(no subject)

Am home from the west coast portion of Nilly-tour 2004. I will have more to say about the whole experience later. I just want to relate the ending at the moment, and to assure Deb that TC has checked my luggage and made sure that Rupert is not in my suitcase.

Ginger and I arrived in Atlanta on time, and she kindly walked with me down to the gate for my connecting flight to Greensboro, we said goodbye, and she went on to find her car and drive home. I had an hour layover, so I read my book, and then it was time to board. They called first class, and then Zone 2, and Zone 3. And then there was a pause. And they announced that the plane was broke, and that the already-boarded people would have to un-board so they could fix it. So they debarked and we waited. And waited some more. A very attractive young woman dressed in a tank top, a peach colored crinoline, and some interesting tats and piercings arrived to wait with us, and she was carrying a live animal carrier. I wandered over to be nosy and asked what was in the box. "A baby cat. A mean little baby cat. You can look if you want to." She handed me the box, and a tiny tabby kitten rushed over to peer and paw at me through the slats in the case. Soooo cute.

We waited some more, and then they said they were putting us on another plane. We had to go to another gate, on another concourse. So we schlepped for about two and a half miles. And were told we'd be boarding in about half an hour, just as soon as they cleaned the plane, which had just arrived and debarked passengers. So, forty minutes went by, and they started boarding first class, then Zone 1, then Zone 2 and 3. And then they said the plane was broke, and they'd have to de-board all the passengers so they could fix it. And it would be another forty minutes before we could board and get underway.

The guy next to me in the waiting area started to speculate which motel Delta was going to put us up in overnight, and I started to wonder, myself. But then they fixed their little problem and called, "First class passengers...you know what? Everybody on this plane, just come on and board." And we did, and it got up in the air, and it flew and it didn't break or fall out of the sky, and I got home. And now I'm going to bed.

(no subject)

Am home from the west coast portion of Nilly-tour 2004. I will have more to say about the whole experience later. I just want to relate the ending at the moment, and to assure Deb that TC has checked my luggage and made sure that Rupert is not in my suitcase.

Ginger and I arrived in Atlanta on time, and she kindly walked with me down to the gate for my connecting flight to Greensboro, we said goodbye, and she went on to find her car and drive home. I had an hour layover, so I read my book, and then it was time to board. They called first class, and then Zone 2, and Zone 3. And then there was a pause. And they announced that the plane was broke, and that the already-boarded people would have to un-board so they could fix it. So they debarked and we waited. And waited some more. A very attractive young woman dressed in a tank top, a peach colored crinoline, and some interesting tats and piercings arrived to wait with us, and she was carrying a live animal carrier. I wandered over to be nosy and asked what was in the box. "A baby cat. A mean little baby cat. You can look if you want to." She handed me the box, and a tiny tabby kitten rushed over to peer and paw at me through the slats in the case. Soooo cute.

We waited some more, and then they said they were putting us on another plane. We had to go to another gate, on another concourse. So we schlepped for about two and a half miles. And were told we'd be boarding in about half an hour, just as soon as they cleaned the plane, which had just arrived and debarked passengers. So, forty minutes went by, and they started boarding first class, then Zone 1, then Zone 2 and 3. And then they said the plane was broke, and they'd have to de-board all the passengers so they could fix it. And it would be another forty minutes before we could board and get underway.

The guy next to me in the waiting area started to speculate which motel Delta was going to put us up in overnight, and I started to wonder, myself. But then they fixed their little problem and called, "First class passengers...you know what? Everybody on this plane, just come on and board." And we did, and it got up in the air, and it flew and it didn't break or fall out of the sky, and I got home. And now I'm going to bed.

Men! Or at least the one I live with...

How hard is, "One of these," shaking the gallon-capacity pitcher, "Once a day. Every day. Or, unplug it, or flip the breaker switch on the socket, so you don't have to think about it."

Too hard, apparently. The fountain was two and a half gallons low--I chucked in two gallons of water this morning and will add another gallon with bleach this afternoon because the basin is scuzzy with algae and crap. The hibiscus are all drooping, the bee balm stems and leaves are all brown and dry, although there are tiny green leaves at the base of the stems. The lemon grass, which was near-dead when I got it and I nursed it back to health, is nearly all brown and dry. I'll give it another shot--maybe pot it up and fertilize it and see what happens, although it never overwinters anyway. The pineapple sage may be beyond salvaging, but I think everything else will be okay. The yellow hibiscus has a bud, and I'm hoping it will hang onto this one long enough to bloom. It's been dropping more unopened all summer than have opened. Of course, when they do, half of them are double and half are single, so, bonus, sort of.

