Thank God for cloud cover (even if it comes with a little rain). Nice to have the highs in the forties instead of the twenties. Brr. Especially after spending last week in Santa Barbara with highs in the mid to high 70s.

A former co-worker is leaving my former work-place. I just looked on-line and now I'm considering spending $65 on a gift for her. I'll continue thinking.

I just heard from a former boss. I thought something had been wrong. He called me around this time last year to tell me that his wife was pregnant with their second child and I never heard anything else. His wife has had previous miscarriages so I didn't want to ask. He sent me pictures on Halloween of his first kid with no mention so I just e-mailed him back with an "aww, cute" message. Today I get:

" Its been a long year for us and I'm sorry so much time has passed since I last emailed with any photos or even just an "update" on life. If you've talked to others recently you may have heard that [wife] and I lost our second child (a boy) earlier this year (severe heart defect). Its been rough on us for a variety of reasons. But I think I took it the hardest because I'm home with [first kid] and that type of isolation just allows pain to linger for a very long time. I stayed pretty secluded as a result...I'll be in touch again soon and we'll make sure to stay in touch a bit more regularly... that's my goal. I've got a lot of people to get in touch with to dig myself out of this hole I've been hiding in."

Well, that sucks. My heart just goes out to the poor guy.

I thought I had more to say. I've been thinking of updates for a while, but nothing's coming to me now.