Lives of quiet desperation. One near you!

Update from preschool:

Dear Staff & Families,
I want to express our sincere appreciation for everything that you all have done to help in this unfortunate situation. It is with sad news that I am writing to you today. Last night @ 10:30pm I received a call from Upsorn letting me know she is on her way back to Thailand. She was very sad she has to leave the United States and hopes to return in the future. One good part of this situation is that she will now be reunited with her daughter who I believe is around 13. Upsorn says that as soon as she can return, she will have a new employee for us when she brings her daughter back. It will be a wonderful day when Upsorn can have her whole family together!
I would like also now to address all the donations we have received. We can give the money to Upsorn so she can start over in Thailand (all the attorneys fees are being paid by her brother in law and myself). If anyone would like to have their money returned, please let us know by Monday 9/20 and we will return it to you promptly.
I am extremely sad that this did not turn out as we had all hoped. Upsorn will be writing to us to keep in touch and to keep us updated. I know she will love to hear from each of you as well. Maybe she will have an email that we will be able to communicate together.

In the mean time, again I want to thank you; each and everyone of you, who’s heartfelt love and hard work meant so much to us all, especially Upsorn!

With much love an appreciation,

Denise Tyner
Executive Director

Beach Babies, LLC



*sigh* Well, that's that. Now you know. Two kids here, one kid there. The gallows humor is whispering 'better luck next time' and I'd like to smack it into next week.

Lives of quiet desperation. One near you!

Update from preschool:

Dear Staff & Families,
I want to express our sincere appreciation for everything that you all have done to help in this unfortunate situation. It is with sad news that I am writing to you today. Last night @ 10:30pm I received a call from Upsorn letting me know she is on her way back to Thailand. She was very sad she has to leave the United States and hopes to return in the future. One good part of this situation is that she will now be reunited with her daughter who I believe is around 13. Upsorn says that as soon as she can return, she will have a new employee for us when she brings her daughter back. It will be a wonderful day when Upsorn can have her whole family together!
I would like also now to address all the donations we have received. We can give the money to Upsorn so she can start over in Thailand (all the attorneys fees are being paid by her brother in law and myself). If anyone would like to have their money returned, please let us know by Monday 9/20 and we will return it to you promptly.
I am extremely sad that this did not turn out as we had all hoped. Upsorn will be writing to us to keep in touch and to keep us updated. I know she will love to hear from each of you as well. Maybe she will have an email that we will be able to communicate together.

In the mean time, again I want to thank you; each and everyone of you, who’s heartfelt love and hard work meant so much to us all, especially Upsorn!

With much love an appreciation,

Denise Tyner
Executive Director

Beach Babies, LLC



*sigh* Well, that's that. Now you know. Two kids here, one kid there. The gallows humor is whispering 'better luck next time' and I'd like to smack it into next week.

Lives of quiet desperation. One near you!

Update from preschool:

Dear Staff & Families,
I want to express our sincere appreciation for everything that you all have done to help in this unfortunate situation. It is with sad news that I am writing to you today. Last night @ 10:30pm I received a call from Upsorn letting me know she is on her way back to Thailand. She was very sad she has to leave the United States and hopes to return in the future. One good part of this situation is that she will now be reunited with her daughter who I believe is around 13. Upsorn says that as soon as she can return, she will have a new employee for us when she brings her daughter back. It will be a wonderful day when Upsorn can have her whole family together!
I would like also now to address all the donations we have received. We can give the money to Upsorn so she can start over in Thailand (all the attorneys fees are being paid by her brother in law and myself). If anyone would like to have their money returned, please let us know by Monday 9/20 and we will return it to you promptly.
I am extremely sad that this did not turn out as we had all hoped. Upsorn will be writing to us to keep in touch and to keep us updated. I know she will love to hear from each of you as well. Maybe she will have an email that we will be able to communicate together.

In the mean time, again I want to thank you; each and everyone of you, who’s heartfelt love and hard work meant so much to us all, especially Upsorn!

With much love an appreciation,

Denise Tyner
Executive Director

Beach Babies, LLC



*sigh* Well, that's that. Now you know. Two kids here, one kid there. The gallows humor is whispering 'better luck next time' and I'd like to smack it into next week.

Yes, I believe. I also now believe I'll have another shot of that lovely whiskey, thanks.

