debutaunt.com

Austin Loves Us

Zoe and I had a lovely time in Austin with my friend Mr. D, Sis #3 and her main dude. I also got to see Bro #2 and Bro #3. I really love my siblings. They are all so unique and interesting.

I love Austin. I miss my old haunts. It's changed quite a bit, but I still find it just very cool. It was great to see all the old places I used to relax or work out, eat, listen to music. Yes, it's changed a bit too much for me, but I still adore it. I feel very at home there.

I think until I can figure out exactly where I will end up, San Antonio will remain our home.

We hit Trudy's, Amy's Ice Cream, Z-Tejas Grill, Zilker Park, the Children's Museum, a kid's festival, and saw lots of my old stomping grounds. Zoe learned a scary lesson (and even apologized). We were down by Deep Eddy pool and the playground. We went for a little walk and she was on her bike. She got really far ahead of us, but then when we got to the top, we had no idea which way she went.

We waited for a while, but she never appeared. So I had to call the cops and asked a few passers-by if they had seen her. One nice soul took down my phone number and went off to find her (I had to wait for the park police). Eventually she was spotted down near riverside and Lamar and the kind stranger returned her to me. She wasn't even afraid. She had gone out in search of the "dog park." But later on she told me that she was afraid and was asking people if they had seen *me* because *I* was lost. I said a few prayers, but I wasn't horribly nervous. I did burst into tears for a minute, but I had a feeling she would come back to me. The police were really quick to respond. And Zoe was easily recognizable.

Pink Hello Kitty helmet. Barbie bike. Pink paisley halter top. Blue jean mini. And the coolest black cowgirl boots ever seen. I wish I had a pair just like them.

I wish I could have all my favorite things in one city. My parents. My siblings. My hospital. My friends. My favorite places. My Zoe. Zoe's school. And my gym.

Zoe now has a new favorite home - Sis #3 has a wii. Zoe was loving it. She would rather wii than eat, sleep, play Barbies or eat candy. I tried it out and it's totally cool. I told her if she earned half the cost, I might be willing to get one for her (if I can find one). I did have a blast and it was fun because you aren't just sitting there. You can play tennis, bowling, baseball or boxing. She looked so damn funny playing it. Zoe and Sis #3 even would do a victory dance exactly the same. Too too cute. I can't wait to go back. The drive was pretty easy for me.

Anyway, still cleaning and writing letters now.

I can do this. Zoe had an angel watching over her.

Your assignment today is to enjoy something related to Spring. We have been watching the storms come in and Zoe enjoyed helping Momo plant some beautiful Spring flowers. It's been some nice picnic and park weather, even if it is still a little hot. I kicked my cold, but have some residual allergies and I think I now do have GVH of the skin. I can't get rid of this dumb damn rash. But I'm here. And I feel great.

I miss you internets. I miss my Brenda. I'm sure we all do.

Keep me ad free

New links on the right side.

I don't want to become some ad whore. It gets annoying if there are too many ads on a blog. I stop visiting those sites.

Nuff said.

Will post soon. Cleaning up my room today and paying bills.

edited to add:

I don't pay rent now that I'm at casa debu_parents. I get disability from Social Security and that helps, but often my meds, bills and medical bills push me near the entire sum every month. I'm looking into some options to earn some extra dough though. Hopefully they will work out.

I do know that there is no way I can live on my own yet on this income. But I have a few medical out of pocket bills that I'd just like to totally pay off. I hate to be in debt. We are belt-tightening around here, but it'd be nice to have some extra savings for when or if I should need it.

Also, I'd like to keep fundraising, so it would help if I didn't have to work and could expend energy on that totally. I sure would love to find a job where I could do that full time. If I can get enough people to join Team Zoe, then perhaps I could convince them that it would be a good national school program to help the Light the Night efforts.

Just a few 'splanations. I hate to ask, but it would be nice to be able to do something good for humanity vs. serving some corporation who doesn't give a damn about me. I had enough years of that.

A Half of a Half of a Half

Zoe has befriended our next door neighbor's dog, Sophie. Sophie's owner Miss Mary was outside yesterday and we were talking a little. She had this convo with Zoe:

Mary: Zoe, your last name is Italian?

Zoe: Yes. I'm half Italian and half Catholic.

Can you Digg It?

