the first show in the brand new theater has begun. I'm in my office (well, what will be my office when I move in) watching on the monitor. A new stage is open for the world! May it's boards only have quality productions.

Lots of let-it-work-out and no-money-stressing~ma to you, Stephanie.

And lots of general life~ma, too; you've been juggling so much personally and professionally over the last couple of years. How's Frisco feeling? How is Ellie settling in? How are you and Joe doing?

And houseyay erin (and, huh, from the outside, your new place looks almost exactly like my brother's did when he moved in umpteen years ago--I have no idea what the neighborhood is called, but it's roughly the southeast end of Portland, about a 20-minute bike ride from downtown). It definitely has tons of potential, and it'll be gorgeous once it's got a really loving, creative owner nestling in.

And geez, Toddson, I'm so ridiculously glad you're all better now. That's some scary stuff.

And, lastly, happy birthday Abby! That's a fabulous looking cake (though, just reading your mom's description makes me feel like I've just gobbled down five pounds of chocolate; I can't imagine what it'll be like to actually eat a slice).

Memememe news...not much of any, really, except that I'm feeling mildly petulant that over the last day or so Matilda has made it very, very clear that I am no longer Mommy but just plain Mom. I'm only ever going to be Mommy to one person in my whole entire life; I just thought I'd get more than a year and a half of the actual word.

Can I get hairpats? I'm at a conference where normally there is tons of love and hugs and smooching, but there's been drama, and I ended up on the much less popular side of it. And it's causing tons of tension, and making me feel very less loved and if nothing else, less inclined to be happy flirty extroverted talk-to-everyone me. Which SUCKS. And even from the people whose "side" I'm on, I'm not sure I'm expressing myself well, and not sure we're in agreement, etc. And they're not necessarily the people I'm happiest with/closest to anyway, even if I agree with them in this instance. So it's rough. And I could use some love. Sigh. Sorry to jump in and ask, but...yeah. THis was supposed to be my happy relaxing vacation, damnit!!!!!!

Aw JZ, don't give up hope. I still call mine Mama sometimes.

Hairpats and snorgles, meara.

ION, I must go to Target, for they have Day of the Dead pjs.

Hairpats for meara It sucks being on the bad end of any drama.

And JZ, take heart, it comes and goes. I'm still occasionally "Mommy" or "Mama" although I've been pretty firmly in the realm of "Mom" for a few years now.

love and ~ma to you, sweetie.

Pets and hugs and love to you, meara. And, bah! That's unhappy.

Hugs and hairpats, meara. That sounds so miserable.