(7th street entrance, Maria.)

Still really close. You were less than two miles from the house.

Oh, and you are most definitely a 4-cat household now. She's adorable.

Kat, go to urgent care.

I have no pub cheese, but I have four tubs of hummus from The Wild Pea. Cheese artichoke, Old Bay, Asian Fire, and Black Truffle. They were out of the Cinnamon Raisin. Yum.

I just finished the first disc of FNL s5. Still makes me cry about once an episode. Coach and Tami 4evah.

Seriously. Someone needs to write a book called "Coach & Tami's Guide to a Good Marriage." They are totally my role models.

I bought those acupressure wrist cuffs for morning sickness, and they didn't do much for me, but I'd be happy to pass them along to anyone (ita?) who wants to try them out.

I'm on tenterhooks this morning waiting to hear if my friends in Denver had their baby yet! Apparently they went into the hospital Friday around noon because S's blood pressure was a little high, and they thought they might have to induce. They were still there, no progress reported, as of yesterday morning, and that's the last I heard. If folks wanted to send a little ~ma their way, I'm sure it wouldn't go amiss.

Welcome Pumpkinkitty!

I'm happy to send some ~ma your friends' way, Kate. All the best to them. Keep us posted!

Also, now that I'm back from France, we should plan a visit. YAYS.

Kate, I'd love to try them.

The guy in the room with me is kinda creeping me out. He didn't want to be admitted to the hospital, because then he'd have a room to himself and be alone. I'm the only one in here apart from him. Which means I get to hear him cry out repeatedly for his absent wife, complain to doctors and nurses and refuse treatment. Oh...he's cognitively impaired. He doesn't know the month or the year.

Some of these nurses and doctors are saints. He's really naggy and irritating. But they're so gentle. I'd have snapped long ago. Which is why I'm in IT, I suppose.

Also, now that I'm back from France, we should plan a visit. YAYS.

YES. Although I don't know when, since we are traveling for Thanksgiving, Christmas, my cousin's wedding in mid-November, and the AHA in January... damn inconvenient holidays! Anyway, we can work something out over email.

Also, welcome home! How's your head?

edit: ita, I'd be happy to send them to you. Can you email me your address? Profile address is good.

After four years in Wisconsin, I had my very first tick in my life.

The weather was beautiful yesterday and we had a Halloween party for the kids so we were all outside a lot. I noticed a painful spot on my abdomen and took a peak.

I freaked the fuck out. DH tried repeatedly to remove said tick--olive oil, matches and tweezers but only managed to remove the body. I had to go into urgent care to get the head cut out.

It wasn't the burns from the matches, the shot of Lidocaine, or the digging the head out that bothered me. The tick itself gave me nightmares.

I'm seriously glad it was me and not one of the kids, though.

eta, responding to ita !'s comment on saintly hospital stasff: I marvel at some humans' capacity for patience in scenarios like that. It is awe inspiring.

Thank goodness, Bartleby does not snore. At all. I'm such a light sleeper that, even with earplugs, I know when he is dreaming.

My house is pretty secure and I've never had any reason to believe a nefarious character had gotten in until one night when Bartleby started growling. At first, I thought it was a dream, though he usually woofs in his sleep. Then, it went on and on and on. I reached for the weapon by my bed and prepared to seriously prod buttock. t /Pratchett

Time distorts when you are frightened, but it felt like the growl went on for two minutes.

To this day, I can' imagine what kind of dream would inspire that behavior!

Ew, Cash. I have a deep and abiding loathing for ticks. Vile critters.

My cat snores when he's deep asleep, and it sounds like something out of a cartoon. Adorable.

Leifur snores, too. Sometimes he'll segue from purring into snoring. It's kind of like he downshifts.