Headed to Austin tomorrow. Just me and Z. I've been cleaning up and doing paperwork. Paid my stupid speeding ticket this afternoon and will be taking defensive driving. I don't often have a lead foot, but there was so little traffic that afternoon that I just was speeding without noticing.

Zoe has been back at it with soccer. We played soccer Sunday and it was raining. Not hard, mind you, but enough to where we got pretty wet. I had an umbrella, but Zoe played a lot and turned into a mudball.

I am too tired to even write, much less see this post. My cold is better, but I crave sleep.

Night. I'll write more later. I'm missing y'all!

Shop For a Cure

And look so cute to boot!

A really great friend of Team Zoe at Sunny Rising Leather is going to sell these gorgeous necklaces with half the proceeds going to Team Zoe.

There are four different ones in the line:

Cancer Warrior
I can do this
Team Zoe

And a really cool one that you can put a name on to state who you are walking/running for.

She also has some really beautiful belts, necklaces and earrings. I saw a skull and crossbones one and I thought it would be perfect for Dawn, the Clumsy Cajun.

I love all of Allison's stuff. So pretty.

I've been ok. I still have this funky funky cold. And I really am sad because I was going to Houston to meet these fun blog bitches. (They call themselves that, so s'ok). It's been a while since I've been out just to have fun, so I am really really bummed out. But I wake up and feel horrible. I may even need to see a doc about this one. Damnit! I need to get back to the gym, but not when I'm typhoid Mary.

I've just been reading and watching movies. Babel with Brad Pitt was good. He had one scene in there that made me tear up. I wish he had never gotten with Angelina Jolie. She seems like such a freak, and he really is a pretty good actor.

We got some amazing donations yesterday from Illinois Deb. Zoe was like... WOAH! We dropped off another $100 at the LLS office and they said they were so glad we were fundraising. I am too. *smooches* to Deb from Zoe and me. I added your friend's name to www.teamzoe.net.

Anyway, lots to do here.

I can do this. Zoe is a bona fide, reading, bird-talking machine.

Your assignment for today is to:
a) Join Team Zoe if you are in Houston or San Antonio - get your kids involved and teach them that they can really make a difference. A lot of scouts and older kids get service points too. Besides, the fundraising with LLS is really pretty easy & so is signing up.

b) If you aren't in one of those cities, but want to have a Team Zoe in your city, sign up as your city's team - e.g. "Team Zoe - Atlanta;" Just let me know before you do it, as there are a few people who have expressed interest in forming a team in their city. I don't have a Team Zoe - Dallas yet, but I bet Dallasks' own Nik would be a great leader for that. *hint hint* Zoe said if kids start a team in their city, they can make up their own titles.

c) There is a Team Zoe - Austin already, but I don't know if they have done the set up just yet to let people join the team. My niece Katy is the captain of that one. It is on October 13, I believe.

d) Spread the word. I have gotten a few add as friends for my myspace page. If you email jokes, send people the Team Zoe link with the joke.

e) Sponsor us - even $5 is cool. $1 is cool with me. I love $1 donations. If everyone who read this even gave $1, that would be a lot of money!

Thanks to the latest donations:
Team Debutaunt - $2,242
Team Zoe - San Antonio - $1,296 - not too shabby for a seven year old!!!

We are already over what we raised last year!! Thank you all soooo much!

I'm missing you, Brenda, but I do feel your presence. I really do.

Ok. I'm sure you've seen this... but

I removed this video, but if you want to see it, send me an email.

I *heart* Will Ferrell

Liviu Librescu. Amazing

Article from Tom Head,
Your Guide to Civil Liberties.

Liviu Librescu: Holocaust Survivor and Hero of the Virginia Tech Massacre

Yesterday, April 16th, 2007, gave us the deadliest spree killing in U.S. history. Some in the political world have already begun to call for policy changes in response to the shooting. Most of these suggested changes have obvious civil liberties implications, and I will have more to say about them later today and over the coming week.

But there is a story that has come out of the shooting that is, I feel, more immediately pertinent. It is the story of Liviu Librescu, a 76-year-old Romanian-American Holocaust survivor:

The e-mails from grateful students arrived soon after Liviu Librescu was shot to death, telling how the Holocaust survivor barricaded the doorway of his Virginia Tech classroom and saved their lives at the cost of his own ...

