Welcome to my corner of the pasture!

It was time for a facelift, and wouldn't you know, these cute cows followed me home and begged to be left to wander my web page.

If you're here, you either know me and I made you come visit the cows, or you stumbled in looking for something else that I happen to have. What's your pleasure?

The rec.arts.sf.written.robert-jordan Humor Archive is still around, as is my Darkfriend Social Archive. Looking for Wheel of Time, RASFWRJ, and alt.fan.neil-gaiman resources? Check the Usenet page, and don't forget to check out the Darkfriends.net Directory for the Wheel of Time FAQ US Mirror and the Darkfriend Social Planning Forums.

Maybe you're looking to meet my Warders - four handsome gentlemen and two lovely young ladies, oath sworn to protect me from harm? They have their hands full, this bunch, and I love them madly.

Clueless or curious about chocolate? My Chocolate Resource Guide lives on, with care instructions for your fine chocolates, and an ever-updating list of chocolatiers to try out.

Curious about me? You can find out, if you look. You can still find my scribblings, photos and journal pages, depending on which button you click. The visit to the Siberian Tiger Foundation in Gambier, Ohio is still recorded here, too.

I'm still a Google Answers Researcher, but I'm also available for private research contracts. Hit the Research Services button to contact me for business purposes, or come see me at Google Answers - I'm Missy-ga there.

Whatever it is you're looking for here, I hope you find it.

Mind the pasture pies, and please don't tip the cows.

In November 2003, my best friend in this life was diagnosed with Alport's Syndrome, an inherited, progressively degenerative illness that leads to end stage renal failure. The disease itself isn't fatal, but the unavoidable complications of the disease often lead to an early death.

To say that this frightens and upsets me would be a gross understatement. There simply aren't enough words.

Until recently, it was thought that Alport's Syndrome was only treatable by dialysis and eventual transplant, both of which have complications of their own. While this is still currently the case, discoveries by researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and at the University of Utah indicate that a gene therapy may be on the horizon. Researchers at the University of Utah have isolated three mutations of the gene linked to Alport's Syndrome, and say that this discovery could soon pave the way for a direct treatment for Alport's.

As far as I'm concerned, "soon" just isn't soon enough.

Researchers are scrambling for more funding, for more time, for more information. With enough funding, perhaps we can help buy them the time and information they need for a treatment to be developed in David's lifetime.

I am a selfish woman, I want this man on the planet for as long as I can keep him here. Please indulge my selfishness - when you're making your decisions about which charities to support, please make sure The National Kidney Foundation is at the top of your list.