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A quick bump.. See above for details.

We've had a few more donations in the past few weeks.  Thanks to all who have contributed!

Lovely, Jesse.  Kisses to you and Missy and Laurel!

My beautiful cousin Denise gave birth to her son Dylan just three weeks ago.  Denise is one of my very favorite people, and we're all so happy for her and her husband Marcos.

I might be expelled from San Francisco for saying this, but I love New York City.  This time of year, I'd love to be in a chilly place, wandering the streets, absorbing all that energy.

While watching PBS.

Ha!

My mom has always been incredibly loving, none of us were short-changed there, but when we were growing up, we sisters always felt that our brother was her favorite.  It's very much an Irish mother thing, I think.  My nieces also recognize that their brother is Granny's pet.  It's frustrating that she refuses to recognize/admit that she's doing it.

The Pogues

It's either this or Mariah Carey.

It's a fun thing to hear somebody else wrangle about the nutritional benefits of dark chocolate almonds.

I work at a chocolate factory and I convince myself of these facts very often.

Sometimes, I try to eat healthier: chocolate covered raisins.

Every time I give blood, my iron level is just on the bubble, so they always tell me to eat more almonds and raisins.  I figure the chocolate covered versions have just as much iron...

As far as I know, there is no such thing as chocolate covered spinach.  Yet.

Lately, I'm loving dark chocolate-covered almonds.  They taste totally decadent, but I can convince myself that the protein and fiber and antioxidants add up to where it's practically like taking vitamins.

And since I'm always trying to consume less caffeine (except for the chocolate!), and because it's always crazy cold in my office in the morning, a nice mug of green tea is hitting the spot these days.

 I really want to just get on with it and begin the new year. it's been a difficult year and I'll be happy to see it go.

I know that feeling.  You'll get through it.  

My mom and I were in a book store this weekend, I saw this on a calendar, laughed, and showed it to her:

She said "oh honey, think about the happy things".

My mom is not the least bit depressive, but she knows it's an issue for me.  I had thought this was funny, but then I just got sad that she worries about me like that.  I wanted to tell her that no, the holidays are kind of my happy place.  Of all my problems, holiday blues aren't even on the list!  

I am thankful for my dad.  Both of my parents have been great, but I have a real bond with my dad.  We play tennis together.  We go to football and baseball games together.  He has been unbelievably patient with me and others in my family.  He is wise and generous.  He can be annoyingly obtuse about lots of things, but he has always been there for me, as has my mother.  But I feel like the bond I have with my dad is the closest.  I have twins.  Eight years old, a boy and a girl.  If I can foster the kind of relationship I have with my dad with either one, all the struggles I've had in this life will have been worth it.

(I may have told this story here before...)

My dad passed away last April.  When he was sick, he said "I just hope I was a good daddy", and we all said, practically in unison "you were the best daddy".  My sisters and I (there are 4 of us, plus one brother) were discussing that later, and I said that probably the best thing he did for us (out of many wonderful things) was that all of us felt, and any of us could have made a good argument for it, that we were his favorite.

So make that your goal.  They should both believe that they're your favorite.

My mom.  She is the most thoughtful person I know, and has more energy at 72 than I had at 22 (not to mention how little I have now at 46!).

I was recently telling a friend that my mom is very hard to buy gifts for, and my friend asked if my mom has any hobbies.  The first thing that came to mind was "she just really likes doing nice things for other people."  

Flick, it's OK not to be hap-hap-happy this time of year.  I know you're a giving person year-round, I think whoever suggested taking the day to have some peaceful time to yourself has it right.

http://youtu.be/JBHMwB3x2ho

Finished the first two Hunger Games books, in the lead-up to the second movie coming out this weekend.

Also finished the first two volumes of Saga, and now I'm not the least bit happy that there were only two, and the third volume likely won't come out until next year!

Also:

which I enjoyed right up until a very disappointing ending.

Now:

 and 

A lot of YA there.  Telegraph Avenue might be my only concession to actual adult literature between now and the end of the year.

I like to give the benefit of the doubt and I always say that we dont know the whole story... But if you're asking for money cuz you're "homeless" you should at least look the part. 

