Jean's father passed away last week. He's been sick for quite some time, lung cancer and emphysema. Earlier this year when they opened him up to operate, they found that his tumor had progressed to where it would not be wise to operate, so they stitched him back up.

Earlier this month when I was over at her house, she and I talked about it. Her dad being so sick, and Rob's mom was sick, too (this was the weekend before we went to VA to see his mom before she died), so it was on our minds. I haven't called her yet, though. Liz emailed me the news this morning but said that Jean was still too heartbroken to talk.

Dear Abby says that when someone experiences a loss, well-meaning friends shouldn't say, "Call me if you need anything," but should just show right on up bearing armloads of clean laundry, freezer casseroles and other essentials that the bereaved person may not ask for but still needs. I wasn't raised that way; I'm not sure if I could get up the nerve to show up someplace, uninvited, even though I intend to be helpful and useful.

What do you say, though? How do you tell someone that you love them dearly and really do mean that they should call? Or is Dear Abby right?

Steph is Most Righteous in a hip, 70's sistah kind of way. I admire her tremendously, especially this week wherein she and I discovered that what I thought she knew I meant and what she thought she knew I meant didn't exactly share the same meaning, yet she is graciously and miraculously including my meaning into her mix.

She rocks my world.

We attach herewith the actual conversation on PoP Day (aka Planes of Power). This is the abridged version, but comments have only been inserted to clarify a couple of statements.

Rob says:
Aha!
A Reasonable Facsimile of a Screen Name says:
hmm?
Rob says:
Hiding beind a fake name I see. Comment: Normally my screen name is my own, however Chris showed me how to change it
Rob says:
Best Buy, 9 AM
A Reasonable Facsimile of a Screen Name says:
My son asked me when I was going to change it.
Rob says:
Cutie pie.
A Reasonable Facsimile of a Screen Name says:
I am doing my homework, so if I have time before class, I'll stop in there
Rob says:
flail
A Reasonable Facsimile of a Screen Name says:
I'm not sure how flailing is going to increase faction here Comment: Faction is what goes down when you piss off creatures in EQ. This past weekend, Rob earned negative Wife Faction, hence the buttering up by calling me cutie. Men.
A Reasonable Facsimile of a Screen Name says:
Specially since you won't even BE home tonight to use it. Comment: Rob was schedule to play test a game at Microsoft.
Rob says:
they'll be sold out in 1 hour. sniff
Rob says:
yeah, but they won't get a restock for a month
A Reasonable Facsimile of a Screen Name says:
Then we can order it online.
Rob says:
one of the free software I can pick is Office XP - Standard - Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint Comment: MS gives you free software from the play testing.
A Reasonable Facsimile of a Screen Name says:
ooooooooh
Rob says:
So............................
Rob says:
You could upgrade Office and get rid of that Word problem, I could upgrade EQ. Or I can get the new Links golf game
A Reasonable Facsimile of a Screen Name says:
It's up to you sweetie.
Rob says:
Me? You have plenty of time to get that Planes of Power before I have to choose which freebie to get.
A Reasonable Facsimile of a Screen Name says:
I'm going to do my homework first. All shopping and no homework make Tracy fail her classes
Rob says:
*snort* a D is passing.
A Reasonable Facsimile of a Screen Name says:
Not for a student on financial aid

Hours later, I return home to find this:

Rob says:
http://www.fleetmack.com/~maddox/irule.html
Rushing out to buy Planes of Power for goober husband says:
You obviously have too much time on your hands if you can find artwork being appraised on the internet.
Rob says:
Actually Mel had it using my pc while I ewas at lunch
Rushing out to buy Planes of Power for goober husband says:
Mmhmm.
Rob says:
You didn't mention the game Comment: Not, how's your day? How was class? but right to the heart of the matter. Rob loses more Wife Faction. :)
Rushing out to buy Planes of Power for goober husband says:
Oh. You know how many stores I went to today? Started at Best Buy. The guy's like, "Planes of Power? Is that some kind of electrical equipment?" Followed by a trip to his manager that ended with, "No there's no ship date for it; we think they may send them out on Friday." Exit Best Buy.
Store 2 - Walmart. Yes, you said your friends said they were all out, but this is Federal Way. How many Walmart shoppers who play EQ could there be? Apparently, lots. Lots of empty space on shelf labeled "New! Just Released!" Not only no store clerks, but no expansion. Exit Walmart.
Store 3 - Toys R Us. Why not? They're near Walmart and have a video section. I arrive to find the store guy unloading big boxes of games -- could I be so lucky??? No. Apparently not. They don't have it, he says, why don't I try Best Buy? Exit Toys R Us.
Store 4 - Target. Why not? It's in the same parking lot as Toys R Us, and they sell computer games. Lots of games, mostly marked down to 9.99. I ponder over Mah Jong and decide if I buy it, what will you then buy me for Xmas? No, they didn't have Planes of Power. Exit Target.
Store 5 - SeaTac Mall. I figure, it's a MALL. There are several shops. I might get lucky and find EQ. I head right to Electronics Boutique, which I must say is where I was going to go in the FIRST PLACE only my husband INSISTED I go to Best Buy, and he's unpacking a box of Planes of Power. I hover anxiously. He asks, "Did you pre-order your copy?" I say no. He says, "Oh. Hmm."
He labels a couple more boxes then glances at the delivery box they came from. "Well, you're in luck...we'll have about six copies left after I mark all the pre-orders. Did you want one?" "Yes!" I cry.
So, *I* have a copy of Planes of Power, including a Fariona Vie collectible figurine.

