Chi-chi for all!

Sorry; awards were delayed by extreme frustration.  Your host is normally made of stronger stuff, but was nearly in tears by the time the 8th person yesterday at that ISP rolled around -- after talking to several more the day before.  (I'd already been working with the place the missing emails come from, for close to a week; and they had run it up their tech ladder.)  Gah.  The last straw was when I got transferred to billing, for refund of a totally unnecessary charge that someone insisted I had to pay to proceed with tech help; and their own billing department does not have access to the database containing this charge -- a charge that had been confirmed by email. 

Today, my problem got bumped to a department that might actually be able to do something; and best of all, they are allowed to make outgoing phone calls!  Which you all are going to think is just a joke, but apparently not, according to one of yesterday's techs.

Esperanza wins the Ritzy Restaurant Award for her submission of "(I am not making this up) Mr. Taco".  We're laughing with you!   You are entitled to chi-chi food any time you meet another Pixie, in person or virtually. 

The Hooray for Visiting Sons Award goes to our own Sue, whose entire clan gathered!   As a special bonus, Sue wins a valuable set of Chi-Chi Ice Packs, for the uncooperative hamstring.

Neighbor Lady wins the Living Vicariously Award, and a small chi-chi edible schoolyard garden for the Neighbor School(s).

Aunt Flo wins the Good Timing Award, arriving in time to make Debangel's surgical preparations just that much better.  Fortunately, everything turned out groovy, and her sweetie was there for her, and her baby munchkin came home beforehand and lent a great deal of heartmelting sweetness, so Deb wins the Great Outcome Award! 

The Pulitzer Prize for Publication goes to Sue, who has a new chi-chi writing gig!  We knew of her awesomeness before she hit the big time.

Speaking of awsome gigs, Esperanza wins the Oratory in Action Award for speaking several times at a youth conference.  These things must have gotten more chi-chi since the olden days, because she has a private room and internet, whereas I recall bunk beds and freezing bathrooms and bed inspections and rather enthusiastic (some might say gleeful) methods of rousing the young folk in the morning.  Then again, I was one of teh youth, and maybe that part has not changed so much??

Liz once again wins the Great Advice Award, always timely and thoughtful.

Despite some ugly work stuff, Miranda wins the Best Anti-Whine Awards in both the professional and personal categories, with nuggets like "My brain is in demand for its smarts" and an active happy chi-chi social life!  Yay!

Hooray for Baboos Who Sleep!

Cluesticks to the deserving, including but not limited to people who cannot keep work out of the funeral, work politics, insurance companies (a perennial favorite), whatever stuff is going around, and big fat internet service providers whose corporate customer service plan assumes that you are not only stupid, but so stupid that you will buy more of their stuff when they play those ads during the hours on hold.  (This particular Posse list may be a little biased.)

Condolences to Miranda on the loss suffered by her friend, and to Esperanza for needing to wrangle a whole new health plan + new providers + the inevitable insurance woes.  

Thanks for the birthday wishes, and all-around friendship.

Apologies for lagging on the Wednesday Book Club, but will try to get a schedule up later today.  Suggestions always welcome in the comments -- both for books, and on the organization of the only internet jammie-wearing book club offering virtual chi-chi snacks at all times.

Please join us next week, when the fabulous Esperanza will host!