Saturday, December 26, 2009

My Christmas Miracle

From MarsEdit Images
As demonstrated in a previous post, I've had some troubles traveling this year. This is what happened:

After the previously blogged events, I stayed on the floor of DCA until 2am. At which time I was told that tomorrow I'd fly to Boston and get a connecting flight to Detroit. That was fine; I just wanted to get off the floor. They also offered me a hotel, but I'd have to take a cab. Since that was the case, I opted to just go home.

The cab got me home at 2:20am, and I was in bed asleep ten minutes later.

At 5am, the alarm went off and I was in DCA by 5:48am. I was slap happy and loopy. Words were hard to find, and my balance was somewhere between "humpty dumpty" and "drunken sailor."

Of course, I knew it wouldn't be easy. The ticket agent took one look at the piece of paper I had received the night before and started shaking his head. "Oh, no," he said. He went on to explain the myriad of reasons why it wouldn't work.

30minutes, 3 people, and one call to Jasmie on the help line did not raise my spirits. I still smiled and continued my exhausted politeness, but I had no idea what to do. I couldn't drive on two hours of sleep; there'd be no way I could make it by Christmas.

That's when my Christmas miracle happened. Somehow, I was booked on a direct flight from DCA to DTW. I don't know how, I fear some poor soul was bumped or otherwise inconvenienced to make it happen. But there was a ticket in my hand!

And so I arrived, well in time for Christmas. Despite everything, I did make it here. Topping that, was the fact that despite the incredible wackiness with my trip the entire staff of U.S. Airways worked to take care of and compensate me.

At this moment I'm in a car headed for Indiana, and grateful to be with my family (at last).

Friday, December 25, 2009

Xmas Phase One Bragshot




Of note: Illustrated Paradise Lost, A Drifting Life, BPRD, Crumb's genesis, steel fingerpicks, wacom Bamboo, NPR quiz cards, flying time delorean, and Star Trek DVD in a nifty spaceship.

Phase 2: includes a Roku box, and and an angry mob.


Location:Barclay Ct,Troy,United States

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Waiting for my Christmas miracle

I'm not going to complain too much. My flight was delayed 4 hours and then I was told the flight was oversold and that I would not be allowed to board the flight.



The staff of US Airways has been very helpful, but I am cold and lonely on the floor of DCA. I've been waiting for two hours just to get rebooked. But I am getting rebooked, and a pile of cash, and apparently a hotel for the night. That's why I shouldn't complain: it's been a crummy day, but that's all.

I wish I was at home.




Location:DCA

Monday, December 21, 2009

Arrival is the End

As you can surmise, I made it easily to Virginia. On reflection Ot probably went faster yesterday than any othe time I can recall. Without anyone on the roads I wizzed through four states until I finally got back to the NCR.

Speaking as a person from Michigan, this storm was pretty bad. The snow drifts are big enough to lose your kid in, and the gridwork of streets that make up my neighborhood haven't seen a lot of love from the snow plows.


This is like my winter dreams from childhood. We always would get a lot of snow, but this is a special thing that drives a city into its collective bunny slippers.


The roads are ice. Thick ice, going down near two inches in some areas.


Though it was predicted, everyone still seems surprised at the state of things. Even these chairs seem kind of dumbfounded.

The whole experience has been good for my local image as a rustbelter, experienced in the ways of economic decline, losing sports teams, and bad weather. I think that's difference between midwesterners and the east coast folk. Michigan folk never seemed to have any secret tricks for surviving snow storms, they just accepted whatever blew in. Snow always comes, as surely as trouble always comes. No sense in getting upset and running off to stock up on eggs when the weather man is grave; we'll get through this as we have so many other times.




Location:E Duncan Ave,Alexandria,United States

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Off I Go

Claire and dog are Illinois bound, and the sun is getting higher. Sadly, I'm headed towards it.



I'm headed to DC. There's work to do and I've already cancled more flights than I care to in a month. Also, I have only the clothes on my back. As I told Claire's father, "right now it's 'what you see is what you get.'"



