parrot_suspect

As a fellow cat lover, I wanted to send you my best wishes for Freeway; I hope he regains some appetite and energy. It is tough when a beloved pet is seriously ill. You never know, though; just when it seems like the end is near, they sometimes rally. This happened with a cat of mine who had diabetes and inflammatory bowel syndrome; he lived two years longer than we thought he would.

It sounds like you are taking wonderful care of your cat, and I'm sure he'd thank you if he could.

I read your entry, and it made me want to cry. But I'm holding it in -- I guess I'm saving it up -- for my own mother's death anniversary, which is looming. She died April 7, 2006.

I'm sorry for your loss and continued grief. Sometimes it helps me a little bit to know that there are other people in the world who have lost their mothers, who are haunted by images of their mother dying in the hospital, who wonder "what if?" and wish they'd done things differently. So, for what it's worth, I've been there, I've felt your pain, and I understand.

Obviously, I didn't know your mother, but I'm sure she would have been proud of what you've accomplished. It's a shame she's not here to see it. Oh crap, now I am starting to cry...better sign off.

What a wonderful birth story, LitChick. Sounds like you had exactly the kind of birth you wanted. Congratulations, and welcome baby Finn!

Yum! Hope you don't mind if I covet your chocolates. Sounds like you got some great gifts.

UGH on having to move in May. Moving is such a pain. I hope something opens up for you.

Em, ITA. Here's a blogger who offers a similar perspective:

http://triticumturgidum.blogspot.com/2007/...f-illinois.html

It's beautiful, Korshka...and sounds like a very romantic proposal as well. Congratulations!

Agreed. What ever happened to common courtesy, tact, and consideration for the feelings of others? I'm often put off by the belligerent, rude stance some people take, particularly on the Internet.

I think there are, unfortunately, a lot of people who enjoy arguing just for the sake of arguing; and by "arguing" I don't mean intelligent debate. I'm all for expressing opinions in a civil way, sharing ideas and different points of view. Some people seem as though they just want to stir things up or call attention to themselves, and I have very little tolerance for that.

Ugh, K. They sound uptight and annoying.

True "good manners" are about making other people feel comfortable and welcome. I hope, at the very least, that you can be yourself and talk freely with your own parents and family, to make up for the stifling atmosphere at the in-laws'.

We need to do another Chicago meet-n-sniff soon!

Amen, sister. You said it better than I could have.

This kind of crap (an online community or board set up for the sole purpose of bashing another online community) happens all the time, unfortunately. If you read MUA, you probably know about beautybash.net, a board set up for the sole purpose of making fun of MUAers.

The mind boggles, does it not?

I give you extra points for using the word "wanker." Whenever I hear or read that word, it reminds me of "This is Spinal Tap."

Your mom sounds like a very special person. I'm sorry your time with her wasn't longer. From one motherless daughter to another, on this difficult day.

Try not to feel guilty over spending money on BPAL. I know, it's easier said than done, but look at it this way. In a world full of corporate conglomerates (LVMH et al.) and smell-alike, ho-hum department store fragrances, BPAL stands out. It is an independent company with a unique aesthetic, and we have this friendly community where we can chat about it -- and other things. Every time you send money to BPAL for an imp pack, you're supporting all of that.

BTW, if you like LUSH Karma, I'll bet you'd like BPAL Vixen It's very similar.

Oh boy, do I know what you mean about the huge wishlist. I see the list of TALs and I want nearly every one. Never mind that I have no idea how to perform any kind of ritual whatsoever. I just want to anoint myself with things that will bring me health, happiness, money, sex, what have you. I figure I can use all the help I can get!

Do you use all your TALs in a ritualistic way, or do you wear some of them like perfumes?

That is a flattering photo of Kerouac, to be sure. Every year I reread "On the Road" and wish I could have been a part of that generation -- when everything was so fresh and new, when there seemed to be so much promise and potential in the whole counterculture movement.

FWIW, my crush was on Neal Cassady

Kudos to you for undertaking such a task. Writing isn't easy. I've often thought of writing a book myself, but was always stumped by the "What in the heck would I write about?" question. Was it difficult for you to come up with a plot, characters, etc.? Here's hoping you get "unstuck" soon.

I'm so excited to see that somebody (several somebodies) actually read what I wrote, and commented on it. I'm beginning to understand the thrill of blogging Thank you to everyone who replied; your words of wisdom are much appreciated. It's nice to know I'm not alone.

Wow, L., that looks awesome. What a gorgeous cabin.

We just got back from a week-long vacay to Wisconsin -- had a great time. Best part was, we found a sitter so we could go out to dinner one night!

Hope you have a great time. Drop me a line when you get back, if you feel like it, and maybe we can arrange a time for a playdate at the museum or mall