Oh, my god, the fucking mall, and the fucking people in New Orleans who cannot drive (ALL OF THEM).

I'm a little worried about driving in NC, as I've adapted to NOLA driving somewhat. OMG, it's going to be weird to be somewhere with roads instead of washboards. OH HAI LEFT TURNS I MISSED YOU.

meara, I've been on that system before, I just wish I'd had more notice to prepare for a gap week, and I don't get why there is one.

Shir, how is your mom?

An adorable toddler wearing a Batman shirt just walked up to me and repeatedly banged into my leg, which apparently is his way of hugging. Then he zoned out, drooling on my jeans. The father was horrified and apologetic, I was more worried about him mouthing my dirty jeans. It sounds annoying, but I was tickled. I like it when kids and dogs and cats like me.

About to take off!! Carolina, here I come, right back where I started from.

Carolina, here I come, right back where I started from.

Man, I watched those AV clips of Chrismukkah the other day (I think someone here linked to them) and was all "Aww! The OC!!"

Shir, how is your mom?

Still deaf in one ear. She did some hearing tests this week, and they all showed she's losing the little bit of hearing she was left with. On the bright side, she got back to work this week, and she's doing fine. Some days are worse, with the sickness, but all in all - back to 80% of her normal schedule.

MRI on Thursday, and then 7-10 days waiting for the results.

Oh, my god, the fucking mall, and the fucking people in New Orleans who cannot drive (ALL OF THEM).

Yeah. We had to drive in outskirts of the Quarter (Tom needed to pick up a prescription at the Walgreens on Canal) and down Magazine and both were a total zoo.

In weird morning news, after I dropped smonster off at the airport, I went to not one but two car wash places to get the truly EPIC amount of bird crap off my car. We were parked under a tree last night in the CBD and apparently it is the poop stop of New Orleans, I don't even know.

Anyway, the first carwash sucked so I went to another one down South Carrollton, which rocked. I came out and this dude was like, OMG YOUR RIGHT FILANGI IS GOING TO EXPLODE YOUR CAR! Which, I was pretty sure that... wasn't a thing. (he did not say filangi, but something else I didn't understand or ever hear of before). He went under the car and poked his hand up my front right wheel well, and I was pretty sure I was being flimflammed, but you know, it's Christmas, so I gave him $30.

Them I was still in the parking lot trying to wipe off the residual bird crap with a tissue and another dude came over and said, "why don't you let me take care of that (he had a bucket, cleaner, rags, etc.) and that way I can get myself a burger." He went to town on my car, and I gave him $20.

Adding that to the $18 I had spent on the two carwash services, that was the most expensive car wash I ever had.

It's totally fine though. Merry Christmas, flimflam artists, grifters and squeegee guys! We all need a little something extra this time of year. I don't think Mr. Exploding Filangi did anything to the car that would actually harm it, so it's all good.

OK, off to the NOLA Brewing tour!

"why don't you let me take care of that (he had a bucket, cleaner, rags, etc.) and that way I can get myself a burger."

A straightforward proposition, you didn't have to do it, and he got fed. There are worse economic arrangements.

A straightforward proposition, you didn't have to do it, and he got fed. There are worse economic arrangements.

Totally! I'm cool with that.

Tep, love it! I've actually seen that ring before and thought how gorgeous it was, but it's even better given your background with möbius strips.

Bonny, I'm very worried about you, and I'm going to offer some advice that you of course can feel free to ignore. Go to a local rescue and find the next beloved companion who is waiting for you to rescue him or her. They need you as badly as you need them. They will never replace Bartlby, but they will begin to help you to heal. You need a dog in your life, and some lucky dog needs a human as wonderful as you.

Every time I have lost a pet, one of the only things that has kept me going is the rest of my loving furry family. I just worry that you don't have anyone to comfort you--to take care of and to take care of you in the way only our furry family can.

I second Pix' suggestion. I actually got my little momo two days after I had to put down my beloved Josie. I always knew I wanted another cat, so I thought why wait? And it was truly helpful to me and to the mo, who as a black kitty was probably not headed home with someone else. My vet told me black cats are the hardest to place.

ION, I am now the mother of a 2 year old! How did that happen?

Teppy that's a lovely necklace!

Bonny, I can agree with Pix. It may not be the first dog you meet but you'll find a wonderful companion. It was hard for me when I lost Anna, 20 years of being not only my pet, but most times my best and only friend. It took a few tries but I found Maddie and Dean.

A cousin lost her beloved cat to cancer and on the day she picked up the cats remains there was an amazing dog available for adoption. My cousin never thought about being a dog owner, but she fell in love and it's been a perfect match.