After a weekend spent caretaking an elderly friend so his wife could have a bit of a break (they have a pool so it's been fun as well as a bit challenging), Paul and I are off tomorrow for a trip to Britain. We're leaving in less than 24 hours and I'm not even packed. Though we're only going to be their two weeks, the time seems packed with an almost disorienting combination of visits with relatives, scene friends and a trip to the Edinburgh festival.
It will be important not to mix the scene friends and the relatives up -- I had a dream last night where in a jet lagged blur I absent-mindedly wore my new gymslip to a dinner with my inlaws. This couldn't really happen only because I'm not taking my gymslip. (It's with me after all at the request of my beloved -- so the danger persists.) Otherwise I'm completely capable of such a mistake. The only bright spot in the nightmare was the knowledge that Paul would be even more
embarrassed than me. Trust me, that doesn't happen very often.
I'm not planning on bringing my laptop -- my mac powerbook is a creaky 10 this year and I can't justify the 8 pounds of excess weight (maybe Santa will bring me a macbook air) so my internet access will be only as frequent as I can pry Paul's laptop out of his selfish, hard and large hands.
It's been a great weekend though. My birthday present finally came. It's a new bike -- a hot pink Hello Kitty beach cruiser (picture here -- you can click for a larger version). This very special gift, even cooler in person and speaks to my Hello Kitty desires which I will try and remember to write to you about another time.
Sadly, I've barely had a chance to actually ride it yet and only just around the block, but whenever he's missing me, Paul goes into our friend's garage and finds me stroking it in a loving yet slightly disturbing fashion.
Anyway, we're about to leave for London as I write this. I'm bringing a journal so with any luck I'll be able to write some dispatches as computer and 'net access allows. In any case, if I go silent for a few weeks, you now know where I am. If you miss me, tell Paul to share his computer. (Note: he's not selfish. We share everything else. But our computers seem to be a share too far.
When we get back it will be almost time for Shadow Lane in Vegas. I'm looking forward to getting together with some of PB authors (Iris, sparkle and Bridget will be there) and (hopefully) getting to call the others at the same time so we can all wish Iris much happiness in her coming (and happily spanko) marriage.
August looks to be a very good month.
