Updates:

Dad's memorial service:
Saturday, May 3 in Omaha, NE at Forrest Lawn funeral home
James and I are flying into KC on Friday morning, and driving with my brother, sister-in-law and friend of the family up to Omaha. We are doing what's called a second internment, which is to say his ashes will be buried. They will be buried on my grandmother's gravesite, and his name will be added to the headstone. We are having a memorial dinner/party in his honor at his closest friends' home following the service.
I'm actually looking forward to this for the closure, as well as the opportunity to see a lot of people I haven't seen before. I also feel like my father deserves to be honored, and I'm glad it's happening.

This is also the first time James will meet anyone in my family, as well as friends in KC. We'll be seeing Kim first, then to Joe's in the evening where we will be staying the night. Saturday we go to Omaha, and when we get back to town we'll be going to Molly and Dave's place where we'll stay the night and most of the day Sunday. Sunday evening we'll head to Josh and Kym's house where we'll be staying until Monday. Monday is coffee with Nate and a flight home. There's not much by the way of free time, but I'm so looking forward to spending time with everyone.

Panic attacks:
Getting better. I thank everyone who gave advice. I'm actually employing a fair number of the suggestions, and they are less frequent and shorter in duration.

Weight:
I'm trying to gain weight. Every time I have stress I lose my appetite and lose weight (which I don't have to lose). I am sick and tired of looking like an anorexic. I'm trying to force myself to eat more often, and high calorie foods. I'm also becoming more cognizant of the familial aspect of heart disease. Every person in my family who has died has died of a stroke. My uncle had one a couple of weeks ago. It didn't kill him, but the writing seems to be on the proverbial wall. Just because my frame doesn't show my horrible dietary habits doesn't mean they don't exist. I eat far too much junk. I need to work on a somewhat more heart healthy diet. Exercise is also going to be required.

Work:
Work goes well. My employer seems to genuinely like having me there. I have three days (most of the time) in the Belltown office, and one day a week at the One Union Square office. This second job amuses me, my co-worker is a Hawaii local and knows a ton of people I used to work with. The doctor hates me, but is so outnumbered by the staff who love me, and his wife who loves me, that he ended up giving me the job despite his dislike. (I have tattoos, and refused to take out my nose ring during my working interview.)

Knitting:
This is a huge part of my life right now. It's almost my sole source of social contact, and I'm getting pretty good at it. Maybe one day I actually will own a yarn store.

Hiking:
I haven't done it since I left Hawaii and I miss it terribly. More the actual movement I miss my friends that I hiked with. The conversations on hikes were almost always the most entertaining. (Except when we hike uphill and I'm too out of breath to breathe, much less talk.)

Home:
I put up pictures of my apartment. I'm getting a new bed tomorrow. I now need visitors, so I will be begin scheduling the flood of people who are dying to come stay with us for a few days. Annnnnd.... GO! (Not kidding people, come visit already.)

Oh, I'm also not bad at the guitar on Rock Band. :)