If you haven't discussed e_moon60's recent jogging with both feet in mouth, popelizbet has a lovely post today on the item, with additional awesome contributed by yuki_onna, to wit: an entirely Arabic/Muslim issue of Apex is on the way. Normally, I would have an eyebrow cocked at anything that excludes so decisvely as this does, without the editor taking a step or two back as well (let's face it, you're defining who CAN submit by ethnicity/religion here) - and maybe I have - but part of me is so thirsty for this, I'm looking forward to seeing it happen.

There's a passage in the Qur'an that warns its faithful about how the Jews and Christians can't decide amongst themselves what parts of their Bible are to be truly holy or not, so don't pay them much heed in such matters, and not to emulate them. I hope someone takes that up and runs with it.

(What, I got a copy of it after 9/11 and read some of it. You didn't? There's a group that gives them away every year at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books - free. No excuse here.)

BTW, Elizabeth Moon will be addressed as Pookie Moon - just like every Elizabeth in my aquaintance - yes, even you - as I hear my anime friends snickering into their lattes. My friends, my DEAR friends - I have two nieces who bear that name, my older sister has it, one of my grandmothers had it and at the time I last counted, there were over twenty female relatives who bear the name Elizabeth in SOME form. Me? I got Elaine and until I have a daughter, I will be the only one EVER to claim it. I can be angry and insulted, or I can be amusing and nutty. I choose the latter. Pookie Moon is not being singled out for special treatment and I expect her to do what every other Elizabeth has done - assimilate. Let's see what she thinks of that. If it ever has any bearing, of course, which is doubtful.

My experience with mezuzas started with Cedars-Sinai, which has one outside every patient room and once I was taught the respectful way to use one, I've kissed my fingertips and touched them to the device each time before entering the room. I always thought it was a lovely tradition, saw nothing wrong with observing it in deed as well as spirit and if that's cultural appropriation, guilty as charged. I love them. And no, my house does not have one yet. I may think they are cool and wonderful, but I'm not brash enough to assume I can obtain one on my own. Like tarot decks and sake serviceware, these things should be gifted, neh? When one appears, that will be when my house has one.

happy_trekmas. Someone talk me out of this. Worse, help me talk Jim out of this. 9_9

Pie. Pie gooooood. Want pie now.

Wil Wheaton, John Scalzi and Subterranean Press are proud to announce the publication of Clash of the Geeks, a special and fantastical electronic chapbook featuring stories by Wheaton, Scalzi, New York Times bestseller Patrick Rothfuss, Norton Award winner and Hugo Best Novel nominee Catherynne M. Valente, Hugo and Nebula Award nominee Rachel Swirsky and others, for the benefit of the Michigan/Indiana affiliate of the Lupus Alliance of America. The chapbook is free to download, but voluntary payment is strongly encouraged, via Paypal or by tax-deductible donation forms, both linked to later in this entry. All proceeds from this chapbook will go to the Michigan/Indiana affiliate of the Lupus Alliance of America. Please enjoy the stories, link your friends to this page — and give! This is me, chortling happily in the corner - as soon as I can find the bucks, I'll be right there.

Ah yes, the bucks. Who the bleep gives live goldfish away at children's birthday parties as party favors? Yes, yes, they sent me home with a bowl with some gravel in it and a wee bit of food too. Just enough to let the poor wee thing suffocate or be poisoned by chlorinated water the first time it was taken out of the plastic bag (from PETCO AUGH). Kid had it named before we got home with it, so yeah. So not ready for goldfish funerals, guys. I'M NOT DOING IT.

So I'm now the owner (proud, not on your life) of a five-gallon aquariaum and a very scared little goldfish by the name of Fish Boy. PetSmart sold me a $10 airpump to keep him going in the 'traditional' goldfish bowl overnight - he moves into his permanent digs tonight when I get home from work. If the cats didn't discover and snack on him, of course. They didn't yesterday or overnight, so I have hope. I don't know much about the really TOUGH kinds of aquariums, but I do know enough to squick about suffocation in a glorified mason jar.

After spending the day before at the Wild Animal Park in San Diego, mind you. I think I was more than a little tenderized. I'm going to have a hard time explaining to kid why any animal is in a cage 24/7, to be blunt.

So Wil Wheaton and John Scalzi are going to have to wait. Goldfish ate my lunch money.

dracowayfarer went with us Saturday, and took many pictures - right now, we know where the video camera is, but not the still camera. Ugh twice, but there you go. I swear, kid was going to jump out of his skin the first time he saw birds that were not seagulls, sparrows or crows. MOMMYMOMMYMOMMYTHATBIRDHASAREDHEADANDANDAND.... The mammals, yes that's nice - but. BIRDS MOMMY! BIRDS!

