There are definitely good ones available out there, erika. Probably t endless homestate pimpage more in California than AZ, though. t /ehp

Sounds like you two had a beautiful time.

it made me all misty

Just reading about it makes me misty. Wow. This time last year I was waiting for my visa-application interview. I can't believe it's been a year. I can't believe it actually happened. I look at pictures, and I'm wondering what I'm doing inside them.

that I would both cry and laugh while writing it

That's an awesome way to feel about killing a character.

Probably nsm of a story if you are not a blathering fangirl

Um, on an online forum called "Buffistas", I think it's safe to assume people will understand what you mean regarding tv fangirlishness (well, the men may lose the "girl" part). I loved that story!

The water anniversary. Make it happen. You won't be sorry.

JZ, If When somebody is mad enough to not only marry me but stay this way for a whole year, I'll definitely remember that. Especially since, with the amount of water I drink, I already think water is the best thing ever.

I didn't know you had gotten one of the grants, lisah! That's cool.

It was a tremendous help for me considering I had like no money to put down. Pretty much literally. I was such a stress case all that Fall though. I was sure something was going to go wrong and I wouldn't get the house. I wouldn't even call it "my" house until after I opened the door with my own key AFTER settlement.

Oh, god, someone make Client Support stop having a long and tedious and loud argument. My iPod only goes up to 11.

I tasted exactly one brand of American cereals, at Hil's, and I can't remember what it was. They were little rings, and tasty.

Cheerios.

When somebody is mad enough to not only marry me but stay this way for a whole year, I'll definitely remember that.

Nilly, you misspelled smart, and left out blessed. I'm surprised. Usually, your English is perfect. *g*

Sounds like you two had a beautiful time.

It was lovey -- relaxing and mellow and leisurely. The Italian restaurant was perfect, a gorgeous place called Venezia on University Avenue in Berkeley. The interior is laid out and gorgeously painted to look like a little Venetian piazza, complete with a little fountain in the center, balconies and awnings and posters for Italian ice creams (not gelati, but all those oddball sidewalk vendor/pushcart items you can hardly ever find in the US) and a clothesline across the ceiling hung with gauzy fluttery laundry. The food was plainish but very tasty (such good puttanesca) and everything was slow and mellow; it was past 9:30 on a Sunday night when we sat down, and not only did nobody rush us, but when we left the place was still half full. It felt like a late-night dinner in an Italian piazza.

Also, the place was littered with gussied-up recent graduates and their families, and the gentleman at the table next to ours wore a top hat and white silk scarf. Styling!

eta: Caffe Venezia!

Offered without comment:

Italian horses given Viagra boost

I want to know what the horses used to type with when they ordered it over the Internet.