Ailleann, I'm so sorry about your sister and her family! That's unbelievably awful. So much grief, I'm sorry. It is good to see your pixels again, though.

"Once, just once I enjoyed playing volleyball. It was a game of discovery. I discovered that I was 6 inches taller than the last time I tried it, and that height makes a difference. I discovered that playing drunk also helps. I discovered that I will not disrobe to score my team more points. And I discovered the joy of trash talking. And that the geeks could kick the asses of the salespeople."

Hey Ailleann, was just reading your posts back in 2006.

Where I also found ita talking about her sister:

My sister succumbed to the lure of a dress she didn't need yesterday. Priciest dress she's ever bought. She sent pictures last night. Damn, with my whole trying to mix it up a bit I haven't hit a note like that. Cream coloured dress covered in large butterflies. Sheath with an empire waist and large pleats that start mid-thigh. Low round neckline, no sleeves, and the kicker is the bow on the left strap. Oh, and piping. Orthoepy would love the detailing, I swear.

Excellent job.

Just looking at that syntax and language I'm realizing how ita-ish that is.

Plus the sister love.

I woke from a nap today in that liminal state where reality is still a couple degrees behind my conscious waking brain and realized: "Oh no, a Buffista died. ita will be so sad."

Then my rational brain came online.

"The start of the baseball season marks the interruption of my basketball coverage. But it's a harbinger of the NBA finals, and Wimbledon. So it's not all evil."

"Me, I like hot days and warm nights. Anything to get the blood flowing to my fingertips and back."

"Nothing beats a warm, green summer. Streetside cafes and sangrias. Barefoot on grass and sand. Lounging in the water. Playing capoeira while the sun tickles your skin.

That's what summer's for."

"Summer makes me feel like I'm off life-support and am breathing on my own.

I know I'm sick, but I especially like a New Orleans summer, where the wind is wet and caresses you without cooling you down. I crave that hot blast of air that rises off the tarmac and slams into you when you deplane in Jamaica. I especially love thunderstorms that don't drop the temperature below 75, so you can stay outdoors in them, and dry off under the sun after them (because they are always brief)."

I keep waiting for ita to argue with me about Black Widow in Natter. Man.

Nobody else dies. Deal? We're just going to stay here, like this. forever.

Well, that was the deal.

Frig.

on Joss

"If that mean man makes me cry again, I'm telling my mummy."