What everybody else said, Kirk. I'm really glad you are "back," and I have it on my to do list: travel to LA for Kirk's first __(Something)__.
It all sounds so good - the nieces, the shorts, the CD, the ready-made group of warm/cool friends. I know what you mean about stepping into the life you've been heading towards - my memory of moving to Seattle 13 years ago reads like a smooth script, the way I remember it I stepped into wonderful friendships and exciting work right away. It felt like this is the right place, after other not so right places.
I really liked your really special guy. It felt like he trusted himself and comfortably trusted me too, like he wears himself pretty comfortably. And though I joked about it, I respected his decision to not go see something that he had reason to believe would devastate him while he very much needed to remain functional. (Like me not going to Alcatraz - I sure didn't reckon on people likening it to an Italian villa!)
Anyway, I love you, I love your musical mom, I love your new life, and I can't wait to plunk down my bucks for your CD. Do you have a way of sharing a song or two (even rough) via MP3 or sump'n?
Clarissa
P.S. I bet those BBB people can throw one heck of a bon voyage party.