Just catching up after the wrong few days off the board...

{{amyth}} my dear friend and nearly-name-twin, I'm assuming you're at the hospital associated with your employer? In which case you're basically down the hall from me.. please let me know if you're up for (or even allowed to) guests or visitors or secret Buffista contraband? I'm at the Starbucks downstairs from the cancer hospital at least daily, and I will HAPPILY sneak some extra time onto all my coffee breaks to bring you some joy and relief. Wishing you all the strength right now.

Amych, info insent to your contact info.

separately, msbelle, I'm in favor of either or both of a card exchange and a charity gift; and TOTALLY in favor of you not having to manage a whole exchange in the middle of all the life stuff you have this season -- and (as I never say it enough), great gratitudes for all the work you always put into it!

I like the card and charity combo, too

I'd definitely be in for group charity, and possibly even new year cards?!?!?! (I will never get it together for cards before that....)

New Year's cards are fabulous! Secular/cross-holiday for those of us who don't really christmas, plus handy for the procrastination-oriented!

Timelies all!

I am at Philcon, as is Gary. Mr. S is at home with Gary's parents. They offered to watch him for a weekend, so here we are. I'm not sure how well this is going to go, so I am nervous.

New Year's cards are fabulous! Secular/cross-holiday for those of us who don't really christmas, plus handy for the procrastination-oriented!

I do also like that part.

Condolences to you and your family, Laura. So hard to lose two people, and so strange that they departed at almost the same time.

amyth, much healing~ma to you! Never thought there'd be any reason to be grateful for kidney stones.

Battling health insurance is worthy of Valhalla, I swear. The bastards do everything they can to make it difficult and ever more expensive.

I would probably be able to do donations or cards; doubt I'll be up for anything else.

I am exhausted and weepy and cranky and having a hard time not crashing into a deep depression and existential despair. I wish I hadn't quit drinking; I really want whisky.

Sheryl, there's one upside to the grandparents having Mr S for the weekend -- they'll be more inclined to believe you in the future about what a handful he can be.

Carrying packages up to the residents rooms is part of my job, and I am expecting it to get even more busy, what with Xmas package season upon us. I'd better start lifting weights NOW.