This is why blogging is so cool - the most interesting people wander by. I don't think he knits, but he writes very well, and cooks and raises orchids! WT McRae I was given an orchid after my husband died, and I'm determined to keep it alive - it's about ready to bloom again. I'm pleased, and if you knew me and house plants (or more accurately, my CATS and house plants) this accomplishment would seem much more significant. I make cranberry orange bread every year too, and it's really, really good - I'm waiting until Christmas for that this time, though, our Thanksgiving is way too small to justify bread when 2 out of 3 of us are allegedly dieting. I used to bake goodies for Beloved Boss's household too, but now he's joined me on the South Beach diet (and promptly dropped ten pounds, damn the male metabolism).


From the Have Yourself a Merry Little Crisis department: My father was transported by ambulance to the state-of-the-art cardiac center that usually tinkers with him, he's having a stent or two installed/replaced. My mother is still holding up well. My inability to master being in two places at once is a source of stress, but so far things appear to be fairly routine in cardiac crisis world. In work world, if I leave I'm abandoning Beloved Boss to prep for mediation in a multimillion dollar case solo. He bravely said I should go if I have to and he really meant it, which is why he's the Beloved Boss of All Time, but I really cannot be of much use over there and I'm needed here. My mother just called and the procedure went well, they're keeping my dad overnight for observation, mostly because it was done so late in the day and they live a good haul from the cardiac center. He'll probably go home tomorrow. I'll check in on the phone and decide as time passes whether it's a good time to make a trip over there. When I do go over there I must be the Reality Grinch and repeat ad nauseam the phrase "Condo in Orlando." Because, no matter what happy horseshit he tells himself when he is gone my mother becomes my job, and I can't do it and keep my day job, and I sort of need the day job because I'm not a friggin' heiress here. Unsentimental and un-girly-girl as it sounds, I am not about to trash the career I am blessed to have to run myself ragged trying to be Wonder Daughter. I just won't do it, I've seen this movie before and the ending always sucks. My mother is in good health and occasionally sound mind, and I know for a fact she can rise to the occasion if someone makes her do it. He won't, so I must. So that's my happy holiday thought right now. It's all very tiring and annoying.