We got close enough to a cheetah to smell her. And lions close enough to use them as counting lessons. "How many of them have a bone in their mouth?"

Weather perfect.

Also, San Diego? WTF? One, put the damn phone down if you're going to drive 80 MPH in the slow lane with all your friends, okay? And two, if I'm occupying your screaming child in the mall because you're tired of doing it? You might acknowledge me when I address YOU, not just the fellow yuppie scum who praises your choice in strollers. I'm throwing you a bone, dude. I've got one of those - and yours is pretty awesome too, but I suspect she's more fun when she's not recreating the Exorcist in this year's faboo kiddywagon. Just saying.

Feel like I went to Florida, somewhat.

Went to church Sunday, and the centerfold was about my denomination's efforts to fight Wage Theft (people not getting paid minimum wage, overtime or the like) through three different faith-based justice groups. And the reading was from Luke 16:1-14, which was welcome in the light that in today's CW, you only hear about Christianity in terms of teh gay, teh babies or teh rich peoples telling you what to do, because they rich. Not so much. I love my church. And the best part was how much kid enjoyed it as well and absolutely looked forward to it. For an experience that requires a lot of compliance on his part? That's saying something. And the congregation loves him too - this is a total win.

I'm tired, but it's a good tired. I'll take it.

Yes, I believe. I also now believe I'll have another shot of that lovely whiskey, thanks.

If you haven't discussed e_moon60's recent jogging with both feet in mouth, popelizbet has a lovely post today on the item, with additional awesome contributed by yuki_onna, to wit: an entirely Arabic/Muslim issue of Apex is on the way. Normally, I would have an eyebrow cocked at anything that excludes so decisvely as this does, without the editor taking a step or two back as well (let's face it, you're defining who CAN submit by ethnicity/religion here) - and maybe I have - but part of me is so thirsty for this, I'm looking forward to seeing it happen.

There's a passage in the Qur'an that warns its faithful about how the Jews and Christians can't decide amongst themselves what parts of their Bible are to be truly holy or not, so don't pay them much heed in such matters, and not to emulate them. I hope someone takes that up and runs with it.

(What, I got a copy of it after 9/11 and read some of it. You didn't? There's a group that gives them away every year at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books - free. No excuse here.)

BTW, Elizabeth Moon will be addressed as Pookie Moon - just like every Elizabeth in my aquaintance - yes, even you - as I hear my anime friends snickering into their lattes. My friends, my DEAR friends - I have two nieces who bear that name, my older sister has it, one of my grandmothers had it and at the time I last counted, there were over twenty female relatives who bear the name Elizabeth in SOME form. Me? I got Elaine and until I have a daughter, I will be the only one EVER to claim it. I can be angry and insulted, or I can be amusing and nutty. I choose the latter. Pookie Moon is not being singled out for special treatment and I expect her to do what every other Elizabeth has done - assimilate. Let's see what she thinks of that. If it ever has any bearing, of course, which is doubtful.

My experience with mezuzas started with Cedars-Sinai, which has one outside every patient room and once I was taught the respectful way to use one, I've kissed my fingertips and touched them to the device each time before entering the room. I always thought it was a lovely tradition, saw nothing wrong with observing it in deed as well as spirit and if that's cultural appropriation, guilty as charged. I love them. And no, my house does not have one yet. I may think they are cool and wonderful, but I'm not brash enough to assume I can obtain one on my own. Like tarot decks and sake serviceware, these things should be gifted, neh? When one appears, that will be when my house has one.

happy_trekmas. Someone talk me out of this. Worse, help me talk Jim out of this. 9_9

Pie. Pie gooooood. Want pie now.

Wil Wheaton, John Scalzi and Subterranean Press are proud to announce the publication of Clash of the Geeks, a special and fantastical electronic chapbook featuring stories by Wheaton, Scalzi, New York Times bestseller Patrick Rothfuss, Norton Award winner and Hugo Best Novel nominee Catherynne M. Valente, Hugo and Nebula Award nominee Rachel Swirsky and others, for the benefit of the Michigan/Indiana affiliate of the Lupus Alliance of America. The chapbook is free to download, but voluntary payment is strongly encouraged, via Paypal or by tax-deductible donation forms, both linked to later in this entry. All proceeds from this chapbook will go to the Michigan/Indiana affiliate of the Lupus Alliance of America. Please enjoy the stories, link your friends to this page — and give! This is me, chortling happily in the corner - as soon as I can find the bucks, I'll be right there.