The worst thing for me is that I don't have my iPod. A few CDs won't see me through. Fortunately, Claire loaned me a BBC radio play of the Hobbit, so I can geek out and drive at the same time.

I'm only a little bitter that I won't hear the thrilling conclusion of the story I was listening to on the way out here.

I will, however, be taking it nice and slow on the way back. This will be a new experience for me, since I am always rushing. I'm looking forward to it, a bit. A little time to rest my mind in preperation for my Further Holiday Travels.

And of course if this doesn't work I'll just pop in to Mike O'Brien's homestead and try to talk my way into a warm bed for the night. Either that or I'll move in with Keith. They won't mind, right?


Location:Georgetown Blvd,Ann Arbor,United States

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Secret Mission




And so, with little fuss, we arrived in Ann Arbor. The first night was a harrowing drive, today's was utterly mild. Besides a struggle to find my sock this mornig (it was in the boxers I was wearing) we faced no adventure.


The Ann Arbor Holiday Inn has really grown on me, but it does make me a little sad to do these whirlwind trips through here. I'll be leaving tomorrow morning, without having paid my respects to the Gargoyle, eaten at my favorite haunts, written loving grafitti outside the offices of Prof. E.S. Rabkin, or Prof. Rubadeau, or sought out the ellusive Absofacto or #MattThompson.

Claire will be heading off to the mysterious Barker family compound tomorrow, and I'll trudge back the way I came. I sincerely hope things settle down for us. Between th Holidays, work, school, and dog it seems like there isn't a moment to stop and think.

What's foremost on my mind is getting back into the NCR. As I understad, it is still snowing there. I am quite worried that I won't able to get back!

But the Vibe has been excellent on its first winter trip. However, for the sake of drama, I will pose this question: CAN I MAKE IT BACK ALIVE?!



...stay tuned!

Location:Plymouth Rd,Ann Arbor,United States

Snowstorm

The NCR is all in a tizzy about a massive snowstorm that hit the area last night. With that looming over us, Claire, dog, and I made a break for Pennsylvania in an effort to get to Ann Arbor.

We spent last night at a Red Roof just at the end of the PA turnpike. We missed the bulk of the storm, thankfully. Only two inches or so this morning, but it's still falling.




The weather has made Tenzing ecstatic. He's much more active in the cold, due in no small part to his massive fuzziness. And his favorite toy is the snow.




We're about to leave again. With the mountains behind us, as well as most of the storm, we should make good time.



Location:Pennsylvania Turnpike,Cranberry,United States

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Life after Nanowrimo

Photo on 2009-12-16 at 21.39 #2.jpg


Now that Nanowrimo is past behind, I need to turn my mind to a new project or else run the risk of completely losing my marbles.

Last year about this time I recorded two hours of conversation and music with my dad about music in this family. Eddy's need not have it pointed out, but others may not be aware that music is, uh, kind of important around here.

That and freakishly strong coffee.

Anyway, there was a massive technical cuss-up and I thought much of that recording was lost. Instead, I found that my computer had created some 500 5-second audio clips. I've just finished putting these snippets back together, and I'm turning my attention to cutting them apart again into something that the average person would enjoy listening to.

I don't know when or if this project will be done, but that's what I am going to be taking on in my spare time. If you're interested, feel free to suggest a title. My working name for the project is "Psycho Evangelistic Cha-Cha: Music in my family."
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My other blog is also alive and well. Take a look! I'll be posting more on this little audio project here and there as well. wmeddy.com

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

I Am Just a Tool for the Octopuses

Oh my goodness the little octopus.



You can read more on the Wired science blog. And see adorable little octopus eyes peeking out of a coconut (oh my goodness).

I've always loved octopuses, and this is just one more reason: tool use.

Come to think of it, I really like animals that have the higher levels of intelligence that give them personality: octopuses, crows, dogs, etc. But the humble and clever octopus will always have a special place in my heart.

UPDATE:

EVEN STILL YET MORE OCTOPUS ACTION