she told me it was cold that day and this was the only way to stay warm.

She's gorgeous, an awesome mother, AND practical! You win on wife-selectin', my friend.

Billions of felicitations to you and Wallybee and your incredibly fortunate joint production, and may you be able to look back every four years for the next forty and say, "No, THESE have been the happiest four years of my life."

I remember how hard you struggled and how sad everything was during that last bleak stretch of your time in the US; I'm constantly awed by how resolute you were in remaining fearless and open to the possibility of joy, and so constantly glad to see how the joy has rushed in to fill that space you gave it.

aww I'm getting all weepy at your happiness, billytea!

Aw, billytea, you made me tear up. Congratulations to you and Wallybee on your happy anniversary, and to your son for getting two of the awesomest parents in the universe (high-five, little dude).

Wonderful pictures, billytea! (the phone tried to correct your name to 'bulkhead'). Those pictures are fabulous, and I am so happy for you and Wallybee.

Annual review went well--better than I expected, actually.

I remember how hard you struggled and how sad everything was during that last bleak stretch of your time in the US; I'm constantly awed by how resolute you were in remaining fearless and open to the possibility of joy, and so constantly glad to see how the joy has rushed in to fill that space you gave it.

What JZ said, because she, as usual, said exactly what I wanted to say more perfectly than I could have said it. I'm so glad you're so happy, and Ryan continues to be a cutie!

Thanks, everyone for listening to me ramble last night and giving the good advice. I actual slept last night and feel better today.

Can I have some ~ma for TCG's step-grandmother? She's 96 and in the hospital today because she is in so much pain. She is a wonderful lady, and I feel so bad that she has been feeling so awful lately.

Tea:

Tons of place-to-live~ma and calm~ma to libkitty!

Shir, I know I missed all the excitement yesterday, but I wish my arms were long enough, or made of elastic so that I could reach around the world and hug you (to reassure myself that you are ok, if for no other reason).

{{{{sj}}}

Raq, happy belated birthday, and I hope that the icky in your life eases up soon.

{{{{bonny}}}} the situation with that family is dire, and I can only imagine how hard it is to convince parents that they have to start working in a way that is completely contradictory to their inclinations and philosophies.

Things that are making me happy: Aims' sister; pictures of Ryan; translations of this board into Mock Swedish; pictures of billytea and Wallybee because of the joy of their union and the joy that their joint production adds to this hard, sad world, making it worth not giving up on; Anne's review going well; and I'm sure there was some other good news that contributes to me feeling rather glad to be here (at buffistas.org and on the planet in general).

Lots of ~ma for TCG's grandmother.

Rock on, Anne.