"My father blocked the doorway with his body and asked the students to flee," Librescu's son, Joe Librescu, said Tuesday in a telephone interview from his home outside Tel Aviv. "Students started opening windows and jumping out."

"Holocaust survivor dies on Holocaust Remembrance Day" would have been a tragic and ironic headline. But for a Holocaust survivor to voluntarily give up his own life on Holocaust Remembrance Day to save the lives of others, during the worst spree shooting in American history, is deeply poignant. It is a connection between the past and the future--a reminder of the countless heroes of the Holocaust, whose stories for the most part will never be told, who gave up their lives to save the lives of others. Perhaps a child named Liviu Librescu survived the Holocaust, in part, because someone made such a decision. We may never know.

When Israel created Holocaust Remembrance Day in 1951, it was intended to commemorate both the Holocaust and the Warsaw uprising--in which Jewish residents of the Warsaw ghetto successfully resisted Nazi deportation for 27 days. The day commemorates the tragedy of the Holocaust, certainly, but it also commemorates the courage of those who attempted to resist it. As we look back on April 16th, 2007--and we undoubtedly will--we should see to it that the name of Liviu Librescu is remembered more clearly, and with far greater reverence, than the name of the pathetic Virginia Tech shooter.
-------------------

I won't post anything about scumbag murderers in my blog. I hope that we all can remember Professor Librescu for a long time.

Thanks for the email about this.

Random Day

I got a speeding ticket on the way home from Houston in Seguin Texas. Too much jammin in my SUV and I wanted to get home to see my Zoe. 84 in a 70. OUCH! No clue I was going that fast.

I have to re-do my taxes. Yay. I get to pay $60 this year even though I didn't work a lick last year. Long story caused an early withdrawal on my 401k (accidental), so I got a penalty and fee. Sucketh.

I have a bad cold I think. Gross. I'm gross. And my nose keeps bleeding. I am grossing myself out. I need some rest.

I am long overdue for a vacation. My friend Sugarsnit is getting married in June in GA and I really want to go. I think Zoe might be in NY then (she goes for six weeks). I hope I can figure out how to pull that off. Snit is awesome.

I am so unfocused right now. So much to do.

I am in for the day. I have a bunch of movies and want to stay in bed.

I miss my Brenda D.

I can do this. Even full of this cold, I'm still movin.

Your assignment for today is to go to www.teamzoe.net and read some of it. I know I have to change up a few things, but I usually work on the site in the wee hours and sometimes I miss a lot. If you sell stuff or have a site you'd like to promote, let me know. I'd be happy to add a link.

So Much Grace

I'm going to talk about dying again.

Because I'm just fucking sick of it. And no, I'm not going to apologize for my language because, well, I just am fucking fucking fucking sick of it.

There is no word in the English language that can convey the anger I feel about cancer except fuck and all its variations. So if you don't like it, well I'm sorry for that, but it's my blog and using that word is the only way I can exactly say how I feel about this. So with that said...

A year ago, the word Grace meant so much to me. It was to be the name of a child I dreamed of adopting with someone I loved enormously. It was our secret. I mean really way bigtime secret. I don't think I ever even spoke of it much less wrote about it to anyone except for him.

It was a dream. And just the word Grace would make me smile. It was a hope that we wished for and longed for. It was special to me because it meant a future. Life after cancer, and that I could and would get through this. That one day I could feel "normal" again. That I actually was going to *have* a future.

Brenda died today.

I know people say "she's at peace," and "she's in a better place," but I'm sorry, no one really is at peace with dying. Brenda most certainly didn't want to die. She was afraid. She was really scared. We talked about that often. Like a lot. But you put on a brave face for everyone else, for your loved ones, your children, your medical team. You have to. You feel obligated to fight and be strong and be brave. "She died from a long battle with cancer..."He was strong up until the end..."

You put on a brave face for yourself. And you psych yourself up like an athlete. I AM CANCER WARRIOR. While basically you are still scared shitless. Anyone who has/had cancer knows this. At least once (most likely more) you know death intimately. And even year(s) later, you still live with its shadow. Yes, everyone will die someday. But with cancer, you feel like you have a target on your back and you are being hunted down. You can dodge and jive, but you just pray and hope and wince that you don't get pegged again.

I'm sure Brenda came to terms with the fact that she was going to die. She didn't have a choice.

