I don't know how to do dots, so I'll use dashes.

--Thanks so much to all for your prayers for Dad. The chemo is in process--no word on whether it's working for at least 10 more days. The latest wrinkle is that the chemo is screwing up Dad's insulin/blood sugar issues, dropping his blood sugar levels in scary ways. He's on top of it though and things so far are proceeding about as the docs said they would. He still can't drive or use his right arm.

--This is music week for me...rehearsal tonight for community chorus, wednesday and thursday for the Gay Men's Chorus, then performances Friday (1 show) and Saturday (2 shows) nights, and the community chorus hoiday concert on Sunday afternoon after church (for which I'm not preaching) and the adult ed. class I have to teach after worship on the Psalms.

--Meetings in December should be banned. Between now and Christmas, I have nine meetings on my calendar and four are in the evening. Luckily, I only chair one.

--I can't seem to find the right blanket to furnace ratio. Why is this so hard? I either fry under covers or wake up cold and coughing. ARGH....perhaps a diet and plastic seals on my windows would help. Has anyone used those plastic sheets you use the blow dryer on to seal your windows? Do they work?

--My car hates me. Leaving chorus rehearsal last night, it did one of those "sheesh it's cold, I think I'll pretend not to be startable" things. Was it a desperate cry for help or is my Subaru mocking me for leaving it outside too often during this cold spell? (It did start eventually, praise be.)

--World Aids Day was last Friday. The most sobering statistic I have seen...40 million currently living with HIV/AIDS, only 1.3 miilion recieving any treatment at all. Shame on us all.

--FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers...Why are they still in charge of what is going on in New Orleans when they're not getting the job done? I don't get it.

--Ever had hot chocolate with vanilla bean and a hint of essence of rose petals in it?...Holy Ambrosia Batman! I know it sounds weird...but WOW!

--Is there a more perfect dessert in the world than the chocolate chip cookie? Seriously. It's portable, it's buttery, and it has chocolate. But why, O why, do people muck it up with nuts? I had one at an AIDS fundraiser on Thursday of last week where an ensemble of the chorus was part of the entertainment. It was divine...and beat the stuffings out of all the mousse desserts that were just too...well...moussey. (But the duck empanadas with mole were primo).

--Memo to self. Next time you are asked to sing a cappella outside in air temps below 25...politely decline or invent throat and sinus warmers.