St. Anthony's here runs a clothing program.  Anyone who wants to can go in once a month and get a complete set of clothes.  I volunteered in the sorting room for a while, you wouldn't believe the really silly, expensive stuff that gets donated.  Barely worn shoes are the best-case scenario, but people donate party dresses, swim suits, all kinds of nonsense.  If that guy got a nice pair of sneakers from a program like this, and some drunk dude out on a Friday night handed him a pair of Oakleys... it's not too hard to see how someone wouldn't look the part, but still couldn't make rent.

And there's a Wilca mention! Talk about old-school VC.

Oh, I'll have to listen now!  Very cool!

The tents have been gone for a while.  Were you around for "care not cash"?  That was the city's attempt to get everyone into some form of housing; it didn't quite work the way it was intended, but it did clear out some of the most "unsightly" symptoms of homelessness.  St. Anthony's is still here (I can see that from my desk, too!), so there's always a line there at lunchtime, but they do some of the best work in the area, with substance abuse programs, job training, housing for the elderly, etc.

My first NG novel (surprisingly).

I liked that very much, but oddly, had no desire to read any other Neil Gaiman.  I also tried Sandman, and wasn't crazy about it, just meh (I know I'm mostly on my own with that opinion!).

Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday, so it can fall anywhere from the 22nd to the 28th.  This year is the latest that Thanksgiving can be, if it was the 22nd, there would be a whole 'nother week of November, between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Occasionally, but not very often - I donate more to homeless/runaway shelters.

Yup.

20+ years ago, I used to have a very early commute through San Francisco. The bus from Marin put me at 7th & Market 30 mins before the 1st BART. I remember walking out of a McDonalds eating an EggMcMuffin. I wasn't asked for money that morning, just a bite of my food. I had to simply give my food away, because this person was Hungry. .

I work at this corner (I can see your bus stop from my desk, right now!!).  Not much has changed, although Twitter has just moved in down the street, everyone is expecting big things...

Some days, I think I'd prefer the homeless to the obnoxious young techies.

I'm generally a "not until after Thanksgiving!!!!" person, but yeah, maybe it's the late Thanksgiving, for some reason I'm totally fine with starting early this year.  

My family (aunts, uncles, cousins, about 30 in all) do a big pick-a-name gift exchange every year.  My sisters dread it, but I'm already thinking of ideas for what to give different people.  I'll probably end up buying at least 20% of the total gifts given in the exchange, as per usual.  

http://youtu.be/Jb_tdUN2uiI

Rather than make myself crazy all at once when the site comes up for renewal next time, I'm going to bump this request for donations now, and see if we can get a steady stream and maybe even earn a little interest in the next year and a half.  I've quoted some of the most pertinent info from the earlier posts in this thread, but please feel free to go back to the top and read through it again, or let me know if you have any questions.

And as always, those of you who can and have helped out, it is greatly appreciated. If you can't right now, please keep us in mind the next time you have an extra couple of bucks.

First, you can donate directly by clicking here.

 

That'll take you straight to a PayPal page, where you can make a donation in any amount, using your paypal account or a credit card (if anyone would prefer to donate by check or any other method, please PM me).

 

If you'd like to click on the "add message" option when making your donation to let us know your VC screen name, we'll confirm by PM that we've received your donation.  (I've been bad about getting back to people lately; if you donated and didn't hear back from me, please PM me and I'll confirm that we received your generous donation.) 

 

 

We're also offering t-shirts, through the Via Chicago Store on zazzle.com, at http://www.zazzle.com/viachicagostore* (apparently we get extra $ if you shop though that exact address, with the asterisk at the end).

So:  if you enjoy BSing on VC, if it's where you hear about new music or get a chance to talk to like-minded music fans about your favorite older stuff, if it's useful to you to swing by and try to buy/sell extra tickets, if you appreciate Analogman keeping us updated on what's available for download... please think about making a donation, and please don't feel you have to limit yourself to that $5 suggested donation above. 

 

And please keep in mind that if funds are tight right now, but you'd be able to donate in a few months or a year down the road, that donation link is always active.      So feel free to jump in at any time, because after we renew this summer, we'll be starting fresh for next time.  Donations are always welcome and highly appreciated!

I can't believe she's so grown up.  I still think of her being the size of those little superheroes!