"At peace" makes everyone else feel comfortable. I will NEVER be at peace with dying. I want to live until I'm old and senile and just plain ready to get the hell off this earth.

And as for a "better place?" No. A better place would be Brenda. Healthy and living with her husband and two boys. Visiting me and drinking margaritas on the Riverwalk. Looking for the basement of the Alamo. Living the exuberant life she did. For a long long time. Yes, of course, anything is a better place than being in a hospital, struggling to breathe, swollen, sick, knowing that you will be dying soon. Your body completely betraying you. Knowing you will be gone and having no idea for sure when it will happen. That's a horrible place to be.

With cancer, you can cope or not cope. Either way, usually you have to go through treatment and you can deal with it or you can freak out. You don't make peace with anything. After a while, after you freak out from the initial shock of what is happening at that particular time, you just resolve that "it is what it is." It's not peace. It's more of a truce. Or a concession.

I'm not at peace with the fact that I will never look like Heidi Klum. But I deal with that. Because "it is what it is." And no amount of plastic surgery, exercise, or dieting will ever make me look like the Auf Queen of Project Runway.

The only "better" about Brenda dying is that she will no longer have to literally be drowning from lack of lung capacity. I believe there is a Heaven. And I know Ms. B is there. So for *my* own peace of mind, I imagine her running around. I picture here in her Team in Training gear. I'm sure she is probably introducing herself to everyone as she is quite the social butterfly.

I'm not at peace with Brenda dying. I'm frustrated and sad and angry.

But you know why God made me so stubborn? Because I'm not done literally shouting from this space about how much cancer fucking sucks and how it should be smitten from the Earth. This is not about me. Don't feel sorry for me or sad for ME. I knew Brenda from the internets. I knew her well, but I had never even met her. She was my secret sister. She was my solid. And she is and will always be my purpose. As will Sarah and Nikki, and Clem, and Paula and Ashley, and Kadin and Joseph and Nick and Uncle Roy and all the others that I have grown to know and love and cherish. All the others that WE have lost.

Fuck you, cancer. You may take me one day, but I will fight like a motherfucker to beat you down like that cowardly fuck you are.

I'm sad, but I am driven. And I know Brenda wouldn't want me to be sad. She'd want me to keep fighting so her struggle and pain and fear and her family's sacrifice wasn't in vain. Her illness and now her death only strengthens our resolve. She has inspired many people to continue her legacy to find a cure. To kick cancer's ass.

Brenda sent me an angel today. I got an email from Allison Sattinger. She sent me one before, but my spam-grabber nabbed it I guess. It was so kind and came right when I was crying really hard. When I first found out about Brenda, Zoe was right here. So I had to keep what little composure I could resurrect. So when Zoe fell asleep, and I started writing and internetting, I just really cried. A lot.

Allison is a lurker *hiya,* but literally has the voice of an angel. She told me I should listen to her tune, "So Much Grace." So I did. About 14 times. And it is complicated and lovely. I am now a fan for life, but that song made me feel that Brenda was reading as I was writing. Telling me what to say. And to tell me and everyone else that it will be ok. That we can do this. She was always so positive about going through this together.

And I still am crying, but I will be ok. For I am The Debutaunt. I am mother of the magical Zoe, the bird talker. I am Debster, Debuma, the Queen of the Universe and the Queen of Delft. I am a survivor. And I am a warrior. I have no choice.

I can do this. I feel you, Brenda. You and Sarah and Nikki are the trifecta of awesome. I love you.

No assignment today. Just speak.

If you would like a link on www.teamzoe.net, just let me know. I've added a section for my Team in Training lovlies. Zoe is amazingly at over $650 now. And we are barely getting started. I even started working on a dorky myspace page. "Friend me - wheeee!!!" But it's a great way to communicate and link to others and spread the word. If it helps us raise $10, I'll be thrilled.

P.S. I love you Dad.

Brenda

She's dying.

I got a text message that said, "I've gone to a better place" yesterday around 1 pm. Then I got another one right after that said, "Goodbye."

I burst into tears. Hey, wait. I'm not ready for this. I have a package in my car that we were going to send to her. I was just working on more things to put in there. I wanted to go visit her because she lives near my beloved Aunt Ikey. I needed to meet her. It's too soon. This can't be happening. She is my secret sister. She is my solid.

