I wish I could do a proper meara here, but I'm typing on my iPhone at the airport, and I think it's beyond my poor numb fingers, so I'll leave that part at (((((Deena)))) anda reminder to those who find themselves in Alaska (cruisy-types, I'm looking at you) should look me up in Juneau.
About me, my landlords told me this spring that I had a month to buy the house my apartment was in or move. I'm a packrat and had been there 10 years, so my first response was to freak-the-hell-out, but it turned out to be a good thing, as I now own a condo and have gotten rid of LOTS O' STUFF. Once I moved, my brother invited himself to stay with me. I was apprehensive, but it, too, turned out to be a good thing. We've become good friends and I miss Jim already now that he's with my dad.
In the moving process, I was homeless for a while (it makes one thankful for good friends, one set of which took the cats and another set of which took me). It kind of freaked out the cats a bit, and my little black kitty was having a hard time coming back from it, so I took them for a vet checkup for the first time in
mumble, mumble.
It turned out she had cancer in her tail. In the testing prior to surgery for that, they found a large mass in her chest. It didn't seem right for metastasis, so they did an ultrasound and biopsy, which popped it and made both her and me feel much better. She has now had her surgery and she's the cutest little manxy cat who can't wait to get her stitches out so the cone can come off. She's doing well and the prognosis is good.
While all this was happening, my uncle had a health emergency and passed away a few days later. He was a brilliant, sweet, gentle man and I miss him very much, but he had a good life and nearly 10 years on dialysis, so it was not unexpected. I went to California for the funeral. He had lived with my dad for nearly 15 years, and so I really thought I needed to be there for him, aside from wanting to go anyway. It turned out to be a wonderful trip. I saw cousins that I hadn't seen since I was 13, and more distant relatives that I had never met, and was reminded of what a cool family I have.
I was heading home yesterday, but was turned back for high winds. I kind of wish they had figured that out before 2 hours in the air and 2 harrowing attempts at landing, but am now even more thankful to be alive. Supposedly, the weather is better today, and the odds of getting in tonight are good.
Whew! I miss you all, and am so glad for the opportunity to catch up. It actually makes waiting at the airport kind of fun.
{{Deena}} Loving thoughts sent your way.
libkitty, sounds like quite the roller coaster. I hope that you made it home safely and calmly.
{{{{{{Deena}}}}}}}
Hi Una!
::Kermit waves to libkitty::
Hi, folks. I'm lurking in Natter and Bitches, but haven't been posting.
All my ~ma is vibing for those in need.
Karl! Hi! What's up with you?
Karl, always wonderful to see you!
What's up with you?
Without trying to sum up three years in a single post, I'll try to hit the high points.
Work: Been working in the same tech startup since Feb of 2009. It drives me a little nuts, but it's been steady.
Home: Moved from San Bruno (of the famous fireball fame) up towards SF a bit, but not into the City proper. We've been here a year or so, and it's working out pretty well.
Family by blood and marriage: Lisa's grandmother passed away last year, and her stepfather has late-stage liver cancer. We're coping, but it's been a rough couple of years. Lisa and I celebrated our 11th anniversary this year, and we still like each other. So we keep on keeping on.
Social life/family of choice: Our little tribe keeps growing by the oddest means imaginable. We're all taking care of each other as best we know how, practicing love every day, sharing our joys and our sorrows, and trying to learn from our mistakes. Reminds me a lot of the Buffistas, actually, which is most of the reason I'm contemplating a return to posting.
Further discussion in Bitches, I think, since this thread is due for shutdown in a few days.
Update on the last year at Chez Tea. Previous delurkings may be found here
billytea "Delurking 1: Because we don't always check our e-mail." Oct 3, 2009 3:36:42 am PDT
and here billytea "Delurking 1: Because we don't always check our e-mail." Oct 31, 2010 9:57:46 pm PDT, and for myself, things aren't much different. Still happily married to Wallybee, still the proud father of this little fellow: [link] He's 2.5 years old today. To date, I don't think he's thrown a single tantrum. He gets upset at times, he cries when he doesn't get his way, but there's never any anger in it. Nothing gets thrown, hit or kicked. Very good-natured little boy.
I'm still pursuing a Master of Finance, about halfway through (planning to defer for next year). Still working at a small investment advisory firm. It's a great job, really. I get to do the things I enjoy, I work from home one day a week, they respect my work and my contributions. It's been a good week too. For the last twelve months, I've been constructing a sophisticated asset allocation model for the firm's portfolios. This week it finally all came together. We're finally ready to begin production.
Wallybee's work situation has been more volatile. This time last year, she was working part-time as a union organiser in addition to her interpreting work. The union job turned toxic not long after; she got caught in the middle of some office politics, and wound up filing a formal complaint about her treatment. She left in the middle of the year, and now divides her time between interpreting and caring for Ryan. (She's also spent time on the Interpreters' committee, and has been making some efforts to persuade interpreters to unionise.)
Wallybee's parents were out here from March to September. They're back in China now. We're currently thinking that we'll visit China in April or May, and all come back together (visa permitting).
All in all, it's been a good year.
