Thanks for hugs and validation, it helps.

It's the end of the days when I'm back in the hotel away from everyone that I start to take off my Strong Nora mask and kind of sag before going to bed and I'm glad you're here.

Stay tuned for tonight's (and Monday's) freakout!

{{{Nora}}} A continuous stream of ~ma to you.

fluffs pillow and offers virtual headrub to Nora

I worked all day on my calendar project. It is quite a lot of work, and very rewarding. The calendar has a birthday picture for each family member and anniversary picture for the couples. With just our immediate families this is +/- 80 people. I have a bit of scanning to do tomorrow for people I don't have digital pics in the library.

Laura, that sounds like quite a project and a great gift.

{{{Nora}}}

Laura! How fun!

{{{Nora}}} We're here for you, hon.

Laura, that's a fantastic gift.

I have not been able to accomplish anything this afternoon. I am filled with gronk.

Oh, how funny! I tried to post that before going to the wake, and the wireless internet connection at the hotel crapped out. I'd written it off, and then to my surprise, after catching up, there's my post from 10 hours earlier!

As anyone who's been to a wake/viewing for the entire time knows, today was the SLOWEST DAY EVER. Oh! I cried! I finally cried. Thank fucking god, I was really freaking out about this. Especially after crying a bunch over L&O Criminal Intent. And not the tragic death of my uncle.

Bah. I didn't laugh inappropriately, but I did make a joke that I think my younger cousin heard out of context and gave me the stinkeye. It was a long day. We had a family dinner afterward that was fun, so yay.

He's gone. He was here and now he's gone.

Because of the accident, and the post mortum makeup that occured as a result, my uncle didn't even look like himself. So weird. Wow. What a weird day. Tired and slightly beer buzzed.

I'm so glad that you cried. I think that release is so important, as difficult as it may be.

I'm glad Emily's Excellent Electrical Adventures were successful.

{{{Nora}}}

The saga of my sister and Amazon continues. I told you to shoot me earlier. She finally ended up sending two identical orders to R's children, one of which was fortunately cancellable when I finally signed in as her. Then she sent 1 additional thing to R's children and 1 of the same to E's children. Since they weren't combined, she paid shipping on both, and one g'niece isn't getting what she was supposed to. It's clear that she's not reading what's on the screen or the e-mails from Amazon, because during every conversation (there have been 6), I'd say something like "Does it say something about shipping?" and she'd say, "No, absolutely not." Then I'd say "Look on the left under X" and she'd say, "Oh."

I feel so very petty ranting about this, but I've been doing long-distance troubleshooting on everything from how to set the alarm on the clock radio to why her printer isn't working (because it had never been connected to the computer) for 20 years. How can she and my mother cope with the modern world if something happens to me?

I've never seen a dead person who looked like himself. They did a good job with my great grandmother but she actually looked better than she had before she died. A friend of mine who passed away was wearing a crimson shade of lipstick she never would have chosen in life. It was really disturbing.