I checked out her blog, and it's true. Her lungs have given up. She posted an amazing post. I have no idea where she draws her strength. I don't have an update today, but a friend said she was in good spirits and surrounded by her family and a favorite nurse. They told her a day or two. I don't even want to think about it anymore.

Brenda, I love you. I wish you peace. I will see you running and smiling in my dreams. You will always be my purpose.

I can't write anymore. The words just hurt to see.

I can do this. It's just not a choice.

Happy Easter from Zoe

[Zoe translator - aka Mom isn't good at shooting 30 second videos]
Awake, arise and rejoice
This is the day of the Lord
Awake, arise and rejoice
Open the gates with the song

We come to give thanks and praise to the lord
we come to give praise
we come to give praise

I Love House

Official Seal Generator

Freaky Easter

When my sisters and I were little and it was cold, we used to say Brrrr Rabbiter. And this Easter, that is entirely appropriate.

This was Zoe yesterday at the park. We were there over 3 hours and she biked, played soccer, caught bugs, climbed trees, ran around and played on the playground equipment. The weather was perfect and seemed like it was going to be a nice Easter. It was our perfect day. I captured some of it on my little camera videophone, but Sprint won't let me save it to upload unless I buy Quicktime Pro. So for now, pictures it is.

And today. My nieces woke up and were like.. ok.. shorts, sandals. I told them, well I think it's cold today, so put on some pants. There was some serious balking going on. Threw on sweatshirts, but as soon as I went to my car I came back in and demanded winter coats. It was 36 degrees, rainy and windy. They were very glad to be warm when we went out.

Then this afternoon we had a thunderstorm and hail. I was like HAIL?

Bizarro. I think God is trying to tell us something.

I go to Houston again next week for follow up to my follow up appointments. I'm excited to go so I can see some friends, but I dislike leaving Zoe with my folks. She gets very anxious and wakes up all night when I'm gone. It can wear anyone out to be woken up 3-5 times a night... not to mention, it freaks my mom out because she goes in their room and just stands over the bed. Breathing. My poor sweetie. So much anxiety over me being "sick" or mommy maybe dying or something. I am not even sure what to do either. I know it will be okay, but everyone is always exhausted when I get home, including me.

But her fund raising is cheering her up. She likes being in charge and making decisions. Soon we will have a finalized logo and will set up the t-shirts and other items. I've been so excited and have been spreading the word.

Again, if you'd like to add your name to our survivor's list, that would be great. I really would like it if there were more survivors than those who didn't beat cancer.

I can do this, it's almost Easter. Happy belated Passover to my lovely Jewish friends.

Your assignment today is to find something to rejoice about. Tell me if you want to. I'm tired of all the complaining people do. Do something about it or shut up already. If you can't solve the world's ills, start in your own backyard and do some good in your community. You'd be surprised what a little effort and kindness brings you. I believe that what you put out into the Universe comes back to you. So if all you do is complain, then wonder why your life is sucking, guess why.

P.S. Little guy over at Team Pete is feeling rather punk and could use some comments and prayers. I remember when I was too sick to write and too sick to talk, reading comments was a wonderful way to know I was not alone. Please spread the word of his site, and let this little chemo warrior know that we are out there for him. He's an amazing guy.

If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.
~Mother Teresa

I love you internets. Have a happy and blessed Easter.

I can't wait to see you. Yes you.

Buttons that Rock

This chick rocks! Support her and get a great button.

Check out Ms. Thing at her site, The Very Orange Ghia.

These internets. She is full of wonderful and extraordinary people.

Live From SA

It's Team Zoe.

Please spread the word. www.teamzoe.net - The girl is kicking some cancer bootie! She's over $600 now. Working on t-shirts and stuff next. When she found out that Sis #3's co-workers all pitched in some fundage she screamed and did 3 cartwheels. She's been really liking having her own team.

On her site, there is a section to honor those who are fighting or who survived or who died of cancer. If you'd like to add a name or two, please let me know. I hope that I can get the survivor list longer than the ones that died, but so far, sadly it's really unbalanced. And, again, if you can, please donate. We have some big goals this year, and I want to completely bust them!

Also, I have had a few friends who donated $25 to add a link to their business' site (under thank yous). If you have something you'd like to promote (that would be ok for a kid to look at because, after all, this will be seen by kids too), let me know and I'll post it. As long as you pay by October, it's all good.

