Got a phone call while I was home for Easter. Mr Heather's boss died early this morning. He was 35.

The Grapevine was the first place in Dallas where I ever felt like I was at home. Richard made us feel like family, and he took care of us like we were his own.

I'm not sure how much I'll be around. The crawfish boil is next weekend and we're all still going to try to make it happen, so I may be dark while I help out.

RIP Richard F.

At 3:00, Central Time, I have an interview with the dean of the grad school program I'm applying to.

Vast amounts of vibes would be appreciated.

In a bit of good news, my sister's show opens Thursday. I'm hoping to still make it down, so I'll probably be dark from Wednesday until Saturday.

Good karma vibes appreciated for WeeSisterJay, who's studying in Beijing at the moment and doesn't know whether she's staying or being pulled out by her Uni. Or indeed whether to stop on if the Uni tell them to leave.

I don't know which to wish for myself, because on the whole it seems to me that there isn't that much more danger than one normally has of (e.g) being hit by a car. She feels that she's better staying there and not losing 4 months of Chinese - and Beijing is way emptier than ever before, and she can control her environment quite a lot - rather than getting on a 'plane for ten hours and breathing in the same air as all the other people. But her Uni haven't yet decided what their official policy will be.

I don't know what I'm asking for, really, other than good karma, everything-turning-out-for-the-best-ness. 'Cause if it were me, I'd probably stay put. But I don't want to say that in case it is dangerous. Argh. Good karma vibes for WeeSisterJay appreciated.

Off to Montreal tomorrow for my sister's senior recital. She's finally finishing her degree in performance violin at McGill, a road that has bumpy, to say the least, interrupted by smashed violins, broken fingers, and terrible illness. Just getting to this point is a real triumph, and it should be a fantastic concert.

So kudos to her. I'll be mostly dark for the next week or so while we celebrate. If there are any Buffistae who might be in the area this weekend, please join us! We'll be wining and dining all weekend, including a barbecue on Saturday, and welcome anyone who wants to join in.

I am back from my vacationing in Miami, and I had a wonderful time.

Woo hoo! I got the writing fellowship at the UCLA Writing Project. Color me happy!

Westside LAistas, I'll be in your neck of the woods more often over the next month.

Um. WeeSisterJay has opted to stay in Beijing, where everything is being bleached into the middle of next week and where it's now way way quieter than ever before, rather than get on a 'plane for ten hours. She reckons that she's still more likely to be hit by a car than she is to contract SARS, and she doesn't want to go five months without being immersed in Chinese before her next exam.

Um.

I am not freaking out, because she is a very sensible person and wouldn't make a decision like this on a whim. However, Healthma vibes greatly appreciated.

Right. So. I keep forgetting to mention.

I'm going on holiday by mistake!

Starting tomorrow, and until either Tuesday or Wednesday, I'm gone, off to Canada with no Web access. It's just me and my mother, my father having backed out at the last minute.

If we survive spending that long in each other's company, I'll see you all when I get back.

I have some sad news.

Mr. Kitty a.k.a. Lucky Stike Farmer Joe Jef Mahoney Louise was put to sleep today at 1 pm. He hadn't been feeling well and my mom found him unable to move and barely breathing this morning. He hung on until I arrived (45 minute drive) and then we took him to the vet, where they told us it was best to put him out of his misery.

You all may be familiar with Mr. Kitty from my user pic at WX. He was one of the world's finest incarnations of the one black cat. He was loving and noble and saw me through a lot of tough times and depressions when there was only him and me and he was my reason for going on.

I would appreciate any kitty heaven vibes.