Jilli, look what I saw at Barnes and Noble yesterday! First thing I thought when I saw the dump and the book was, "OMG, I hope Gothic Charm School gets something half this striking."

Ghost Girl Display

Full view

The book itself is lovely-- hardback, each of the pages has the same scrolled floral illustration that's at the top of the dump and while you can't tell from the photos (taken with my iPhone, so sorry about the quality) the coffin on the cover is actually a cut out and the girl figure is actually made of felt and then covered with clear acrylic or plastic.

(It's a YA, btw.)

Besides finally learning my nephew's name I got some more information about my cousin, J, who died in June.

I called Grandma to tell her the name and she said they finally got the autopsy report. Not an Aortic Abdominal Anyerusm or whatever that is. He had a heart attack. He'd lost a bunch of weight and brought his cholesterol down but, well he had a heart attack. She said there were some things she and my aunt didn't understand, one was myocardial infarction, but they are going to talk it over with my other cousin J who is a doctor. (well he's a pediatrician but he can explain some things).

But they also got a call from the Lions Foundation and my cousin was an organ donor and someone had their vision restored/saved (not sure which is the right term) because of that. So some good out of this.

I guess I'm kinda sad because my nephew will never know my wonderful cousin in person, but we'll tell him stories.

Drew, I'm so sorry that you've had to deal with all of this. I'll keep you and your family close in my thoughts and prayers.

Oh, Drew. I'm keeping you and your family in my thoughts this weekend. This is far, FAR more than you should have to deal with.

And my new neighborhood? NO THAI FOOD!!!!

Lord, woman, where did you move? Iowa?

She said there were some things she and my aunt didn't understand, one was myocardial infarction

A myocardial infarction *is* a "heart attack." ("Heart attack" isn't actually a medical term; it's the layman's term that's more easily understandable.) Did you mean they don't understand what a myocardial infarction *is*, or they don't understand what caused it?

But they also got a call from the Lions Foundation and my cousin was an organ donor and someone had their vision restored/saved (not sure which is the right term) because of that. So some good out of this.

See, you've talked about what a giving, caring person your cousin was, and it's wonderful that he continued that even after he died.

Drew, you're in a tough place right now. It must be brutal to see your mother so unhappy. I'm sorry. I wish you strength.

On a very different note, the Mal & Iris show sounds adorable. I think it'd be fun to get a whole bunch of buffista sprog together, like a family style F2F. It'd be cuteness overload.

She said there were some things she and my aunt didn't understand, one was myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction is fancy doctor speak for "heart attack".

Heh. X-post with the Tepster.

Too slow, Seanie. You gotta get up pretty early to beat...hey! You're up pretty early! Go back to bed, West Coaster!

Steph, I'm not sure. I was talking to my grandmother which is always interesting over the phone (what iwth her hearing aids)but she said something that sounded like mycoradial infarction so maybe she wasn't sure what that was? But it sounded like there were some other things that they were clear about. But I'll talk to my aunt on Monday or Tuesday.

hey! You're up pretty early! Go back to bed, West Coaster!

I got my full 8. I crashed at about 11 last night. And actually, since I've not been sleeping all that much lately, I kinda woke up at 5, but forced myself back to sleep for another couple of hours.

she said something that sounded like mycoradial infarction so maybe she wasn't sure what that was?

A lot of people aren't familiar with the term if they haven't dealt with it before. Makes sense. And it makes your grandmother lucky, that she hasn't had to deal with it until now. PLUS, it makes her not-a-nerd, which might please her to know! (I would winky emoticon there if I did that.)

ION, we're going to a Cardboard Boat Regatta today (link goes to a PDF): [link] The Boy's brother built his own kayak last year (NOT out of cardboard; a real, fibreglass kayak that was issued a boating license and everything), and one of his nephews decided that they should build a cardboard boat for this regatta. They "race" along a 200-yard course in the Ohio River.

The rules (also a PDF): [link] They aren't allowed to use cardboard that's bonded to vinyl or coated with wax, etc., and they aren't allowed to use glue or other liquid adhesives, but they ARE allowed to use any kind of tape (but can NOT wrap the entire boat in tape or plastic). They can paint the boat, but only with "one-part" paint; no epoxy, urethane, etc.

One of the awards given out is the Titanic award for the most dramatic sinking. I imagine that there are a LOT of sinkings.

The town that does this shindig (and this year is the 16th running of the race) actually has a cardboard boat museum. Hand to god. I love stuff like that.