Gonzai Gallery

It didn't snow much here today, mostly rain. But I didn't go in anyway, partly because we were told we probably shouldn't, partly because I would have been the only there, and mostly because there was a huge accident on the Beltway by my house that woke us. I was disinclined to go and Mom was very insistent I not go. There were at least two more accidents near here, so not much of a mess but enough to make drivers stupid. I got a few things done, laundry, CJ, some computer stuff, but mostly watched stuff on the DVR. Tried calling in to the office, but the phone didn't ring which usually means no power. Tried logging in on the computer, but it came back as computer not on. It was on when I left yesterday, so definitely a power issue. I'll be back in tomorrow, regardless.

The supervisor and I were kinda planning to 'sneak' out the door, hop the light rail and go downtown for the Ravens rally and sendoff to NOLA. Then we got up this morning and everything was iced over. So much for that idea. We're fans, not insane people. But a fair number of insane people did go downtown to see off the team - and the team was insane enough to be there and half-freeze - and we watched it online. And off the team went to NOLA.

The Big Game in the Big Easy. This is gonna be something.

Well, whaddya know - we have a white Christmas. Can't remember the last time that happened, but almost an inch of snow fell today, just enough to touch up everything. Nice. Unfortunately it also touched up the roads, a friend didn't even try to come after she barely made it home, and the family was late.

I've got a decent haul: the Kindle, of course; series 2 of 'Luther'; Dr Who's 'Christmas Carol' special; Cards Against Humanity; a party game called 'Martini Time', how appropriate; some books and some accessories for the Kindle. Promptly spent time playing backgammon with No. 1 nephew on the Kindle. Mom's haul included a book written by a certain meerkat-ish author (thanks for the signed nameplate, she loves it!) and a ton of Keurig-related things to include the machine itself. I don't drink much coffee, so I've never been inclined to invest in one; but the family is crazy for theirs and felt Mom should have one. Fortunately they did include a lot of tea for Mom and cider & chai for me. The boys were very happy with their games (Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride USA, and various card and Star Wars games), Janine loved the necklace & earrings and Mike is intrigued by his annual sampler CD.

The dinner was crazed; we did the usual pickup of a complete dinner at Safeway, but for some reason half the stuff was frozen solid. The turkey's juice overran the pan and caught fire in the oven, fortunately just smoke. The mashed potatoes needed over twice the recommended time to cook because they were an ice cube, and Mom forgot the vegetables until after everything else was cooked, so by the time the veggies were ready most things were cold :/  But it was a darn good turkey and mashed potatoes, and I suspect we'll be eating it all week.

Phew. Need bedtime. After I let out the hysterical dog.

Home for the evening and more or less ready for Sandy. Couldn't find any D batteries anywhere, and that's what the flashlights run on, but plenty of AA, AAA, C...lots of candles, radios, lots of stuff charged & ready to go. Freezer is nearly full with ice packs, plenty of non-perishables, books from the library, generally good to go.

Went to do the early voting thing today, the first day it was available. There are five places in my county for that, first we went where we went in 2008, a community center. Naturally every rec field was in use, there was no parking, and the police had to close down part of the road to do traffic control. I saw exactly one sign for Democrats but hundreds for Republicans. Every electioneer - Republican. Eesh. The line? Out of the center, across a pedestrian bridge and into the ballfields on the other side. 2+ hour wait. There was no way Mom could stand that long, so we set off for another place, a library where my Mom used to work and my father had been the manager for many years. Plenty of parking there (nearly abandoned shopping center) but another long line. Not as long this time. A guy ahead of us had gone to a third location before going to the community center and now to the library - he said the first one had a 3 hour wait. Apparently we like to vote around here.

There was another avalanche of Republican signs, but there were only two electioneers there - one for Romney, and one real live Congressional candidate. A Libertarian refugee from the Ron Paul camp. We told him we sympathize, but we didn't want to waste our vote. As it turned out, we were between two middle-aged white men retired on disability. Both Democrats! Very fortunate, it could have been an awfully long wait. But the line moved steadily and it took about 50 minutes to get in, then almost no wait to vote. And Mom seemed to understand the machines better this time. Then we browsed the library, Mom ran into a librarian she used to work with, and then we moved on. I do have to say, though, I was very concerned by the plethora of Republican signs, bumper stickers, etc, some of them outright racist/homophobic, in a blue state and a traditionally Democratic stronghold neighborhood. I hope it's just squeaky wheels. It was certainly heartening to meet two white working-class men who thought Obama was by far the better candidate.