To be fair, he's had a killer work week, and the cat hasn't let him sleep more than two consecutive hours since I've been gone. I wound up sleeping on the couch with the bedroom door closed last night. I was so tired I slept the instant my head touched down--it didn't matter where. And TC got me up hollering at the closed bedroom door, which actually was a good thing, as I got the fountain filled and everything watered before the sun hit the deck. But I didn't get to bed before 3 AM, so I'm going to return to the couch and nap till H wakes up. I may catch another nap in my own bed later in the day.

Back into the routine.

Men! Or at least the one I live with...

How hard is, "One of these," shaking the gallon-capacity pitcher, "Once a day. Every day. Or, unplug it, or flip the breaker switch on the socket, so you don't have to think about it."

Too hard, apparently. The fountain was two and a half gallons low--I chucked in two gallons of water this morning and will add another gallon with bleach this afternoon because the basin is scuzzy with algae and crap. The hibiscus are all drooping, the bee balm stems and leaves are all brown and dry, although there are tiny green leaves at the base of the stems. The lemon grass, which was near-dead when I got it and I nursed it back to health, is nearly all brown and dry. I'll give it another shot--maybe pot it up and fertilize it and see what happens, although it never overwinters anyway. The pineapple sage may be beyond salvaging, but I think everything else will be okay. The yellow hibiscus has a bud, and I'm hoping it will hang onto this one long enough to bloom. It's been dropping more unopened all summer than have opened. Of course, when they do, half of them are double and half are single, so, bonus, sort of.

To be fair, he's had a killer work week, and the cat hasn't let him sleep more than two consecutive hours since I've been gone. I wound up sleeping on the couch with the bedroom door closed last night. I was so tired I slept the instant my head touched down--it didn't matter where. And TC got me up hollering at the closed bedroom door, which actually was a good thing, as I got the fountain filled and everything watered before the sun hit the deck. But I didn't get to bed before 3 AM, so I'm going to return to the couch and nap till H wakes up. I may catch another nap in my own bed later in the day.

Back into the routine.

Things done:

Watered all plants, pulled all yellowed leaves off living plants, and stripped dead leaves off possibly still living plants. Will cut back stems and hope for the best. Will also give lemongrass a haircut to remove dead material.

Filled and partially de-scummed fountain basin, outdoors. Refilled indoor fountain. Washed all cat dishes and refilled the water dishes. Refilled dry food.

Unpacked Katie B.'s lavender and laid the stems on plastic and paper towels in the AC stream to dry, sifted loose florets into plastic and paper towel lined flat basket, also put in AC stream to dry. Will toss and turn both so they dry evenly. Will attempt to make at least one wand before the stems are completely dry. But better dry and saved for use than moldy and wasted from damp.

Scrubbed toilet. The less said, the better.

Removed shoes (not mine) from bathroom floor, except obligatory pair for traditional cat greeting ceremony.

Begun unpacking, while remembering and sorting memories for entries about the weekend past.

Caught up on LJ and am working on TableTalk cats thread and PF. B.org yet to come.

Things not done:

Visited Mom. Haven't heard her moving about, and she hadn't taken the paper in. She's probably sleeping late. -Er than usual.

Completely unpacked.

Vacuumed floor. Which is in dire need.

Slept enough. May nap later.

Things done:

Watered all plants, pulled all yellowed leaves off living plants, and stripped dead leaves off possibly still living plants. Will cut back stems and hope for the best. Will also give lemongrass a haircut to remove dead material.

Filled and partially de-scummed fountain basin, outdoors. Refilled indoor fountain. Washed all cat dishes and refilled the water dishes. Refilled dry food.

Unpacked Katie B.'s lavender and laid the stems on plastic and paper towels in the AC stream to dry, sifted loose florets into plastic and paper towel lined flat basket, also put in AC stream to dry. Will toss and turn both so they dry evenly. Will attempt to make at least one wand before the stems are completely dry. But better dry and saved for use than moldy and wasted from damp.

Scrubbed toilet. The less said, the better.

Removed shoes (not mine) from bathroom floor, except obligatory pair for traditional cat greeting ceremony.

Begun unpacking, while remembering and sorting memories for entries about the weekend past.

Caught up on LJ and am working on TableTalk cats thread and PF. B.org yet to come.

Things not done:

Visited Mom. Haven't heard her moving about, and she hadn't taken the paper in. She's probably sleeping late. -Er than usual.

Completely unpacked.

Vacuumed floor. Which is in dire need.

Slept enough. May nap later.