Rebecca, part of Rochelle, and the Queen of the House

I'll try again tomorrow but they're both such good pictures of Rebecca I decided to put them on. She's half asleep, having fought her way through 4 pages of Distributive Properties. We started as soon as they returned from Harry Potter at 7:00 and called it quits at 9:00 (bedtime) with one problem unfinished.

I have discovered the new multiplication. It takes at least 6 separate operations and half a page of paper to multiply 7 X 30. ??? I did them all in my head and we worked backward from the solution until we figured out what they were trying to tell us.

I wouldn't mind it so much if anyone would explain how this will be helpful later in life.

The four legged creature is named Spunky and she runs the house. She's about 6 or 7 now. She came wandering in as a kitten and decided she lived here. Right now, she's sleeping on my pillow. She looks black and white in the photo but she's a lovely shade of grey and white. Small, but healthy. Good kitty except where chicken is concerned and then she cannot be trusted.

I just went over and took a picture. If it comes out and the bed isn't too wrecked from kids crawling all over it, I'll stick it on here. Otherwise I'll try tomorrow.

I didn't realize today was Aids Awareness day when I was talking about my poster earlier. I hadn't turned on the t.v. (too busy) or really checked on email for the same reason. I think I was so close to it in San Francisco that I don't need a special day to remind me. However, I'm grateful that we're still paying attention. A lot has been done in the last 20 years but it's still an epidemic and a worldwide tragedy.

I can't remember whether I said it here or in a personal email but Jim & Tim's dad first became terminally ill about the same time that people began dying of the mysterious illness which eventually became known as AIDS. If I did, it was some time ago and maybe repeating myself won't be so bad.

I was much more active in AA than I am now and I began attending a "gay" AA meeting close to our home. I will never forget their love and compassion as they were trying to deal with the tragedy surrounding them. They carried me and the boys through five years. One of my dearest friends and his partner (the ones who went to the ball game with us) slept on my kitchen floor the last two nights of my husband's life. They were with us constantly. I owe them more than I can ever repay.

In that time, I watched many of my dear friends become ill and too many die. It's better now but not good enough. It won't be enough until the last trace of this loathsome virus is wiped from the face of the earth.

This started out as a cheerful little squib about Rebecca, Harry Potter, and once again the bizarre educational system I sidetrack easily.

They loved Harry Potter and told me it was sad. I'm waiting for the dvd so I'm not allowing them to tell me about it. I read the book some time ago but I don't remember that much so it will be new to me when I finally see it.

Tomorrow a rainy vigil, Saturday the Santa parade and the Gay Men's Chorus in Modesto.

Good night all.