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Well, here I am, on the road again. Surprise, surprise, you say? Well, it was to me. I had plans that revolved around waking up around 8 or so, walking the dog, then sitting down to the computer to fish on Gaia. Er, I mean run my Gaia shop. Not, still not right. Revise my novel. Hmmm, missing something essential here….oh yeah, do some work from home. Well, all the former sorta counts as work, doesn’t it? Oh, don’t look so disapproving. It’s not like I don’t get real work done at home, it’s just that I’ve never let on that I get 90% of my work done between 9:30 and 11 or so. After that, people are at lunch, not returning calls, or can’t be bothered. Before that, they’re doing their actual work. As for me, I’m happy to split my day into drips and drabs when I want.

But the on the road aspect is different, of course. That actually requires me to be someplace. So, this morning at 4:30, I had my day’s plans altered by The Phone Call. 4:30 AM, and I know it’s “HQ” with an issue. Anyway, I’m on the plane two and a half hours later, planning on a nap but finishing DuMaurier’s “Rebecca” instead. Great read which surprised me by suddenly lurching from a languid, atmospheric novel to page turning suspense. I think I finished the last 200 pages in the time it took me to read the first three chapters. Good stuff, makes me all flushed with excitement and anxiety for the heroine (poor girl!). A few gnawed nails now bear mute testimony to DuMaurier’s skill with the craft. Once again, I feel humbled by my betters, but that hardly kept me from enjoying myself thoroughly.

My single overnight satchel over my shoulder (all liquids and creams removed by security mandate. I now have an excuse to look frumpy!), I plunged my way through the San Francisco terminal, an airport I have a grudging like for. Of course, I’m comparing it to LAX xp ! If you’re ever down around gate 73, there’s a decent bookstore with remaindered books in the back. I picked up a copy of Pratchett’s first Discworld novel for $4.95, so at least I still have something to read. I loved Good Omens (with my fantasy writer hero Gaimen collaborating), but have never really read Pratchett’s other work. It seems ok so far, if a bit self-consciously comical. In all events, it’s much nicer than the inflight magazines.

Well, I got to my destination up near the California border, courtesy of one of those small commuter prop planes. Have to love the people who ask the stewardess “Is this safe?” I half expect the poor girl to snap back “No, I have a bloody death wish!” Sheesh. But some people don’t know how to screen their thoughts. As for me, I’ve flown on a biplane (See “Up in the air, Junior Birdgirl!”), a glider and several times in small airplanes, like the ones with two seats. Commuter prop jobs might not be as much fun as those were, but seriously if a commuter flight frightens you, you really need to get out more.

Dealt with the “issues” (she said vaguely). I feel a bit like the Jean Reno character in “La Femme Nikita” at times, coming in to clean up the mess the others make. Well, I’m not a psychotic hired assassin. And I’m a bit shorter. Ok, I’m nothing like Jean Reno. Or Janet Reno, either, come to think of it. So perhaps the analogy is a bit weak. Good movie, though (see what unedited material looks like? xd )

(Side note, as I write this in an airport terminal. Why do parents let their children scream and run full speed in terminals? I mean, I know that even the best parents don’t always have total control over their children, but I’m watching a trio of 6 to 10 year olds run into peoples luggage, take off out of sight of the mother, and scream for the better part of 15 minutes while their mother sits and reads a magazine. Oh wait, she just called one of their names in a whiny voice and said “shhhhhhh”. Then went back to reading. Her children completely ignored her. I know, I know, just wait till I have some of my own neutral Normally, I love children, but right now I’m about ready to call up my doctor and ask about Norplant)

I got done what needed doing, and then to my infinite surprise, HQ booked me for a flight home. Oxbridge and Puppy, here I come heart I don’t know, maybe I’m turning into a homebody—Northern California is one of my favorite parts of the world, yet I feel no disappointment at returning home this evening.

Anyway, I’m on the road again tomorrow for a longer stay in and around Santa Barbara (beautiful wildlife preserve on some islands out there people like to go to), so I’m sure my traveling itch will get scratched. Maybe it’s Gaia’s influence, but I’m already thinking of a neat little Indian import stall downstairs that I can pick up some scarfs at. Heh. After all these years, and I may finally be developing a fashion sense—and all because of a videogame 4laugh . I won’t leave till the evening, which gives me the morning off to surf.

Unfortunately, it also means I won’t be around Thursday evening to do the final final version of Rent by the Gaian Theatre Company. I am tremendously disappointed to say the least, not the least of which reason is because it is the Talk Like a Pirate version. Yaaaaar! Mateys, ‘tis a most profound disappointment to this swabby to be a-sailin’ the seven seas (well, the Pacific, anyway) when I’s ought to be sportin’ about with me best mates!

Well, they’re about to call my flight, so I shall sign off, to meet many of you later this evening when Oxbridge goes to work. We did have a talk last night about him bringing his work home (he does concert organizing when he isn’t fluting about), or more to the point letting it spill into our time together. Nothing serious folks, it’s just that the poor boy is a workaholic at times. Me, I’m happy to slough off work when I can, and even when I shouldn’t. But he is just too earnest, sometimes. Last night he promised me a nice sushi dinner, but we almost arrived too late for the restaurant because somebody was busy counting seat assignments and stuffing envelopes. I really try not to fall into “neglected female” mode, but sometimes you just have to. Upshot, I pried him away in time, and we had a grand evening. Of course, when we got back, he had some more stuff to do (I fished and played cards for a couple of hours rolleyes ) but the important thing was that he relaxed for a couple of hours biggrin We both have somewhat hectic lives, and I think it’s best if we at least attempt to coordinate our chaos, however hopeless that may be.

Well, they’ve already boarded my row, so if I want to get onboard before the businessmen take all the overhead space (don’t even get me STARTED on armrest politics), I’d best be moving!

80 % of the speed of sound, higher then Everest, and trying to pull my blanket out from under a largish fellow’s bum,

V.