Ah yes, the bucks. Who the bleep gives live goldfish away at children's birthday parties as party favors? Yes, yes, they sent me home with a bowl with some gravel in it and a wee bit of food too. Just enough to let the poor wee thing suffocate or be poisoned by chlorinated water the first time it was taken out of the plastic bag (from PETCO AUGH). Kid had it named before we got home with it, so yeah. So not ready for goldfish funerals, guys. I'M NOT DOING IT.

So I'm now the owner (proud, not on your life) of a five-gallon aquariaum and a very scared little goldfish by the name of Fish Boy. PetSmart sold me a $10 airpump to keep him going in the 'traditional' goldfish bowl overnight - he moves into his permanent digs tonight when I get home from work. If the cats didn't discover and snack on him, of course. They didn't yesterday or overnight, so I have hope. I don't know much about the really TOUGH kinds of aquariums, but I do know enough to squick about suffocation in a glorified mason jar.

After spending the day before at the Wild Animal Park in San Diego, mind you. I think I was more than a little tenderized. I'm going to have a hard time explaining to kid why any animal is in a cage 24/7, to be blunt.

So Wil Wheaton and John Scalzi are going to have to wait. Goldfish ate my lunch money.

dracowayfarer went with us Saturday, and took many pictures - right now, we know where the video camera is, but not the still camera. Ugh twice, but there you go. I swear, kid was going to jump out of his skin the first time he saw birds that were not seagulls, sparrows or crows. MOMMYMOMMYMOMMYTHATBIRDHASAREDHEADANDANDAND.... The mammals, yes that's nice - but. BIRDS MOMMY! BIRDS!

We got close enough to a cheetah to smell her. And lions close enough to use them as counting lessons. "How many of them have a bone in their mouth?"

Weather perfect.

Also, San Diego? WTF? One, put the damn phone down if you're going to drive 80 MPH in the slow lane with all your friends, okay? And two, if I'm occupying your screaming child in the mall because you're tired of doing it? You might acknowledge me when I address YOU, not just the fellow yuppie scum who praises your choice in strollers. I'm throwing you a bone, dude. I've got one of those - and yours is pretty awesome too, but I suspect she's more fun when she's not recreating the Exorcist in this year's faboo kiddywagon. Just saying.

Feel like I went to Florida, somewhat.

Went to church Sunday, and the centerfold was about my denomination's efforts to fight Wage Theft (people not getting paid minimum wage, overtime or the like) through three different faith-based justice groups. And the reading was from Luke 16:1-14, which was welcome in the light that in today's CW, you only hear about Christianity in terms of teh gay, teh babies or teh rich peoples telling you what to do, because they rich. Not so much. I love my church. And the best part was how much kid enjoyed it as well and absolutely looked forward to it. For an experience that requires a lot of compliance on his part? That's saying something. And the congregation loves him too - this is a total win.

I'm tired, but it's a good tired. I'll take it.

Yes, I believe. I also now believe I'll have another shot of that lovely whiskey, thanks.

If you haven't discussed e_moon60's recent jogging with both feet in mouth, popelizbet has a lovely post today on the item, with additional awesome contributed by yuki_onna, to wit: an entirely Arabic/Muslim issue of Apex is on the way. Normally, I would have an eyebrow cocked at anything that excludes so decisvely as this does, without the editor taking a step or two back as well (let's face it, you're defining who CAN submit by ethnicity/religion here) - and maybe I have - but part of me is so thirsty for this, I'm looking forward to seeing it happen.

There's a passage in the Qur'an that warns its faithful about how the Jews and Christians can't decide amongst themselves what parts of their Bible are to be truly holy or not, so don't pay them much heed in such matters, and not to emulate them. I hope someone takes that up and runs with it.

(What, I got a copy of it after 9/11 and read some of it. You didn't? There's a group that gives them away every year at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books - free. No excuse here.)

BTW, Elizabeth Moon will be addressed as Pookie Moon - just like every Elizabeth in my aquaintance - yes, even you - as I hear my anime friends snickering into their lattes. My friends, my DEAR friends - I have two nieces who bear that name, my older sister has it, one of my grandmothers had it and at the time I last counted, there were over twenty female relatives who bear the name Elizabeth in SOME form. Me? I got Elaine and until I have a daughter, I will be the only one EVER to claim it. I can be angry and insulted, or I can be amusing and nutty. I choose the latter. Pookie Moon is not being singled out for special treatment and I expect her to do what every other Elizabeth has done - assimilate. Let's see what she thinks of that. If it ever has any bearing, of course, which is doubtful.

