I'm SO glad you were able to pick up your package. I was getting worried that it was lost in the shuffle somewhere and that the bright summery cotton would be lost...I'm glad you enjoyed it. When I bought the yarn you were seeming a bit down so I thought some cheering-up was in order! As for the notepad, I'm pretty sure you're right that it's a bedbug. I just love all the Parasite Pals stuff. I AM a microbiology graduate student after all!
I'm glad to hear you had such a nice phone call with Jamie. Not that I know the backstory, but it sounds like this really needed to happen. I'm friends with my most significant ex and I think that's the best way if you can swing it. As you point out, you know each other so well and were so much a part of each other's lives that it would be a shame to let that go completely. Sometimes it takes time but in the end it can be really nice (and healthy) to keep in touch.
-SP10