Glamcookie, my friend wrote this: (I framed it as having a friend who had a child pass recently, hence her responding to me that way.)

All I can say is that the letters which were written from the heart touched me the most and yours (the many that you sent!) were in that category. Anything you say from the heart will be a comfort. Flowers were always appreciated. Donations in his name. Really any gesture that moves you will help her through. It sucks. No way around it. The things that made me feel worse were the obvious things you would NEVER say! “He’s in a better place.” “Not meant to be.” “In God’s loving hands.” Blah, blah, blah. Those people were so unhelpful and lame – just trying to make themselves feel better.

So, I think your note is perfect (I thought so before, too) and that you can't go wrong with any sweet remembrance. In L's case, I donated to Ronald McDonald House because they helped L SO much when Ryan was in the NICU (where he spent his whole 3 months).

It's funny, I always thought he lived for much longer, but his birthday was yesterday! I think I started counting him as being born when L and I saw the Indigo Girls in a private concert (thanks, KFOG), sat in the front row, and Ryan kicked in rhythm for the whole show. Apparently I counted that as his entry into our lives. That was in January of 2002. He was born on April 5 and died on 4th of July weekend.

For I will be signing a lease without seeing the apartment.

I signed a six-week sublet for the place I'm in now sight unseen. Five years ago.

Cass, I hope to have your luck. It's this place: [link] They have a second available that is $80 cheaper. Haven't heard back yet why.

I wish you even half the luck I had. I really was just looking for a crash spot and a place to search from, but it was so perfectly me, what could I do? Except the bathtub is tragically uncomfy. But it's across the street from Trader Joe's and life is full of compromises.

They have a second available that is $80 cheaper. Haven't heard back yet why.

I suspect a sucktastic location in the complex.

I suspect a sucktastic location in the complex.

I say this knowing that if I were not on the top floor, corner unit and hidden by trees, I'd likely have moved. But the unit location is good for me.

That looks great, omnis! Hope it works out.

Once again, we had to lock Harvey in the bathroom to collect a sample for a UA. This time to double check that the struvite crystals present in the last one are dissipating. If not, then we will talk about treatments other than extra water in his food. Thankfully, he has produced for us relatively quickly and can now resume his rightful place snuggling on Daniel. I'm not sure which of them missed the other more.

Yeah.

One of these days I'm going to get my own damn cat.

I'll send you the one who chose to adopted me on the grass of the uni, WindSparrow.

He came, he snuggled for 20 minutes, he left. Wasn't even there for the food, really.

I'll send you the one who chose to adopted me on the grass of the uni, WindSparrow.

Aw, how sweet. I would love to welcome a foreign exchange cat. In fact, maybe that is the answer to world peace in a way that foreign exchange students have not quite managed (however enriching their personal presence is). Yes. That is what we should do. Send feline ambassadors from every country all around the world. They will show that cats everywhere are the same, allowing for climatic coat adaptations, and making the silly humans stop with the war-making because there is important skritching to be done. The cats will cooperate because it will further their cause of taking over the world. And it will be greatly to the benefit of everyone, except possibly a few dogs who have yet to see the wisdom of the cat revolution.

He came, he snuggled for 20 minutes, he left. Wasn't even there for the food, really.

That would make a nice change. Harvey loves me starting about half an hour before mealtimes. But I have to say that one of the cutest things cats do is to come up to me after a meal and snuggle to say thanks.

I think she's on to something.

Who's registering catexchange.com?

Kristin, I hope you got some sleep, too.

omnis, fingers crossed that the apartment is a good one.

Tired and lots to do, so I may as well get to it.