Where Chester Lives

Can you name that movie? In less than three notes?

Anyways, I am in New Jersey now, and my disposition couldn't be sunnier. No, really. We (My co-worker and I, Rick V.) got into our hotel room last night at ~3 a.m. Weather in NJ caused some flight delays. On the bright side, I got to finish my book, The Fifth Elephant by Terry Pratchett. Great book. I really like Terry Pratchett. I have read almost all of his books. There are some groups in England that have made plays from his books, and have put on performances. I wish that would happen in the US. I would go see that.

So, I am currently operating on a caffeine/sugar buzz. As the day goes, I will be maintaining a steady stream of this to keep the buzz at its current level, guaranteeing optimal performance. Just so you know, this is NOT healthy.

If I have any downtime today, I will be uploading more pictures to my gallery. Stay tuned. If you are at all interested.

However, I do know when I'll be back.

Sitting in the SacraPimento Airport, availing myself of the free wifi. Quite speedy. In fact, I'm even doing work! Perish the thought...

Teresa doesn't like it when I travel. She worries (like alot of people do) that I will meet with some mishap or other. I do my best to allay her fears, but the only real cure is to come home. I don't like travelling either, but I don't have anxiety over it. I am the Anti-Worry. I think this bothers her, because it can be interpreted as Not Caring. The source of many discussions.

Isn't life grand?

We've alread discussed airport security. The other things I don't like about airports are, in no particular order: Food. Air quality. Transciency.

People always talk about airplane food. Many a stand-up comic has made a career of it (only during the 80's. now its all about insecurities). I say it's airPORT food that is the travesty, by and large. It is only the hope of food, a pale image of what it is trying to imitate. You read the menu posted above the counter. Hmm. A Breakfast Burrito. The Holy Grail of breakfast. Eggs scrambled with cilantro, onions, and jalapenos; grilled potatoes, good salsa, bits of bacon or sausage. All wrapped in a steaming tortilla, with a side of guac and creme. Ah, but here is what you actually get. a plate, piled with shredded iceberg lettuce and watery eggs, two tortillas on the side, steamed incessantly to disguise their age, and the faint presence of cooked pork, as a bacon slice was waved in its general direction. a dollop of a salsa-like substance in the corner. Did I forget the potatoes? No. They did.

And at the end of a day of air travel? Slight asthma and nosebleeds. Yay.

Don't forget the sea of humanity, all in various stages of dishevel, wandering through the acid-lit terminals, gazing into the distance. None of us like being here.

But am I bitter? No...

I am flying to New Jersey tomorrow.

You see, my company is moving the New Jersey office this weekend, and I have to be there to ensure that network connections come up at the new place, all the routes and Internet services are online, and that users have a pleasurable move experience. Well, not so much that last part. New Jersey in November. yeck.

New Jersey will rock me like a hurricane.

So, right now, I am flying around the house trying to get everything together for my trip. I know I should make a list, but I never do. I invariably forget essentials...like an umbrella, or a toothbrush. it always happens. I'm pretty sure I have most everything packed, except my banned liquids. Banned Liquids. hrrmph. I hear some people say, "Oh well. That's the world we live in today." I say horse puckey.

My opinion: the world we live in today is not a step up in security, or the price we pay for our liberty (huh???), but an exercise in fear-mongering. A determined terrorist with a solid plan will be able to circumvent whatever security measures are put in place. In the mean-time, I get to throw away my toothpaste because I might use it to make a bomb??!? I know I'm not the only one that knows this, but the idea of someone being able to mix together two binary liquids to form a bomb within the strict confines of time and space that a flight entails is absoutely mind-boggling. But we've bought it, hook line and sinker. THE SCIENCE DOESN'T WORK, PEOPLE. In order to make this device, it takes several hours to do so, inside of very strict (read: frigid) temperature guidelines, with constant hands-on attention (stirring constantly, like a good risotto). It isn't a button push, like those inane Die-Hard movies. You can't dump your toothpaste tube into your water bottle, toss it and watch the fireworks.

I can't HEAR myself over the stupid.

None of this means that I am against security. But it had better be smart security. Stupid doesn't help us.

/rant

Emma's birthday party was very nice. She wanted to have a few friends over, and I made pizza and a cake. They all loved it. At least, Emma did, and that's what counts. However, as I go to get candles for the cake, I find that we don't have any. Luckily, Teresa is a Partylite fiend. So, we stuck a votive in the middle of the cake, and Emma thought it was hilarious. After the pizza, we opened presents, and then the kids watched a movie. That included me. Teresa doesn't get Cars, though. She kept asking, "Who's driving them? They have no drivers!!" It's called temporary suspension of disbelief, honey. You should try it sometime.

In other news, Chili -- the smaller, more fiesty version of Chester, got sick last night. Wee. This morning they seem fine. A blessing in disguise? Chili chose to get sick in the areas of our house that are tiled. Thank goodness.

Speaking of our house, you should go check out the gallery. I have added pictures of our dogs and of the house as it was being built. If you're into that sort of thing.

Next pictures to add are of the back yard landscaping.

Poor little guy.

He's been shivering all morning, and we have been cleaning up...er...spots on the carpet since we got up. I just hope it's an FB (foreign body - you'd think i was a vet or something). I am loathe to take him to the vet right now. He's curled up on the bed at the moment. AnneandEmma (a parent wil understand why that's one word) is cuddling with him right now. He has calmed down significantly. I hope it has passed.

In other news, Spotbots are wonderful things.

Stay tuned.

----UPDATE!!!----

Chester is feeling much better now.  He's not dead yet.