1) Just saw a big many-tined antlered buck drinking off a small body of water as the train rumbled by. He lifted that magnificent head and looked up at us as we sped by - very pale-haired, almost (although not QUITE) the white stag of the fairy tales. I think he may be a messenger. I shall accept him as such. Let's see what the next little while ( Read more... )

Odd nights abound at this hotel. The latest was being woken abruptly from a sound sleep at something like 2:30 AM by MUSIC, loud enough to wake me, coming from the room next to me. I contemplated simply sitting up and banging on the wall in a fit of righteous irate indignation, but then saner thoughts prevailed and I phoned the front desk instead. ( Read more... )

Woke this morning to thick frost, almost looked like snow from my window, everything white and still and beautiful They say the low was well below freezing overnight, and it showed. The air smelled crisp, wintery, GORGEOUS. Above, another clear blue sky, pouring sunshine. I just stood at the window for a long time, looking out, smiling. If there ( Read more... )

Day 1: Thursday October 13, 2011 ( Read more... )

Lo, these many years ago I found myself in Dublin on the day that everyone was not only wearing, but was largely PAINTED green ( Read more... )

THIS is SO COOL. It's pricy - rooms start at mid-$200 mark and go up like a New York skyscraper - but dear GOD it's so cool ( Read more... )

... but my last day in New York turned out rather fabulous ( Read more... )

My Saturday morning presentation at the Librarians Conference was... surprisingly lively for its time slot (8:30 AM - I know *I* got there without breakfast and barely with coffee, so I know the audience had similar daunting problems, and they still came, which was wonderful...) Gave my spiel, talked to a bunch of audience members afterwards, went ( Read more... )

Seriously, it's startling how utterly different the west and the east of the Cascades backbone are. We started out this morning (well, noon) from the green cedary west, drove down to the 405, crossed over to the I-90, and hit Snoqualmie Pass. Shortly thereafter I remarked to rdeck something along the lines of, "I don't think we're in Kansas any more, ( Read more... )

Enjoy.