My experience with mezuzas started with Cedars-Sinai, which has one outside every patient room and once I was taught the respectful way to use one, I've kissed my fingertips and touched them to the device each time before entering the room. I always thought it was a lovely tradition, saw nothing wrong with observing it in deed as well as spirit and if that's cultural appropriation, guilty as charged. I love them. And no, my house does not have one yet. I may think they are cool and wonderful, but I'm not brash enough to assume I can obtain one on my own. Like tarot decks and sake serviceware, these things should be gifted, neh? When one appears, that will be when my house has one.

happy_trekmas. Someone talk me out of this. Worse, help me talk Jim out of this. 9_9

Pie. Pie gooooood. Want pie now.

Wil Wheaton, John Scalzi and Subterranean Press are proud to announce the publication of Clash of the Geeks, a special and fantastical electronic chapbook featuring stories by Wheaton, Scalzi, New York Times bestseller Patrick Rothfuss, Norton Award winner and Hugo Best Novel nominee Catherynne M. Valente, Hugo and Nebula Award nominee Rachel Swirsky and others, for the benefit of the Michigan/Indiana affiliate of the Lupus Alliance of America. The chapbook is free to download, but voluntary payment is strongly encouraged, via Paypal or by tax-deductible donation forms, both linked to later in this entry. All proceeds from this chapbook will go to the Michigan/Indiana affiliate of the Lupus Alliance of America. Please enjoy the stories, link your friends to this page — and give! This is me, chortling happily in the corner - as soon as I can find the bucks, I'll be right there.

Ah yes, the bucks. Who the bleep gives live goldfish away at children's birthday parties as party favors? Yes, yes, they sent me home with a bowl with some gravel in it and a wee bit of food too. Just enough to let the poor wee thing suffocate or be poisoned by chlorinated water the first time it was taken out of the plastic bag (from PETCO AUGH). Kid had it named before we got home with it, so yeah. So not ready for goldfish funerals, guys. I'M NOT DOING IT.

So I'm now the owner (proud, not on your life) of a five-gallon aquariaum and a very scared little goldfish by the name of Fish Boy. PetSmart sold me a $10 airpump to keep him going in the 'traditional' goldfish bowl overnight - he moves into his permanent digs tonight when I get home from work. If the cats didn't discover and snack on him, of course. They didn't yesterday or overnight, so I have hope. I don't know much about the really TOUGH kinds of aquariums, but I do know enough to squick about suffocation in a glorified mason jar.

After spending the day before at the Wild Animal Park in San Diego, mind you. I think I was more than a little tenderized. I'm going to have a hard time explaining to kid why any animal is in a cage 24/7, to be blunt.

So Wil Wheaton and John Scalzi are going to have to wait. Goldfish ate my lunch money.

dracowayfarer went with us Saturday, and took many pictures - right now, we know where the video camera is, but not the still camera. Ugh twice, but there you go. I swear, kid was going to jump out of his skin the first time he saw birds that were not seagulls, sparrows or crows. MOMMYMOMMYMOMMYTHATBIRDHASAREDHEADANDANDAND.... The mammals, yes that's nice - but. BIRDS MOMMY! BIRDS!

We got close enough to a cheetah to smell her. And lions close enough to use them as counting lessons. "How many of them have a bone in their mouth?"

Weather perfect.

Also, San Diego? WTF? One, put the damn phone down if you're going to drive 80 MPH in the slow lane with all your friends, okay? And two, if I'm occupying your screaming child in the mall because you're tired of doing it? You might acknowledge me when I address YOU, not just the fellow yuppie scum who praises your choice in strollers. I'm throwing you a bone, dude. I've got one of those - and yours is pretty awesome too, but I suspect she's more fun when she's not recreating the Exorcist in this year's faboo kiddywagon. Just saying.

Feel like I went to Florida, somewhat.

Went to church Sunday, and the centerfold was about my denomination's efforts to fight Wage Theft (people not getting paid minimum wage, overtime or the like) through three different faith-based justice groups. And the reading was from Luke 16:1-14, which was welcome in the light that in today's CW, you only hear about Christianity in terms of teh gay, teh babies or teh rich peoples telling you what to do, because they rich. Not so much. I love my church. And the best part was how much kid enjoyed it as well and absolutely looked forward to it. For an experience that requires a lot of compliance on his part? That's saying something. And the congregation loves him too - this is a total win.

I'm tired, but it's a good tired. I'll take it.