Thanks, WindSparrow. I have nothing whatsoever against hugs - virtual or in person.

Omnis, I can see why that would infuriate you. I'd be pissed, too. I hope he gets his excrement together.

{{{Spidra}}}

omnis that really does suck. You are keeping a record of all this BS to share with the management company, right?

{{{{{Spidra}}}}}

I just want to say that despite the fact that you're between the rock and the hard place (why do I have the feeling I'm abusing this metaphor somehow?), you're doing wonderfully, and you are such an amazing person. And that "abstract/paper" post of yours from earlier got me laughing, just for that wording (but not for the problem, of course). I wish you well, and luck, and better understanding by all.

Ginger, continued ~ma to you and your family.

David, I'm sorry. Much ~ma to his family as well.

IbetterN: working on directing my ex-lecturer-now-sort-of-a-colleague to Firefly has entered phase 2. I'm waiting to hear his impressions on the pilot (which I re-watched yesterday, and guess what? Still awesome).

I'm sorry, Ginger. Ah, family.

How annoying, omnis. Does the landlord pay your water bill? If it's the landlord, they should have extra incentive to make the maintenance person get his act together.

For people who need to see something very cute, and can watch a video on YouTube, here is a cute little baby ferret, who is a new addition to the household of an acquaintance of mine from another forum: [link] One warning, for those of us from non-US-type places - the person taking the video and talking uses the word "spaz", which I understand is seen as quite offensive elsewhere. In other videos she has posted, she uses it quite a bit.

Writing a death notice for this family, which is a morass of divorces and estrangements, is like negotiating a minefield and paying for each step.

Sympathies, David.

That is a tough situation, Hec. Peace~ma to all who knew and loved him.

Sending out the ma~~~ to all. I read and thought , but never commented.

Ginger, I'm so sorry. Especially when the rituals of death are more traumatizing than the event itself.

David, that's horrible. Prayers to his family and his community.

Spidra, ugh. I cannot imagine having to deal with the unresolved parent-child dynamics in my own family in such an close and suffocating manner. Hell, I moved to New Orleans to increase the geography. Hang in there, I hope like hell that you're able to break away or somehow otherwise find some peace in the situation.

Amy, continued ~ma during the surgical recovery.

Nothing much going on this front except it is freezing in the office and I am so relieved it's Friday! Oh, and it's my grandma's 94th birthday today. Poor Grandma- she's been in the nursing home since September and it doesn't look like she will ever be leaving. Any spare ~ma for a peaceful passing would be most appreciated - I know she is not happy with spending her life like this. She's a trooper though.