Relentless Inquiry

A complete relaxacon for us– went to panels, to dinner out, to Saturday Market on Saturday morning, to Powell's on the way to the airport, and spent some time just hanging out watching the amazingly obscure video track on channels 20 & 24 in the hotel room. Ran into RT, Ambar, KathrynT & Eric, Mimi, and a tiny handful of other folks briefly, and that was fun. Got lots of compliments from randoms on my new quilt-pattern dresses. Hadn't really tried to hook up with folks and make con plans, as I didn't know if I'd actually make it up there until the last minute, so we weren't very social.

First time I've flown since early December 2000, when I had to fly to New Orleans for LISA. The nudge upwards in the thyroid meds seems to have finally nuked the borderline anxiety that I've had for the past 6 – 8 years. At least, that's my theory on what's doing it, and it seems the most plausible. Took an Ativan for the flight up, didn't need any assistance for the flight back. Yay, me. Doing a long-haul, or a several plane-change flight, might still be a stretch, but at least the world of non-stops is open to me again, so Seattle, Portland, San Diego, and parts of the Southwest are easy. Actually, Jet Blue now flies non-stop from San Jose to Boston, so an East Coast visit is a good possibility, without having to rely on the train (or on being on sabbatical and traveling in an RV).

Bought off the Angry Puffy One from her ears-back tormenting of the carpet, and furious scrabbling around the house in high dudgeon. I presented her with a new Cat Body Pillow from the Spoiled Cat folks at Saturday Market. Her old one had pretty much lost its zing over the last couple of years. Got two this time, so both the Alpha cat and the Beta cat could have one. The nip is so nippy that the mint smell zings right up the sinuses. There was much rejoicing, and Boo has temporarily forgotten how pissed she is that we were gone for 3 whole days. Safe, for now.

Also came back to the surprise of many spindly sprouts– yow! Had planted up some seeds on Thursday afternoon, for winter garden seedlings. I put broccoli (di cicco and romanesco) & cauliflower (year-round) in one container, and some cabbage (drumhead and early jersey) in another. The cabbage is not up, but I've got what looks like 90% germination on the broccoli and cauliflower, and spindly inch-tall seedlings. Serious case of “plant 'em from a height, so they don't hit you in the eye coming up”. Now I've really got to get at least one of the winter beds set up fully. And get that particular container out into the better light on the porch asap.