I am eating a little lunch and in a bit I will go out for a walk. The Salvation Army bell is ringing outside. They have lots of different volunteers out ringing the bell, so it's not the same person outside my window everyday. They wear a red apron, but no Santa suit, or even a Santa hat. Maybe they think it saves them money to not wear the Santa suits. Maybe they think that it makes their cause more secular (but this is the SALVATION ARMY, for heaven's sake). I did see one woman last year wearing a Santa hat, and I made sure to drop some change in her bucket.

I went out for a couple of drinks with the ladies (Cheri, Rita, Katherine) last night. It's always so good and cathartic to chat with them. And I know that I am not the only one with a crazy schedule since it seems like we only really get together once every couple of months! It's the same with many of our friends, but there has been much travel and running around going on lately. I am so ready for everything to calm down a bit. Some quiet-ish time at home with the cats appeals to me.

What else is news? Kimby's cat Callie has diabetes. She is boarding at the vet while Kim and Glenn are on their honeymoon. I have been designated as the go-to person should anything happen while they are away. Right before the wedding Kim spoke with the vet and it sounded like Callie was improving. I haven't heard anything from them, and I'm thinking that no news is good news. She's a sweet little kitty. Hope she's not too traumatized.

I started reading David Lodge's Thinks... the other day. Bought it at the airport on the way back from the wedding. It's really not bad. It flows nicely, and while it's not a terribly demanding read (which is good right now), there's still some interesting stuff in there to think about. I'm also in the middle of Celine's Death on the Installment Plan (started it in Portland) and a variety of other books!

Well, I think it's about time for that walk!

Happy wedding day to Kim & Glenn! I'm killing some time before I have to go to my assigned duties, so I thought I'd lug the laptop to somewhere where I could get internet access, so, even though Terri is going to kill me for setting foot inside one, I'm at a Starbucks, leeching from one of their new wireless internet access points. It's a bit rainy outside, so even though the Manassass battlefield is only an exit away, I'd rather be at Starbucks. I've always felt that there are enough civil war buffs in the country that it's well covered. I'd rather remember things just as they're about to be forgotten.

Last night Terri spent the night in Alexandria with Kim, so I was on my own at the hotel this morning. There are three or four different kids' teams staying in the hotel: field hockey, soccer, track. The continental breakfast room was packed with them this morning. I ran in to Al and Debbie, then Suzi and Anita. I ran to CVS to see if they had any umbrellas better than the one I already have, and when I got back Sue and Nate were down, just about on their way to the hair salon in Alexandria, and they were talking to Kay and Larry. I talked to them for a while, and then went back down and talked to Helen and Harold, who were sitting with "Johnny O." (a.k.a. Watson) and Maria.

I probably should actually head out and see if I can get cell phone reception and try to get in touch with Terri.

I have to admit that I'm completely addicted to being on the Internet, and was starting to feel weird after being disconnected for the past few days. I also have to point out that I would be utterly addicted to C-Span Radio if we had it in Boston. Til next time...

I think Edie likes The Pogues.