I took the day off. Mom is babysitting. The plan is to go to the State Fair and get my fill of animals. No horse racing tomorrow, but several horse exhibitions, lots of goats, and maybe alpacas. Then to the store to treat myself to the DVDs of Homeland. And home to watch whatever I darn well feel like, because Mom isn't home. And I seem to have picked the right day - forecast is for 82 degrees, mostly sunny, low humidity.

So hopefully I'm back tomorrow with lots of piccies!

Haven't melted yet. Check back later today on that one. Meanwhile, my car's battery DID melt. Or rather, it was several years old and winding down its life, apparently, so the extreme heat finished it off. Right before I went to work on a day my supervisor was at a funeral and therefore I was under particular obligation to be in the office. I overpaid for a new battery, but Midas took me straight in, less than 5 minutes to confirm my diagnosis, less than 10 to replace the battery and send me on my way. It was worth it to still get to work by 10am.

I was concerned about my netbook post-storm - it was unplugged during the storm, but it wouldn't charge yesterday, claiming it wasn't plugged in to an outlet (it was). Tried several outlets, same thing. Didn't have any more cords like the ones the netbook uses, so I couldn't check those. Took it to Best Buy after we did the house-looking thing and the Geek Squad tried it on a few different outlets - it worked on some but not others. So they sent me home and I tried a few more outlets and eventually found one the netbook liked. Sheesh. But at least it wasn't toasted.

Meanwhile we talked with the neighbors and have a rough plan regarding the downed trees. So we seem to be sorted as far as the storm goes. Unfortunately we have a week of 95-100 degree temps and possible storms every day. Spiffy.

Took me over an hour just to get home, so many roads were closed or should have been. Turned around twice. And that's supposed to keep up another couple of hours, so I passed on gaming tonight. Which figures, because I got almost no sleep last night, had a headache all day, had nothing to do at work half the day, and oh yeah, CJ totalled a lot more stuff upstairs, including a leather art portfolio that cost me a mint some years ago. Fortunately I came home before she started in on the art inside. I paid a new mint for a heavy duty crate, it's a bit too big for my room and I'll have to figure out a way to keep her from getting at thing outside of it, but she shouldn't be able to get out of it or break off any of the bars. Obviously I've given up on the jerk with the cage.

Today was low 70s and sunny, in late April. Screw sitting in a hotel all day playing games. For that matter, forget the art & craft show. We went and saw a few open houses, did some grocery shopping and visited a farm stand, talking the back roads for all of the above. One of the houses...I swear, they were giving away something, although the realtor swore it was only cookies. I've never seen more than 3 sets of people at a house at a time, well this time there were two cars leaving as we pulled in, two cars coming in behind us and 7 sets of people already there. 4 more came while we there. Crazy busy. The owners had left a dog in the inlaw apartment, Mom wants both the apartment AND the dog. If it were just that apartment, it would have been a great apartment. Add 3.5 acres, 3 car garage, and a 4,000 sf house, wow. I want this house.

Now we're home trying to clear the DVR (3 days of shows to catch up on) and decompress from a big day.

And naturally it decided to get started while we were in the supermarket. So we came out to rapidly falling and blowing snow landing on sleet and ice. By the time I had the groceries loaded in the trunk, there was almost as much snow in there as bags. Then when we got home the side stairs were completely iced, unloading the car was distinctly unamusing. And Roxie won't go out in such weather. Sheesh.

Meanwhile, I went to the library looking for material for the report I have to write for my class. Came up empty - none of the books had anything related to canine parasites. I have plenty of sources I found online, but no print things. And I'm reminded of why I don't miss school. I'm having a heckuva a time actually getting started on writing the report. I have the info, but actually writing the sucker is another thing. I need to at least have a draft done tomorrow, as I'll be at Euroquest most of the week and can't work on it then. Yippee.