A quick guide to the most-mentioned names:

• Rich, my husband and rock for over 35 years.
• Roni, 34, lives in Sausalito.
• R.J., her husband (as of August 15, 1999). He's a teacher in Special Education.
• Monica, 33, lives in San Jose, works for a software firm.
• Mark, her chief life accessory. He works for Adobe.
• Genevieve, the World's Cutest Baby.
• Vince, 26, graduate of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington and Purdue. A real rocket scientist. Soon to marry
• Niki, a student at U of Washington in geriatric social work. She's going to know how to take care of the old folks.
• Bernadette, 24, another Zag graduate. She is married to Rob and they live in Eugene Oregon.
• My Mom, who has been dead for 10 years, but who still figures in a lot of my life.
• my best friendWowbagger, from Hitchhiker's Guide, the being who was insulting everyone in the world in alphabetical order. He's also known as Mr. Jefferson (from poor Dolly Madison being his official hostess) and many other names in this journal, to duck some psycho-stalkers. Science fiction fan extraordinaire, curmugeon, computer guru, friend (I'm into pain, it appears.) He died June 10, 2001, and I am now discovering what pain really is.
• Pagan, or Pagan Flames, BBS and real life friend for the last 15 years. Writer, photographer, fish-killer, grouch.
• Nick, longtime friend of Vince. Co-Webelo, Scout, and Eagle Scout. Housesitter of.
• Justine, 15 . Neighbor girl we met when we had the Russian exchange students.
• Tim, 28-year-old son of my Bestest Brit Friend. He was 7 when last I saw him. He came for a month visit as part of a round-the-world cycling trip, though his bike never got unpacked while he was here. (Kid #6E-for-English)
• The Pointing Man, who stands out in his yard and points at cars as they pass, and
• The Leprechaun, who checks out the nearby strip mall and picks up litter every day, eccentric old men.
• Pets:
  • Sailor, 6 year old Akita-Samoyed-Chow-Kitchen Sink cross, the fur machine.
  • Abercrombie and Fitch, kittens acquired July 1, 1999. They now have a Kit Mahal, built by Rich. Fitch I died in August of 99 and was replaced with Fitch II.
  • Gummitch, 12 year old cat with Chronic Renal Failure. Not a cooperative patient. R.I.P.
  • Tanith, also an orange tabby. Mostly an outdoor cat. R.I.P. February 1, 1998.
• Mossyrocks, the house. We've lived here 24 years.
• CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates. I am one.
• Sam, my former CASA child. (Is that vague enough or what? Not even gender mentioned.)
• Casey, the Child-Formerly-Known-as-Alex, the current CASA child.
• Solemates, a walking group I joined in July of 1997. The group is twelve years old, and schedules 2-3 walks of varying difficulty a week.
• Fang, a Rex Begonia that takes the name "Rex" to mean it will grow to tyrannosaur size.
• The van.
• The Super T-rex, my computer.
• The Bootsmachine, my laptop.
• Worsel, my washer-dryer. (Yes, I DO name my stuff, why do you ask?)
• Geocities, who gave me this page, and can give YOU one, too! Bite me, M! You too, G.