We are well. (and yes, I'm physically healthy, but haven't been working out - blah) Just busy with paperwork, sleeping, taxes (yuck I owe), and just bike riding at the park. I've felt like writing, but then get sidetracked. Feels like I'm always doing something. And gosh, we are working on thank you notes, but it seems like there are always 100 or more to write. Thank you so much for the birthday gifts for Zoe. She was thrilled with her gifts. She especially likes her Baby Alive doll, her Groovy Girl gear, her Target money, her Hawaiian paper dolls, and her little cute outfits from Miss Fiona. She adores you, btw, Fi. I showed her your picture and she said... she's so pretty and bright.

Getting ready for Easter. I love this time of year, although my car is yellow from all the pollen. No use washing it because I park under a tree in the driveway. I miss y'all. I miss really really writing. But I'm working on it.

Brenda is ok. She is out of the hospital now and being taken care of by some loving friends. She has her good days and bad, but she still has her lovely, wonderful spirit. She such a fighter and an amazing person. They had a fundraiser for her expenses last night and I sure hope they raised a lot of money. I saw her on her webcam yesterday and she still is so pretty. Her breathing is labored, but she amazes me with her strength. I pray every day and think of her all the time. She completely inspires me and I'm really driven to raise awareness and funds. I wish I knew more. I wish I could cure her. You feel so helpless, so you just pray and love and support her. I want to go visit soon. But it may have to be when Zoe goes to visit her dad this summer. I just want to give that woman a big hug and not let go. Please send her prayers and healing vibes. It really does mean a lot.

I can do this. My bird-talking, bowling-loving, fundraising Zoe is showing me the way.

Your assignment for today is to tell me something good! What's up with you???

Kruger Aid

Sis #1 told me about a sermon she heard at her church. After Hurricane Katrina, her pastor did a talk about why bad things happen, and he said that he didn't know and hated to speculate, but what he did know is that God loves us, and wants us to be part of a community of people that helps each other. That as a human, you are to help others, and that even when it is difficult, you need to ask for help as well. That we are not islands.

Some people in modern society think that churches are not relevant, that it is OK just to have a personal relationship with God, but I do think that as you grow and see the good and the bad of the world around you, it makes you realize how much having such communities to help is important, and how it is important to reach out to others, because that is what God's love for us is all about.

I think now is one of those times.

My wonderful cousin, Theresa, from MN told me about this family. I can't think of many situations that would be worse than this.

On February 3, 2007, an intruder broke into Hilary and Tracy Kruger's home on the outskirts of Waseca, MN in the middle of the night. For no reason, her husband Tracy and Alec, their 13-year-old son, were senselessly and tragically murdered. Hilary was also shot and sustained massive injuries. Their 10-year-old son, Zak, was at a friend's home that night.

Hilary was airlifted to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, MN where she is still in critical condition. Hilary was not expected to live through that first morning. Since being admitted, Hilary has had many surgeries to deal with her extensive injuries. That night, a bullet entered Hilary's body through her left arm. After much consultation with colleagues, the doctors came to the only conclusion that Hilary's arm couldn't be saved. It was a hard but necessary decision.

The biggest concern right now is her liver. The bullet went through the center of her liver, damaging it greatly. According to her many doctors, she's still not out of the woods. They believe she'll be in the hospital for a few more months.

As her health continues to improve every day by the tiniest amount, she still has a long way to go with everything she'll be facing. When she eventually leaves the hospital and rehab, she'll have more to face. We're trying to make sure financial worries aren't one of them. Hilary is a strong person who knows Zak needs her; while it will be a long journey, we know they'll make it through this horrible time in their lives.

Here is a website with information about a fundraiser in Hilary's honor.

Also, here is the family fund information. I know I'm in fundraising mode for the Leukemia Society, but I plan on sending my little $5 or $10 check. Won't you match me on this? Every $5 could make a difference. It all adds up.

A fund has been set up to help pay for the medical bills of Hilary Kruger.

Any one interested in helping can send donations to:
Kruger Family Benefit Fund
c/o Round Bank
200 Second Street NE
Waseca, MN 56093

We can do this. Because it's the right thing to do.

No assignment today. Zoe and I are doing well. Just busy cleaning up paperwork and gearing up for Team Zoe. I love you internets. You are the best.