood trauma like mine. It has just never appealed to me. And, while I'm not 100% certain it will become a focus for my practice, this the first time I've ever experienced a treatment that could actually work.

I am actually amazed.

So, not only did I do well (I'm trying not to let it bother me that I was edged out of the top spot by a 3 point margin on the exam) but I met some great people, had a transformative experience and found a new tool that will turn my practice around.

It's pretty wonderful.

dcp, Windsparrow and Shir, thank you SO much for your faith in me. I will do you proud.

(pictures later when I'm not so wiped.)

PPS: The exam happened roughly 10 minutes after the regression, during which there was a lot of crying and such (and not just by me). When I turned over the test paper, it was clear that pretty much everything I studied had fallen out of my head. Thankfully I got it back shortly, but that is what I am blaming the 97 on. (/petty)

I originally posted this in Press, but have moved it, because I think it belongs here.

I have some sad news. Strega died suddenly, on October 15th. I got a Twitter DM to that effect this morning and have confirmed her passing with Sars.

Her memorial service will be private. Sarah will be organizing a Donors Choose project in her memory. If I hear more about that, I will post the particulars, here. Another TWoP alum has also said Susan was partial to Doctors Without Borders.

For anyone not on FB, we have another offer pending on a house. This is #3 (third time's the charm?): [link]

It's on the very outskirts of LA in a canyon (yes, fire insurance will be necessary), so a bit in the boonies and 25 minutes from our friends in our beloved Pasadena. It hasn't been fully updated, and we know up front that we'd have a big septic bill to take care of some deferred maintenance. But the VIEWS! And the huge six-car, partially finished garage! And the price is a lot lower than in our area (though, of course, our offer is far higher — in LA, the asking price is a starting point). We both really love the place and think it could be our home.

Our agent thinks we have a good chance this time, so crossing fingers.

My dear friend Barbara had a stroke last night. She cannot speak, but her grip is strong and her heart is keeping pace.

It may be a few days before she passes.

Please send easy passage to her and peace to her family.

She has been such a gift to me and this year of taking care of her has been an honor. I'm just so sad to be losing her.