Oooh, I will help decorate, le nubian! I love spending other people's money!

I just got back from visiting my folks, and "shopping" in their attic and basement. TOTAL SCORES, y'all! A bedside table for Dan, once I mess with the contact paper my sister put on it as a teenager (and get a handle), picture frames, some gorgeous stonewear, two little bedside or table lamps of "crystal" and brass from the 60's (wiring checked by dad)...and a metric fuckton of curtains my mom had for years that she scored at a schmancy mansion estate sale years ago that are in fantastic condition.

And my old BFF from high school gave me a lesson on how to use the teeny little $15 sewing machine I scored. I SHALL MAKE ALL THE PILLOWS!!! When I get some fabric.

Cass, I am so sorry you are missing Kittenish so badly; the only kitty I've had to myself as a grown-up before Cosmo and Gimlet I got when he was an adult, and took him out of indignation and pity more than love, and we were basically roommates. I was sad when I had to have Solomon put to sleep, but it didn't gut me. I was gutted when two of my mom and dad's Scots have died (one WAY too young and in a tragically sad manner) and I can't even think about Gim and Cosmo. Ugh. And this in addition to your dad...honey, I am just feeling awful for you.

Ginger, I pee on insurance's head on your behalf. When you are sick and least able to deal with their bullshit....it's such fuckwaddery.

So I was delighted to get such perfect seats with the reserved seat system. Um there are 2 other people other than my family to see Dark shadows. Oh well.

I firmly believe nobody should feel/be obligated to write thank-you notes after a funeral. I have never expected a thank-you card for a sympathy note, or even for flowers or a donation in someone's memory. That should be (and usually is) the last thing on your mind when you are grieving, and I would hope most people understand that.

I haven't been posting much lately, but am keeping up when I can and sending out the ~ma. Cass, I am so, so sorry about Kittenish and your dad, and Ginger, I'm thinking of you and joining my voice to the "Fuck Cancer!" chorus.

I believe Miss Manners suggests that the writing of thank you notes is the perfect job for someone who wants to know how they can help.

Ginger, I pee on insurance's head on your behalf.

Heh. That's a delightful visual, that is.

I never sent thank-you notes after Mom's funeral. My sister might have; the guilt is stronger in her than me. I just couldn't deal. Except for the folks at work, who sent TWO wreaths, one from the department as a whole and one from my friends. I had to respond to them, but I did probably the briefest thank-you notes ever.

I firmly believe nobody should feel/be obligated to write thank-you notes after a funeral. I have never expected a thank-you card for a sympathy note, or even for flowers or a donation in someone's memory.

THIS. Yes. Exactly.

So. Facebook server crash for 100, Alex?

I have almost made peace with the fact that I am never going to do thank you notes from Mom's memorial. I just ... no. Can't.

Just don't. Really, anyone who expects a thank you at the moment is wrong. You probably thanked them for coming at the time. Or Plei did. Or I did. Or dad did. Probably all of us. They were thanked. And you know what, that was just being gracious because you are under no obligation to do that when you are the one in such pain and needing comfort.

That said, I thanked my mom for sending me flowers for Kittenish. Mostly because it made me cry but in a less painful way than everything else did that day. I've loved my pets and treated them all well, but Kittenish and one cat, Spooky (never let other people name your pets, people), before her were really just special companions. She was with me over seventeen years. And she was doing well before I boarded her and left for San Diego. She was old and I wouldn't have been surprised if this was her last year but I never expected to lose her so suddenly and while I was away until the last moments.

Dad starts radiation tomorrow (along with the steroids he's been getting since the biopsy). Probably five days a week for three weeks. His age is a factor in the no chemo but if the tumors don't respond, it is still possible. Just not preferable.

I don't know if he gets any tattoos for aiming purposes. I do know his scar from the biopsy is apparently healing beautifully and once the stitches came out, you could hardly see it. So he shouldn't look like Frankenstein but maybe the radiation will give him superpowers.

{{{{{Cass}}}}} I've been thinking about you.

I agree that thank you notes for funerals shouldn't be considered necessary. You have enough to deal with.

Yeah I don't think anyone should be expected to write thank you notes for funerals.