Hello again my beloved Buffistas. How nice it is to read all your pixels again this year. So happy for the manageable little Delurking thread. How I wish I remembered where the knitters are posting, I could ask them about EZ Sox for beginners. Or I might find what’s the what with the working on a cruise ship life, because I have fantasies about running away to sea.

Most of my vital statistics remain the same from last year. I never post anywhere, avoid Facebook and seem to be very much averse to all sorts of modern technology. I do make an exception for my Kindle; the LED reading light that’s part of the cover is made to please me.

Still saving the world, one kitty at a time.

Currently my sister’s cat Pancake is living in a cage in our guest bedroom because a) she broke her left front foreleg and b) she freaked right the frick out over having an e-collar, a splint, a bellyful of meds and/or being caged, take your pick. I think she actually had a psychotic episode because she ripped all the nails off her hind feet fighting the splint and cage. In desperation we removed the splint and brought her over here for some quiet time to rest and heal and hope for the best. Happily two weeks have gone by without trauma, so it seems to be working! Hooray! It’s my job to keep her confined because walking around or, heaven forfend, jumping off something, would not be very good for the unsplinted broken leg.

Sadly my life is all woe and trauma concerning the elderly in-laws. They have problems ranging from dementia, denial and the domestic violence I’ve just discovered. My little feewings awe all hurty because they want no “people in the house” for Thanksgiving. Turns out I am responsible for cooking it and arranging delivery because I must never be there while the Recluse is in residence… and they seem to think that saying Don’t Take It Personally means everything is automatically all right.

Other than that I’m mostly well and fairly happy. I have sadness because my cat Squeak, guardian angel and Reservoir of Comfort, is growing old. He used to be a Totoro-caliber fat and happy “bus cat,” and now he’s getting skinny and I remember why I called him Legs back in the days of his golden youth.

Minearverse is the default crafts thread.

Kat P! Lovely to see you here. Miss your conversation.

Katie Bee! I'm sorry to hear about Squeak, but I'm ever so glad to hear from you. As far as the aged inlaws go? Is there a Boston Market-alike in the area? I would not cook what I wasn't welcome to share. If they have a cc, bill it to them and call delivery. You and your sweet DH? Have a lovely meal on your own.

Beverly, thanks for the recommendation. I googled Orly's It's Not Rocket Science...my, that's a very daring polish. Well, daring for me. However, I did plan on being near an Ulta next week and my nails are for once not disreputable, so the stars may be aligned for green nails.

Msbelle, do you still want items for your church auction? There are a couple of leftovers from a gift shop I ran; if you think someone would bid on them, I'd be happy to send them along.

davers, Sure! email me the details.

Since I'm on break from class, I figured I'd sneak in under the wire.

Waving "hi" to all the lurkers out there, as well as everyone else!!! I'm sure I posted here last time, but since I don't have time to search for it, I'll just say that this past year has been rather eventful. In January, I started work on my Masters in Library Science, and am currently taking my third class (and discovering that cataloging is pretty damn boring). I'm still working at the same job I've had for the past 8 years (same company I've been at since 1992), but that job could very well be gone the next time this thread is open. Oh, well, at least they've warned us far in advance.

The other big change coming up for me is the gastric bypass surgery I'll be having the Monday after Thanksgiving (less than a month away!!). Big change, but something I really need to do for myself, especially if I'm going to be out jobhunting in a year or so after getting my MLS.

My cat is doing well, even though she's starting to sprout grey whiskers in the past few months, and everything else is getting better with my family (sister just got a job after being out of work for the past 18 months, and brother just moved to Florida for his new job after he retired from his old one in February).

Glad to see everyone's pixels here, and hope to see you in other threads, too!!

The other big change coming up for me is the gastric bypass surgery I'll be having the Monday after Thanksgiving (less than a month away!!).

Goodness, I can't believe it's almost time for your surgery! I'll be thinking of you when I'm at the hospital on that same day waiting to meet my newest niece.

Much surgical~ma for you, Kathy A

Hi there, kat.

Goodbye Delurking thread! See you next year!

Ooh, best fit this in under the wire.

Here's my intro post: billytea "Delurking 1: Because we don't always check our e-mail." Oct 3, 2009 3:36:42 am PDT. It may be relevant to reintroducing myself that reading back over it, I felt the necessity of correcting any spelling errors.

My year can be summed up in this fashion. Let's begin at the end of last year: [link]

February: [link]

On to around mid-year: [link]

Aaand here's where things stand now: [link]

As you can see, it's been a good year. I've also rejoined the workforce. A lecturer of mine from last year was approached by a small investment firm for some consulting services. He didn't have the time, so he put my name forward. An initial workload of "one day a week, see how it goes" has grown into a four-day a week position, at which level we can cover our bills and leave me time for uni.

Wallybee's parents, who stayed with us over Ryan's first year, will be back in a few weeks' time for another six months. They've applied to move to Australia permanently.

And that's where things stand now. Animals are still cool. Thank you.