I thought it would. I have a friend whose husband has lupus (sometimes it IS lupus) so I thought it might help him.

In other thoughts, this speaks to me. Building management is checking my heat, smoke detectors, etc., so I was up early moving stuff so they could get to them.

Sung by Weird Al Yankovich and Kate Winslet

My Tumblr inbox had an anon message this morning from an ER doctor: they had someone come in suffering delusions due to a psychotic episode. She said she needed a distraction to keep her from wanting to claw off her skin. She was a goth, so the ER doctor googled, found the Gothic Charm School site, and the patient read it while they waited for the anti-anxiety meds to kick in.

The doctor went on to say "I just want you to know you helped save her life. You were there for her in one of the worst times she'd ever had. And I really appreciate that."

This is not the first message or email I've gotten where someone tells me I helped save their life. I am ALWAYS astonished (and a little freaked out) because I never think of what I do (or did, as GCS is on hiatus) as that ... life changing for folks, I guess.

So I started off my day with coffee and having a little cry.

Wow, Atropa!

Wow. How nice of them to message you.

Thanks everyone! It's cold, windy and rainy today in NYC. Meh.

Holy cow, Atropa, that's amazing.

What a delightful message, Atropa. So nice that they let you know.

That's both sad and cool, Atropa. Glad your words were there for her, though.(Always would like to feel that I've been read, although I don't really need to pull folks back from the literal brink...although wouldn't that be all "I'm not just the President...I'm also a client," for me.) Glad to hear about other Igors handling their business.(Though it wasn't just his eye for detail that helped, but both willingness to get involved, AND, being, say, a visa holder and understanding that what the government wants can be very, annoyingly, specific, And it has to be that thing, even if, as my father suggested, they had been the ones who messed up.) It's been years, but I'm still sad I didn't have any SRS Financials to throw at Igor cause he eased our burden.

I'm desperately eager to get to Scotland so I'll want you to take lots of notes.

Well we happen to know a couple of people who will be there just after Christmas. You could always do the same thing!

Um, grew up in Scotland, parents still live there, visit at least once a year (pandemics excepted). Happy to help with organisational queries. I will admit that I am less good on touristy stuff because I never actually really do it.

Scan~ma Epic. Glad it was no big deal, Jen.

Happy birthday, Tom!