Java, I am so sorry about your mother and your cat. Your mom sounds like she was an amazing woman.

All condolences, Java.

So very sorry, Java.

Java, I'm so sorry about your mother. It sounds like she had a good run, though.

I'm sorry about your mother, Java. She sounds like an amazing person! I'm also sorry about your cat. It sounds like a coyote-free zone for your other cats would be good. We've had alleged coyote sightings in my county (central NC), but no confirmed ones in town. Yet. I see deer in my apartment complex grounds 2-3 times a week, so other semi-wild-life wouldn't surprise me.

Thanks for the kind words. We just moved all her stuff out of her apt., and the cremation is tomorrow. Life goes on.

Oh, hon. I'm so glad you were there for her, and she got to spend so much time with you the last several years.

(waves) ... I've been swamped at work and haven't been on the board for (runs out of fingers to count on). But I hope to get back and catch up with everyone.

I didn't life recap last year - we moved in October, so I was kinda busy, but that means that in this year's recap I can note that one year ago today we moved to Cincinnati, OH. We're sort of half-settled in; the kids (6 and 9) switched schools this fall, and that's a good thing. mr. flea loves his job, and it is likely to be stable and long-term. I worked from Nov. - May at a job in my field that was temporary, poorly-paid, and under the supervision of a very high-strung person. I'm still looking for a job, but I am enjoying being a stay at home parent for the first time much more than I would have expected, and I am trying to start putting together a valuable part-time career of a freelance/grant-funded nature. We still own our house in GA, but as of the 20th it will be rented, so that is a big financial relief. And amazingly, Buffistas come through Cincinnati all the time: I've seen/met meara, Maria, and Liese, in addition to the opportunity to see Teppy and the boy any time we want to see each other!

I'm so sorry, java cat. Glad you had time to spend with your mother. And yikes! Poor kitty.

Here's my post from last year: smonster "Delurking 1: Because we don't always check our e-mail." Oct 10, 2011 5:52:01 pm PDT

Still loving New Orleans. I have a different dream job, much better than the previous one which turned out kind of nightmarish and laid me off in March. I feel competent and appreciated here, and my coworkers are a delight.

I am dating a different lovely chap, since the last lovely chap wasn't actually interested in a relationship (with me, anyway). This one is kind of fantastically improbable (swing-dancing, rugby-playing, ex-orthodox jewish russian immigrant pop culture geek) and improbably fantastic (in the context of my dating history).

Financial struggles continue, but I am mentally and emotionally sooooo much healthier than I was just a few years ago, and for that I am super thankful.