h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Minoova, get Sporky some OJ.
I have thunder right overhead, must log off. Back later.

and I to w*rk

tootles

*enters via electrical system*

*looks at Minoova, shakes head*

.oO Top heavy, probably falls over a lot. On the other hand, probably bounces back upright*

*leaves card on foyer table*

_________________________________________________

....................................Amy the Ant.......................................

.....................................Taking the........................................

......Protection, Intelligence and Security Services........

.....................................seriously..........................................

__________________________________________________

*on back of card, handwritten*

I was in the neighbourhood and dropped by.

*leaves via electrical system*

*comes in from studio rooms* Now that was one heavy storm. Good thing I had my laptop disconnected, cos the phone line kept jabbing the fax machine.

*yawns* I wish the weekend was over. Everybody will hate me for saying that, but when you work from home, weekends are just the days when it rains. And when everybody goes away. We can't just be sitting about like it was a cafe. I miss the discussions.

I was just looking through my books for pictures of ferrets last night when I came across a drawing of a two-toed sloth, except it was called a Great Silky Anteater. The claws and face and head shape were unmistakeable, though. It was you, Mindspring. *reaches down and pets Springie, who meeps dozily*

*sees card on occasional table, on way to kitchen*

Well that was nice of Amy to drop by. What a shame nobody was home to greet her and make her feel at home. Perhaps she'll come back when I'm here. Security, hm? And me without a single lock on any door or window. I leave that kind of thing to the Boys Downstairs.

*goes into kitchen to make tea*

*floating in, in her usual vague, elf-like manner*

Hi, any one around?

Minoova, mbougatse and champagne, s'il vous plait

Minoova: oui, ma reine

*Diogenes the cat meanders in via the cafe tunnel and promptly makes himself comfortable by the fireplace*


}Now, why didn't someone bloody -tell- me we had one of these in the vicinity?
Much better than a windowsill...{


*coils himself comfortably, within a respectful distance of Mindspring, but nice and close to the warmth*

Hallo Titania, nice of you to drop by. Isn't this most wonderfully depraved, having a maid! And of course Garius had to connect the dots, didn't he. So what are you reading?

*Mindspring senses another drowsy entity on the hearthrug; before much time has gone by, the two animals are in a communal heap*

Hi Lil!

After finishing re-reading Tolkien, I now started re-reading Douglas Adams' books (discovered I forgot the details I've stumbled over here and there)..

Oh, Lil, BTW, I made a reference to your entry on "Web Safe Colours" on my page, hope that's alright?

*sitting down on the floor by the fireplace, cuddling Diogenes and Minspring - simultaneously*

*a rattling, thumping and generalized yelping noise is heard in the tunnel below -- it ends abruptly with an ominous crash. Several minutes later the lift doors open, and Odra rolls out. Stops to remove skates, then wanders inside, shaking head briefly at sight of Digi asleep*
To think l thought you were being dismembered by rat-ants...

*cat yawns idly*

Hi, all. l promse l come to you zilch-less...

You boost my ego!

I am still trying to make my way through a book of collected science fiction for 1998. 8 point type, one of those Dozois omnibii. But such stories. I don't how I used to read short story sf the way I eat M&Ms.

*Minoova serves tea*
*Lil observes drily*
Notice how the posterior balances out the anterior portions. This bot is a bit of a cartoon, isn't it? Still, I am grateful for the work the boys do, and for the technological magic that rubs off. Do you like the new veranda?

*jumps* Odra! I'd like to say I didn't hear you come in, but that's not so, is it! Come on in. Don't they make a charming pile of animal? I was reading a book of pictures in which a sloth is called a great silky anteater, but I don't know if our Springie could keep up with an ant. Or eat anything I didn't hand feed her. The silky part is true, though.

Veranda? Haven't tried that one out yet... *rises, leaving Springe and Diogenes to meep at fireplace, drifting out on to the veranda*

Hee. Hope l didn't make too much of a racket -- l'm not so good on those skates and my stopping skills need a bit of work, l fear...
*strokes the sleeping head of Springie*
Oh, you seemed to be keeping up okay after you got into the carbohydrates at QMike's little shindig, dear...l daresay you could get those ants if you pleased...
*she goes on napping*
What does she eat, anyway?

Hmm. Speaking of eating...is the charming Minoova around? l thought l heard Titania speaking French to her. l didn't know she was multilingual.
l wonder if she could give me some pointers about taking on that cleaning bot at the cafe?

*drifting in from the veranda*

What, the cleaning bot is French-speaking?

l thought...didn't she answer you in such?
Then again, it might just be me and my codiene-addled senses...

There are two cleaning bots that I know of, Titania. One is this pneumatic French-speaking "ladies" model, and the other is an industrial-strength bot at the Aroma cafe, which also does the lavatories. If that bot has a nationality, I would say east German swimmer, as was.

Minoova still has all the cleaning skills, but she's technically a maid-of-all-work now. Garius simply fulfilled a wolfish fantasy or two when he upgraded her.

I gotta go, and I don't expect to get back in here till gone 2200 east coast US time. If I don't see you here tonight, then tomorrow I hope.

*goes into private apartments*

And l meant to ask her if she wanted any more of that beer.
Ah well. l will later.
*settles in by the fire with Mindspring and Digi, meeping slightly herself*

ls the verandah nice, Titania?

Yeah, warm night, sky full of stars...

I know Minoova speaks French, but I haven't met the 'bot at the Cafe yet.
East German swimmer? Well, I speak German, too...

Hey Odra, if we could get Springie and Digi out on the veranda, together with the never-ending bottle of champagne from Lil's fridge, how about that? Is Styx around?