Srsly... I need to get my beauty sleep and put on the Good Eye Makeup. Stephen Colbert AND Jack White? I'm like to faint.

But you'll be in the good company, Trudy, so you get to call it swooning. It's a top shelf vocabulary occasion!

Right now you crash into the counter and bruise your hip. Flying Vampire Cass would crash into the mojave and break every bone in her body.

I actually just had to go back and check what I posted because my thought was, "Well, I crash into the counter (generally because a cat tries to tangle my ankles but once just tripping over my own feet) and jack my hip up nearly annually and maybe I could avoid it." but I was pretty sure I erased that part before I posted. And I did. So you both know me well and have a valid point.

I am going to look silly as a bubble-wrapped vampire but it's not the worst idea.

Oooh! Padded vampire ball. Like a hamster but with space for fangs.

Get some sleep too. Stephen Colbert deserves a well-rested Trudy. You are both nifty.

I have this theory that we could take you flying in the desert. (By night preferably of course, but far from others at any time should you have the misfortune to be spaaaaaarkly). Then you could practice. I'd have to put a lo-jack on you (having dismissed the "giant kite string or bungee cord" approach due to tangling/bouncing me through the desert fears)'cause lord knows WHERE you'd end up... but it can be done.

Finally feeling tired. Whatever do I wear that makes me look good but not like I'm TRYING to look good so Jack White is smitten with my swooning? Colbert is married so I'm good there -- I have wiseass under control.

Let me see if she would be interested in doing your photos; I think she still has all the software.If not, her bro still owns the biz, and they do all digi stuff. I can see how much they would charge. I'm SURE it's not that pricey.

How many shots?

Sorry for the delay. Needed to leave the office then do...stuff. Pesky timezone differences. I need to reassess them, but I believe it would be between 2-4 shots. Thanks for trying to help.

Steph - I don't know how your upper respiratory system is doing, but my experience of wildfires (SoCal Wildfire Season, let me show you it) says keep in mind that even if you're not in immediate danger of burning up, air quality will be crap for miles and miles. I hope that you can all come to an agreement that's safe and pleasant for all parties.

Trudy, I'm so jealous! That would be hugely fun! Post pix, if you can take them!

And I am off to bed, having been so productive today.

should you have the misfortune to be spaaaaaarkly

That would be the worst!

But flying in the desert sounds completely awesome. Even with a LoJack. I could watch the stars twinkle.

Dear subconscious. Yes, I know you're all worked up because I couldn't sleep tonight and read upsetting news articles and then tried to self-soothe with what turned out to be a novel with lots of suicidal ideation scenes. I'm sorry about that. I know you're a mess, what with lots of free form anxiety floating around and everything.

But what I am frightened of is not a literal stranger at the door threatening my mother. I am frightened of disease and old age and wildfires and poverty and helplessness. You and your dream after a half hour of sleep, you are unsubtle. Also, I have a presentation to give tomorrow that I know will make me cry. Five times. After driving through endless construction traffic. I do not need to wake up in full adrenaline fight or flight mode.

Please desist. kthx.

Ack! I hope everyone sleeps and sleeps peacefully tonight. Why is sleep so damned difficult? I need to attempt that soon.

I have no idea how my glasses get so dirty. What is possibly getting on my lenses and is that amount of stuff getting on my face too?

Hello Bitches. I thought I had posted yesterday, but it seems not, so clearly I closed the window I was writing in. The protracted absence this time has been due to anemia (this is apparently why I was so ill on the plane a couple of weeks ago). I am doing a bit better now, thanks to better living through chemicals iron pills.

Meanwhile, I thought you would like to see pictures of my new KITTEHS! We adopted them this week from a local shelter. We were only going to get one cat, but these two had both been there for months and we just had to have them. Pics are all here [link] . My favourite pics: Milo [link] [link] Pythagoras [link]

Milo, the black-and-white cat, is mostly living behind the kitchen cabinets at the moment. He's not shy, he just really seems to like it there. He comes out for food and for an occasional cuddle. He is getting very dusty as a result. Pythagoras, who is orange and only has three legs, is happiest behind the sofa, except that he forgets he can't get out from behind there and then we get a lot of whining to be lifted out.

Happy belated birthday, Teppy! I'm sorry to hear that 40 hurts. I'm having a clumsy time too - last night I dropped chamomile tea with honey in it all over my bedside cabinet, killing my Kindle in the process. (I'm hoping my wonderful accidental damage insurance will cover it. It's *really* good insurance.)

Scrappy, *many many many* Sass-return wishes for you. In church tonight at my choir rehearsal, I'll light a candle for her safe return. In more practical terms, I'm tweeting/Facebooking your blog - I have lots of US-based friends who can RT the link. The Girl's brother is starting at a university in D.C. in two weeks, and I can see if I can get him to spread the word too.

Many sleep vibes for those who need them.

Here's a random question for you. Are there any Pagans on b.org? I've been exploring the druid/ancient Celtic religions recently (under the influence of my wonderful father, who is both a Taoist and a shaman!) It's certainly an interesting mix with Christianity, but for some reason it's totally working for me. Happiness. (And moments of extreme *weird*.)