::points at Windsparrow's post. nods::

I know I've been kinda thin on the ground lately. But as always, the collective and individual you are always in my thoughts and my heart.

Frak. I did not just earworm myself with Phil Collins.

Yes, I declare October will be the start of good things.

I am in agreement.

Ramps are being installed to my front door - my house will soon be fully accessible to me (and it's starting to look much more home-like). I register for my PhD today. I have one PA recruited and I'm working on choosing the other. The Girl is out of the country looking after her sick father, but while all that's difficult, it's pretty much the only problem we have right now. I am grateful.

Wishing you less family stress, amyth. Great to hear that your SiL called.

So glad to hear you're feeling a bit better, bonny.

Tonight, I ran my dishwasher, and the new hose worked! No leaks! No running in to empty the bucket after each cycle. Clean dishes with no effort! Woot!

bonny! It's so good to hear from you!

Aims, it's possible the prof hit your blog first, when he wa feeling chipper and wordy. Other student got cruise control prof.

Bonny, may your recovery continue! It is wonderful to hear about the people who are caring for you.

There's lots more, including brackets for Amyth, but I'm on day 3 of rebound headaches and my thoughts sound too much like greeting card platitudes to be bearable.

I'm glad that's all coming together, Seska.

Yay for working dishwasher, omnis.

Sox, I hope you feel completely better soon.

{{{Sox}}} Feel better. I had the same headache all last week and it sucked.

Yay, dishwasher omnis!

Yay, ramp Seska!

I made it to babysitting. So tired, but G is being good right now.

Stay good, G.

Glad your dishwasher is working, omnis.

Nora, that is a good day. I would love an update whenever you feel so moved.

When I was growing up, it looked so much like we were going to lose the Bald Eagle to human stupidity. When I was nine years old, there were only four breeding pairs in Ohio, where I was born and raised. I knew there were people working hard to hold this species back from extinction. I knew they were having some success. But I never dreamed I would see any for myself. So it has been really cool to live here in Minnesota. Twice while driving to work, I have seen a bald eagle in flight. Yesterday we went to the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, MN. [link] This place is amazing. It is located along Lake Pepin, which is essentially the Mississippi River choked off at one end of a valley by the silt brought in by the Chippewa River. The area is home to 40 breeding pairs of Bald Eagles. But it is also a stop along migration routes for others as well as a popular wintering destination for eagles from the far north due to the swift flowing waters which do not freeze over. The Center itself is home to four Bald Eagles, and one Golden Eagle. These eagles have been injured in various ways, and would not be able to survive on their own in the wild. They are still amazing creatures. And they are not kept behind glass, but rather tethered, so that visitors can get within a few feet of them, while volunteers sit with the eagles, attending to their needs and answering questions from the visitors. This is all stuff you can get from looking at the website. What you won't get from the website, and what I am finding it hard to describe is how overwhelming, how wonderful, how superlative an experience it is to be in the same room with them, to find that there were 164 breeding pairs in Ohio in 2008. [link] In Minnesota that same year there were 1,312 - that's two and a half times more than the 487 in the entire Lower 48 back in 1963. We humans, we Americans, we've done some pretty crappy things over the years, by this is one thing we got right. Realizing that, together with the amazement from being so close to some of these animals overwhelmed me so much that I wept. Got all snuffly and whatnot, had to step outside for a while.

Oh, and then later we had lunch at a place across the river in Wisconsin that served good fried cheese curds, adequate BLTs, and divine chocolate caramel cheesecake. Seriously, the only reason I wasn't moaning orgasmically is because we were in public.

Also we stopped at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Birthplace Wayside historical marker [link] There was a family with two small girls visiting there as well. When I went to look in the re-creation of the house, someone had lifted the four year old girl up to the loft where Laura and Mary slept. What a cutie, she was making cow sounds and saying how dirty Laura's bed was.

"Why would you deny me the opportunity to be generous. And, anyway, what makes you think you haven't already done enough for me?"

BING BING BING! Tho' I know it feels odd to be on the receiving end of that.

Jilli, it does feel weird because my identity is so wrapped up in being there for others. Not because I'm so altruistic, but because it's the thing I do best. Reminds me of when actors are asked what they would be doing if they couldn't do that job anymore and you get a blank stare.

Also, I was raised on obligation, thinking that any good thing that happened had to be paid for. And by paid for, I mean, suffering paid for. So, having people be good to me, just because they are good people, is a major head twist.

Omnis, I am fully on board with your decree for October. And, happy advanced birthday!

I will also point and nod at all the brackets...wish much strength to amyth and her family and say HEY! to Beverly. Good to see you.

And, again, thanks for all the good thoughts.