Teppy, warm gluten-free-cookie thoughts to you and Tim. (Since you don't love hugs, I was trying for something comforting and supportive, and at least I got better than bras.)

billytea, it is always good to hear of Ryan giggling. It's too bad you can't bottle his laughter to sell - I'm sure it would cure a number of ills, and maybe be the answer to world peace.

Aims, that little girl is so beautiful! And that shock of black hair, I love it.

Isn't she gorgeous??? I can't get over her.

And the black hair? NO IDEA where it came from! Neither parent has it! I think it's my grandfather from beyond, personally.

Lookit! Lookit my gorgeous niece!! [link]

She's so cute!!! And all that hair! (Also, MONKEY!)

Shir: that's excellent.

Aims - awww, she is lovely.

Shir, I'm looking forward to your visit to these shores.

As for that black hair... it may not be permanent. All the kids on my dad's side of the family of my generation were born with a shock of black hair, but some of us ended up with various shades of brown - some of us light enough to do the "blonde in summer" thing, some darker.

I thought most babies are born with blue eyes and black hair.

Blue eyes red hair, here, to the disgust of siblings.

My sister's kids, three of them were born with blonde hair, one with black.

Tep, your coworkers are freaks.

Do not insult the freaks. But I'm happy to cosign that they are a-holes.

(Remember when my roommate and I fostered that cat and had to put her to sleep? My entire office had a card signed for me the next day, with personal messages. FOR A CAT, that we fostered for three weeks. My lord, mumbling condolences is the least one can do. Send an email if you can't mumble.)

FOR A CAT, that we fostered for three weeks.

But you work with people made of human parts, rather than the "Christians" I work with.