[quote=@The Harbinger of Ferocity]
I am pleased that it has all been for the better, hearing as much is rare now in my experiences with people, [@Carantathraiel]. That is news we could use more of as a whole, isn't it now? Perhaps I am emphasizing it too much or disappointingly I just so rarely hear it.

As for my business? Fate or divine providence had it that when I returned to one of the places I had said I would, to procure some artifacts and fossils, I found the exact person, at the exact place, at the exact time that I needed them. After a long, varied discussion with the naturalist on our sciences I procured exactly what I required and had not found during my return visit to La Brea or several related sites. The real emphasis of this story is the fact that I found them at all dealing their wares just as they had attempted to vanish from their store due to bad experiences for the day; they are an eccentric, albeit enlightened spirit and dealing with the public is not their forte, rather desiring the field. Fortunately I am difficult to forget, according to them and others, and they made a particular exception to reopen briefly for the meeting and acquisition.

My other acts of late were spending some time with a lovely leopardess, several actually, and having a conversation with them. Same can be said for a tiger although it was brief in his case; his mate called him back when we were meeting due to the arrival of people and her wild-born tendencies to avoid them. No lions, other than the mountain lion who shared some muttering and purring, two jaguars being conditioned to sharing space near one another, a talkative jungle cat - very opposed to company I might add - as well as that of a lynx and bobcat. Frankly all the rest were busy, but I did acquire a historic chart of the feline lineages in the process so no real loss there.

Come to think of it, the past few weeks have been a great amount of business, to include holiday reintroduction to family and being swamped by curious children.
[/quote]

That is wonderful! You do amazing work. You get to do so much with such magnificent creatures. 
The holiday part, though, hehe! I havent been around my own family in years for the holidays. Just my inlaws. No children present, yet. I hope it wasn't too stressful for you!