I'm skipping. I'm still not-very-well, but the fever broke down (during the night, I guess, with a few peaks that woke me up several times).

Most of all, I'm skipping to post some of the F2F pictures. Seska, Nilly censored The Girl out of them because we didn't ask for her permission - let us know if it's OK. [link]

I'm truly not at my best there, with the being sick and all, but that's what we got before my camera collapsed too.

No, not Salon. Worse, a blog connected to a conservative Catholic site. They're trying to explain to my poor benighted self how my belief that God sees everyone's value, wants us all to use our gifts, and has in fact been hinting that women's ordination should be accepted except that the male power structure is afraid and resistant to any change proves that they are happy, I am miserable, I hate men, and I believe in a small and petty God and they feel sorry for me.

JZ, I am sorry I let you down. I ran away from home to play with punk rockers and not touch a computer for four days.

YOU believe in a small and petty God? I feel sorry for their lack of grasp of English.

It's cruel to have a battle of wits with unarmed opponents, JZ. You are far kinder than all that.

Shir, thanks for posting those pictures! It's great to see y'all having a good time together. And I'm glad to hear you are feeling better.

I need a little rental~ma for mom. She's been talking about moving up to be closer to my Bro and his family and has looked at some rental places and has finally found a place that would be great for her. There's just the issue of the price, the landlords (a couple) are asking for more than she could afford. However, since it's been sitting empty for awhile the wife is okay with a reduction in rent. She just needs her husband to agree and he's on a camping trip.

The only other places that are that close are condos and all seem to be on the second level.

Most of all, I'm skipping to post some of the F2F pictures.

OMG, look at you all! Seska, you're GORGEOUS! That first picture of just you is truly lovely. And Shir and Nilly, of course we're well-versed in your gorgeousness and all three of you together is tremendous.

~ma for your mom, askye!

Rental~ma for you mom, askye, and much of it. These housing things can be a bitch sometimes.

Rental-ma to your mom, askye.

I'm gonna have to speak with the girl I'm sharing the work station in the volunteering with. Today I was welcomed by a work station with dirty cup and plate on the desk and a working computer, after she left the place.

I may have been out of an office enviorment for a while, but this is not how people should behave in an office place, right?

Hi, all! I finally caught up, after being in Iowa for several days, and then being very busy with a 7 year old while Dan works.

I missed you, and am glad everyone had mostly happy holidays. Mine was the busiest in a long, long time.

We drove through the Iowa Blizzard of Death (and I was white-knuckled and pissed as hell at my bf for his blithe "my mom said it's ok" statement as a 4 hours trip turned into 8, with ice, freezing rain and whiteouts. But at the end of the stressful drive was a bucket of frozen margaritas, prime rib and crab legs, and a family who kept pulling me aside to tell me how much better I was than his ex, which was nice.

I've read a couple of stepmoming books, and I think I've done a pretty good job in the last couple of weeks. It's been quite a change from my hermit-like existence to living with BF and THEN 24 hours of primary caregiver to Boy. Dude, I took him to the doctor! He had to get a shot!

I have lots of new questions and perspectives on ex-spouse crazyhood, stepparenting, parenting (I was right all those years I thought it was a freaking hard job) and relationships.

We're having people over for NYE and it will be the most sedate one ever. First one I've ever hosted, and since M is here (he goes to mom's tomorrow -- I'll be honest, I am relieved AND sad, but this has been quite a change for me, so...it's a touch more relief. And I do not believe this makes me a bad person.)

I am going to start cleaning -- M is at his aunt's house this morning, and it's the first time I've been alone in 2 weeks. Bliss.

I have two bottles of Prosecco, and I am going to drink every damn drop tonight.