{{Sean and S}} Bugger. I hope it's relatively minor, Sean. A bug would be good at this point. Coping~ma.

Travel~ma, GC. No way southern CA should have frosty wings! This winter is already weirder than last year.

I made coffee, why am I not driniking it? Craxiness.

I had to call an ambulance, as she had become combative and non-responsive.

Man, you'd hope one of the non-responses would be non-fighting. Punching, seizing and puking at the same time just doesn't seem like a fair combination.

Sean, I know my kids would vote against me but I'd skip Christmas just to finish 2008 off for you and put it in the rear-view mirror.

oh dear Sean, I hope that S's visit to the ER is brief and ends well.

Yeah, it was an odd combination, David. And damn that's awful sweet of you, and don't think I don't appreciate it, but no skipping Christmas.

but no skipping Christmas.

::puts away Caledar Advancer 3000::

Matilda is being minded by EM and Emmett today. Her noggin bonk is a glorious rainbow of yellows and greens. She declared "Emmett is pajama boy!" on seeing him at EM's house, slounged around in front of the xmas tree.

{{{{Sean & S}}}} I'm so sorry, sweetie.

I skipped over 800 messages, so ~ma to them that needs it. I'm back at work, and ready to go home again and sleep.

may-it-be-minor ma~~~` to S. and all the peace to you,Sean.

Dammit! Sean, I'm so sorry. What can I do? We don't leave until this afternoon, so let me know. Love you.

I have two quick baking questions:

1. If I added some cocoa powder to boxed mix for banana bread, would it mess up he way it bakes too much? I have a recipe for a chocolate banana bread here, but I don't really have the time or the energy to make something from scratch today.

2. If I use mini loaf pans instead of a regular size loaf pan, should I lower the cooking temperature? And approximately how much quicker should I expect them to bake?

I guess that is three question.

Also, more {{{{{Sean}}}}}} just because it sounds like you really need them right now.

Sean, I'm sorry too.

And now, with a link: Zahar: Hamas ready to renew Gaza truce based on previous conditions.

It is wonderful, though, if being honest, doesn't help the Strip in the long term. When it's "quiet" (read: 3 deaths per week, ~10 rockets per week), people tend to forget about it

Shir, hate to agree with Hamas about anything, but lifting or weakening the siege would be a good start. It is quite true that Israel denies Gazans food, milk, medicine, seed or fertilizer for agriculture. You (meaning Israel, not Shir) shoot fishers who try to take their boats out to fish. A further step would be to actually talk to Hamas. Talking is not some sort of reward you withold until your enemies move. It is a way to maybe find common ground, starting without it. And if talks don't work, it is not like Israel stops being the biggest military power on your continent, nor stops being the closest ally the biggest military power in the world has.