And after all this, I encounter my cherub online who notes my new screen name and says, "Did you get one for us?" Men.

I can't believe this. My dear, sweet husband wants me to drop everything and RUSH out to Best Buy because Planes of Power is out. ::flail:: Men.

Writing class: currently getting a C.

C!!?!! ARGH!!! (sorry about that, but boy, I'm feeling MIGHTY steamed!)

Astronomy: currently getting an A-.

Dunno about the paralegal classes, as we haven't taken any exams or anything yet.

As I told Rob last night, bursting into tears (it's that melodramatic time of the ... well, anyway) this writing class thing hurts me to the core in a different way than Math did because a) I knew I know nothing about math and expected it to be difficult and b) I think I write pretty well and to get a C is degrading and horrifying.

I have never gotten a C in any writing class before in my entire life. This includes grade school, mind you. I are good at righting. ;)

The only smidge of comfort I take is that another student posted a farewell to the classroom on our board, and when I emailed him privately to wish him well, some of the things he told me that had driven him from the class are the same things that I'm experiencing now.

So, perhaps it's not me and it is the teacher. I hope this small bit of comfort tides me over in the event the teacher does not see fit to grade my papers appropriately ;)

Love and peace and hugs to everyone. I wish I were in sunny so'Cal this week.

How admirable, Suz2! She's going to do this:

I wish school weren't so hectic or I'd give it a go too. School, life, stuff.

Hey! Maybe I could write a novel about a girl who's going to school and who has all these writing projects due and show each project in progress!

My projects: An in-depth review of Christina Rosetti. An essay for famiy law any subject (I chose to argue that biological donors in a surrogacy should not have legal rights once they've donored). A legal briefing about an auto accident where a cop smashes into a restaurant and the restaurant owner is suing for damages. Various papers each week related to astronomy.

Aieee!

PS: I love you, Cosmic Twin.

I'm going to apply for a part time position with Literacy*AmeriCorps. The work site is down the street from where we live. In this center, I'd be working with adults who need assistance in reading.

When I was little, I wanted to be a teacher. I wanted to explain stuff to people and see the 20-watt bulb go off in their heads. Then I got older and felt I hadn't enough patience to do well at it, so I let the dream go. Now that I'm older, and having met several teachers on an adult level, I think I have the patience to teach.

Also, I often feel moved to want to do something for others, to help out in some way. But my personal squeamishness over things like blood, dirt and bugs keeps me from wanted to say, go work in a third world country or become a nurse. I don't much like sharp, pointy things. Reading, however, is joy.

And so, hopefully they'll select me and I'll be able to spend some of my time without work doing something useful. The added attraction is that this particular position also pays a stipend, which will help me and Rob as my unemployment benefits draw down, and they also provide funds to repay student loans, which I now have. So, it started out altruistically, but I admit that the little bit of money (and it's really not much) is also incentive. Their application though runs to 23 pages and I need two references to fill out these forms. ::sigh::

Reading SPAM Haiku
Caused me to laugh aloud, but,
Husband not amused

Vacuuming in space. Astronomy is an interesting science.

Owl Pellets are updated to include a few more interesting places I like to wander through on the internet.

School is going relatively smoothly. As expected, astronomy is the most difficult course; the workload is incredible. :(

Well, the third time wasn't the charm at the school district; once more, they selected someone else. Although the director who called me said she purposely called when she knew I'd be home as she wanted to tell me herself rather than leave a message.

So, I dunno. It seems odd to make such a favorable impression and still not be picked.