just to be clear

[winterbadger]

Despite the tone of the last few entries, I'm really very happy right now. My sweetie and I are doing well; we've just had a lovely weekend and are looking forward to another one. I had a nice evening with john_arundel last night, and I am temporarily without grad school work to do. Work is OK. Both of my tax refunds have come in, and I can now pay off a big chunk of credit card debt. I have insurance for my car. My cats are well (if you don't count someone throwing up his breakfast just outside the bathroom this morning). I did 4-5 loads of laundry and lots of ironing. I changed the sheets on the bed. I put my hammock back up. And I'm actually liking my face now that the beard is gone. Life is pretty good.

I still need to

arrange for our car hire for Scotland
take notes on things to do and see
plan packing
help Nora get a new camera
resolve the latest "In the Shadows of Byzantium" turn
balance my checkbook
organize my papers
put stuff on eBay (and thin out my personal possessions generally)
find a guitar tutor

and
sit otuside in the hammock with a book and a cold drink and enjoy the fresh air of spring!

Comments

[sidhne.livejournal.com]

help Nora get a new camera

On the camera subject, I ended up not getting the Nikon D70, but the Coolpix 8700, which is not an SLR, but produces comparable quality pictures and is much lighter and cheaper. I'll be getting it in the mail on Thursday if you're interested in a review. It was also recommended by Consumer Reports.

[winterbadger]

Thanks! That would be great!

[mazzie.livejournal.com]

*hug*

so happy for you.
continuing to wish you well, always.
precious budding wings. :)

namaste, Jan.

[robbysmom.livejournal.com]

gee, a bit busy now, maybe ;-)

Glad to know the weekend trip went well. I've heard RAVES m'self :-)

[winterbadger]

Just a bit busy. But half of those things have been sitting on my "to do" list for ages now.

The weekend was lovely. YOU GUYS are the only part of the immediate Spoor clan that haven't met my sweetie yet. Are you still thinking you might be down this way next month?

[winterbadger]

Thanks, m'dear! *hug*

[vikingcat.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear that you're feeling cheerful. Complaining about the weather being too nice for this time of year is only a small step short of whining that they're giving away ice cream at Ben and Jerry's today, a path that would lead eventually to getting smacked upside the head by some passer by.

That being said, I have a dear friend who hated getting a predoc fellowship at USC because there was too much sunshine there, and he was complaining just this afternoon about how Free Scoop Day distorts the ice cream market and makes the lines too long.

[winterbadger]

Yeah, I did get lectured by N about my weather-related comments, and I'm sure a whack would have been comign my way if we'd been co-located.

OTOH, my ideal weather *is* alternating grey, cloudy days, rain, and brisk, sunny days with temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit and frequent breezes. I belong in the UK, in the Pacific Northwest, or in New England. Unfortunately, people with more desire to avoid regional favouritism than sense put the nation's capital in the middle of a muggy swamp, so if I want to work in my chosen field, I pretty much am stuck here. :-)

Given that my predominant cultural frames of refernce as a child were England (Old and New) and that my genetic heritage also tends strongly towards the cold marshy dunes of the North Sea (even other Dutch people think the Friesians are loopy), I abdicate all personal responsibility for my preferences. :-)

By the way, another CB alternative reminded me of itself today. (http://fredbey.club.fr/suffren_va.html)

[robbysmom.livejournal.com]

yup, 'round May 20th is the plan. C. has to be there the 19th for work; and my plan is to join her Friday (that day is commencement) by train.

We've yet to inform the P's of this plan.

Does that time work with your schedules?

[winterbadger]

Erm, well, except for the part where we're leaving the country on May 21st, yes.

:-( You'd just said "mid-May" before, so I'd assumed/hoped it was earlier.

Sounds like we'll pretty much miss each other. :-/

[robbysmom.livejournal.com]

oh, ack. right. hmmm. . .

Don't you worry

[redactrice.livejournal.com]

The downstairs resident may be leaving the country, but the upstairs residents will welcome you with open arms. I suspect the kittens will be gone by then, but you may well get to meet the sweet mama cat.