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From the plane
Dec. 23rd, 2002 11:59 pmThe fog this morning was thick and cold. That early, everything seemed muted and quiet, even with the cats acting like demented ferrets. (Not that I really know how a sane ferret is supposed to act...)
My plane was delayed some two hours for mechanical reasons. They never specify, but perversely, the delay assures me that they catch these things rather than let them slip, and let us slip, rather fatally, mid-air. Rainier is looming large outside my window to the left. I think of it as a quieter Fuji - perhaps less perfectly conic, but beautiful and imposing. The lurking mountain. The line between the vegetation and the sharp climb of white and grey ice to the summit is quite abrupt.
I finished the one physical book I brought in my carry-on. (I have slightly less than a dozen, destined for presents, in the hold.) Sundiver. I'd forgotten quite how well David Brin weaves his mysteries - I want to read Startide Rising again - that was my introduction to his books. I loved the randy insouciance of the dolphins the most, I think.
Speaking of books, I managed to fill my Palm yesterday - some 11 books off the Free Library (mostly Eric Flint, which I've reread a number of times,) but for now I am resting my eyes and tiring my hand by practicing calligraphy. It slows me down - instead of thinking in phrases and words (and skipping letters, sliding words together as I scribble my thoughts down) I am concentrate on letters and pen strokes. At this level it is more art than literature, however much it manages to pretty up my penmanship. (A thing I notice deteriorates the more I type and use Palm Graffiti)
I got a lovely compliment on my penmanship at the ticket counter - I was using my calligraphy pen (rather slap-dashery) to mark my luggage tags. It wasn't good calligraphy, but I guess it's rather an abrupt step above the level of normal penmanship these days...
Information is such king these days that so little attention is paid to spare elegance. Flash or substance, and even I bow to the demands of bandwidth throttle.
I'm getting a little paranoid for my luggage. I did not copy my working files and folders to my laptop and my un-backed-up hard drive is sitting in the lump of my luggage. Altitude! Pressure! Temperature! Now I think of it. Ah well, I'll kick my ass here to Alaska should I lose any of it. (Editor's Note: No files were lost in the duration of this vacation.)
Dad has managed to lose his cell phone and they still don't have a house line (or DSL, needing as it does an actual phone line. The DSL installers showed up before the phone people.) Fortunately, WindDancer is connected, and my brother has his cell on, so I've managed to let them know I'll be a bit late (Editor's Note: With another 2 hour delay in Salt Lake, this ended up to be a 4 hour delay.) I don't know how I existed in these sorts of emergency delays before. (though, really - emergency? Crashing bore, more like.)
I am a bit miffed at Sprint PCS for the abysmal reception I have at home and at work. Honestly, I spend the majority of my time at one or the other, and to only intermittently receive calls? And at a poor quality when they do get through? Quite unacceptable. As soon as my contract with them is up, I shall switch providers. Mayhap by that time I shall afford a nifty, snazzy gadget like Lori's.
We're coming up on Salt Lake and the mountains have given way to a patchwork of brown rounds and tan squares, dusted with white. It's all very sepia, save for the brilliant blue hiding behind wispy clouds.
My plane was delayed some two hours for mechanical reasons. They never specify, but perversely, the delay assures me that they catch these things rather than let them slip, and let us slip, rather fatally, mid-air. Rainier is looming large outside my window to the left. I think of it as a quieter Fuji - perhaps less perfectly conic, but beautiful and imposing. The lurking mountain. The line between the vegetation and the sharp climb of white and grey ice to the summit is quite abrupt.
I finished the one physical book I brought in my carry-on. (I have slightly less than a dozen, destined for presents, in the hold.) Sundiver. I'd forgotten quite how well David Brin weaves his mysteries - I want to read Startide Rising again - that was my introduction to his books. I loved the randy insouciance of the dolphins the most, I think.
Speaking of books, I managed to fill my Palm yesterday - some 11 books off the Free Library (mostly Eric Flint, which I've reread a number of times,) but for now I am resting my eyes and tiring my hand by practicing calligraphy. It slows me down - instead of thinking in phrases and words (and skipping letters, sliding words together as I scribble my thoughts down) I am concentrate on letters and pen strokes. At this level it is more art than literature, however much it manages to pretty up my penmanship. (A thing I notice deteriorates the more I type and use Palm Graffiti)
I got a lovely compliment on my penmanship at the ticket counter - I was using my calligraphy pen (rather slap-dashery) to mark my luggage tags. It wasn't good calligraphy, but I guess it's rather an abrupt step above the level of normal penmanship these days...
Information is such king these days that so little attention is paid to spare elegance. Flash or substance, and even I bow to the demands of bandwidth throttle.
I'm getting a little paranoid for my luggage. I did not copy my working files and folders to my laptop and my un-backed-up hard drive is sitting in the lump of my luggage. Altitude! Pressure! Temperature! Now I think of it. Ah well, I'll kick my ass here to Alaska should I lose any of it. (Editor's Note: No files were lost in the duration of this vacation.)
Dad has managed to lose his cell phone and they still don't have a house line (or DSL, needing as it does an actual phone line. The DSL installers showed up before the phone people.) Fortunately, WindDancer is connected, and my brother has his cell on, so I've managed to let them know I'll be a bit late (Editor's Note: With another 2 hour delay in Salt Lake, this ended up to be a 4 hour delay.) I don't know how I existed in these sorts of emergency delays before. (though, really - emergency? Crashing bore, more like.)
I am a bit miffed at Sprint PCS for the abysmal reception I have at home and at work. Honestly, I spend the majority of my time at one or the other, and to only intermittently receive calls? And at a poor quality when they do get through? Quite unacceptable. As soon as my contract with them is up, I shall switch providers. Mayhap by that time I shall afford a nifty, snazzy gadget like Lori's.
We're coming up on Salt Lake and the mountains have given way to a patchwork of brown rounds and tan squares, dusted with white. It's all very sepia, save for the brilliant blue hiding behind wispy clouds.
