Let's file this day under "should have been."
I meant to go to Kendô practice today despite my vaguely achy metatarsus (figuring that fumikomi would either break it or cure it).
I meant to finally buy new jeans but didn't find any. Ah well, Gondor has no pants, Gondor needs no pants. Or something like that.
As there was nobody at home in Cologne between classes and Kendô (my own fault, should've checked with people beforehand) and I thought I'd forgotten my keikogi anyway I decided to drive home to pick up the gi. Also to see if 'náro had finally returned from his extended roam of the neighbourhood. (Normally he comes home around midnight to sleep on our bed; last night he hadn't returned, and as it was a very cold night, Jörg and I were rather worried).
Well, turned out that there had been a truck accident at one of the construction sites. Highway closed down - fortunately just beyond my interception, but between my current location (like, seven kilometers before hte interception?) and said interception there was The Traffic Jam Of d00m.
The seven kilometers took me THREE. DAMN. HOURS. In other words I would've been faster on foot, except then my poor car would've stood alone on the highway. THREE HOURS. After a while of growling and gnashing my teeth I actually made some use the time (which was mostly standing around for half an hour, then crawl a few meters, then stand around again) by finally finishing Orality and Literacy, composing a kitschy autumn poem (no, I will not let you read it!), and reading the introduction and first 250 lines of Beowulf (which was the only other book I had with me). So the time wasn't entirely wasted. But, GRAH.
By that time, I could either have returned to Cologne for the latter half of Kendô or... not. I decided for not, instead marching around calling for 'náro who chose not to react. At this point all kinds of horrifying scenarios began to form in my head, including but not limited to wild boars, stags, dogs, sumps and/or frozen rivers.
Our neighbour showed up to tell me that a parcel had arrived for us, and would I by chance need some eggs, her hens had been over-eager again?
Picked up parcel, declined eggs. Made tea to warm up. After another hour 'náro finally turned up, complaining loudly that he was hungry. Fed him and Darcy. Needed to go to bathroom but 'náro curled up on my lap and fell asleep. Charming kitten.
Thanks to the uninsulated roof, there isn't much point in heating most rooms. Have been wearing four pairs of socks and three pullovers all weekend, had no chance to do so now due to kitten on my lap. At least lap was warm. Think I caught cold anyway. That's what I get for being too proud of my generally tough constitution. >_>
On plus side, kitten is safe, and metatarsus has stopped aching.
I meant to finally buy new jeans but didn't find any. Ah well, Gondor has no pants, Gondor needs no pants. Or something like that.
As there was nobody at home in Cologne between classes and Kendô (my own fault, should've checked with people beforehand) and I thought I'd forgotten my keikogi anyway I decided to drive home to pick up the gi. Also to see if 'náro had finally returned from his extended roam of the neighbourhood. (Normally he comes home around midnight to sleep on our bed; last night he hadn't returned, and as it was a very cold night, Jörg and I were rather worried).
Well, turned out that there had been a truck accident at one of the construction sites. Highway closed down - fortunately just beyond my interception, but between my current location (like, seven kilometers before hte interception?) and said interception there was The Traffic Jam Of d00m.
The seven kilometers took me THREE. DAMN. HOURS. In other words I would've been faster on foot, except then my poor car would've stood alone on the highway. THREE HOURS. After a while of growling and gnashing my teeth I actually made some use the time (which was mostly standing around for half an hour, then crawl a few meters, then stand around again) by finally finishing Orality and Literacy, composing a kitschy autumn poem (no, I will not let you read it!), and reading the introduction and first 250 lines of Beowulf (which was the only other book I had with me). So the time wasn't entirely wasted. But, GRAH.
By that time, I could either have returned to Cologne for the latter half of Kendô or... not. I decided for not, instead marching around calling for 'náro who chose not to react. At this point all kinds of horrifying scenarios began to form in my head, including but not limited to wild boars, stags, dogs, sumps and/or frozen rivers.
Our neighbour showed up to tell me that a parcel had arrived for us, and would I by chance need some eggs, her hens had been over-eager again?
Picked up parcel, declined eggs. Made tea to warm up. After another hour 'náro finally turned up, complaining loudly that he was hungry. Fed him and Darcy. Needed to go to bathroom but 'náro curled up on my lap and fell asleep. Charming kitten.
Thanks to the uninsulated roof, there isn't much point in heating most rooms. Have been wearing four pairs of socks and three pullovers all weekend, had no chance to do so now due to kitten on my lap. At least lap was warm. Think I caught cold anyway. That's what I get for being too proud of my generally tough constitution. >_>
On plus side, kitten is safe, and metatarsus has stopped aching.