Holy crap, the wee Buffistas are hyfuckingsterical. Between the helpless 'aaaaw!'-making and the giggling, I just about ruptured something.

BLESS.

Also, in breaking news, Plei looks fabulous with short red hair. But I think we already knew that.

PC, all my punctuation are belong to you, love.

in mememe news, I am back from India. It was, unsurprisingly, fab. More details later, and possibly pictures.

Speaking of pictures - the peacock picture felt a bit like a sign from God, Plei. While trying to ensure that I was wholly happy with my projected tattoo design I stumbled across a website with some gorgeous full back pieces a few weeks ago, and found myself having a whole new rethink. I was particularly taken with a beautiful tattoo of flowers one one woman's back - actually, I'll see if I can dig it out again - and it made me think about getting a peacock feather on my back - like, all the way from top to bottom. And I've been thinking about it quite a lot, and then while in India a peacock flew across my path quite randomly, while we were driving from Delhi to Agra. I've never even SEEN a peacock flying - it was pretty damn striking, I can tell you. And then I saw peacock feathers for sale in a shop. And now there are peacock feathers in your photograph. And...yeah. I think this might be The Way To Go. Hmm.

Nora, I know you're trying to let go, so this part will be brief. My dad learned so much from his profs and adviser during his dissertation process. They were used to a little hand-holding. I'm sorry you're not experiencing that with this particular professor. I really think it's a differences in personality, and don't let it get you too down. Also, feel free to ask some of those kinds of questions here. We've got lots of people in academia that might be able to help you figure out what the hell the prof is asking for.

PC, I'm so sorry! I hope you get some better news about it soon.

Beej, I would call a sewing machine shop and see if they can help you track something down. They may have resources that we don't.

And with that, I'm back to work. Plugging through the work at an amazing rate this morning. Let's hope it keeps up!

Oh, what a productive early morning Ms. Bug!

Also, feel free to ask some of those kinds of questions here.

Duh! Of course you should, Nora. We're very helpful.

{{P-C and family}} Lots of healing and calming vibes sent your way.

I'm still in work mode left over from Friday. Ugh. Much to do.

Just sent off the three project proposals I've written this morning. And now I'm about to go edit the three papers I wrote earlier this weekend.

Craziness!

Morning, Laura!

Cute buffista toddlers!

Plei, your hair is gorgeous! I wish I could get that color.

vw, go you with all that productivity!

The toddlers are indeed adorable. Plei, you look wonderful!

MM should sing to us next F2F. We would sing along and stuff.

I think Bobby has gone back to sleep so I better go kick some butt now.

Wow, Plei, I love that hair color. It really suits you.

It was a fun weekend here - trip to the rainforest, trip to the beach, trip for ice cream, visiting toddler playing in the pool...until Ellie fell on our bedroom floor (marble) and gave herself a huge goose egg on her forehead. She cried and cried and cried. It's under her hair but it's a dark gray/purple color. She kept waking up every few hours last night, saying owie while rubbing her head, and then wanting to nurse. Poor bean.

Oh, poor Ellie.

Chris had a perma-bump for about six months. Every 2-3 weeks he'd whack the same spot on his forehead -- it started to look like Angel's after he vamped out.

Beej, hold on to that Featherweight tightly. I have my mother's old Featherweight, and whenever we've taken it in to be adjusted/fixed (not very often) the repair place has tried to buy it/lose it/hoped we'd forget about it if they kept telling us it wasn't ready, depending on how reputable the shop.

Poor Ellie and her noggin!

Plei, that is a wonderful color on you and a wonderful serious face on Lillian.

PC, all the best to your grandfather. I come from a family that speaks only plain-talk about illnesses and we all keep Merck Manuals, so I don't understand when folks can't talk about/name the disease. Possibly I've read too many books where the name of something holds special power, or strips the thing of its special powers, also, so I call a carcinoma a carcinoma.

Dear Lurkers,

I know you're trying desperately to support me in e-mail, but Gmail just isn't playing nice, right now. Don't worry. I can feel it, just the same.

Love,
Cindy