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

The Aroma Cafe is a spacious room with open beams over head, among which can be seen 2 big casablanca fans whirling lazily and, sometimes, a blue orangutan at rest. Other time, Ook (the orangutan) can be found beating customers at Scrabble, bussing tables, or working the internet machine on the back porch .... near the Venus statue (remember the Venus statue, everybody). There's an upright piano over against the wall, piled with rolls of our favorite selections (Bach, Chopin, Joplin, Satie, &c.), next to the saxophone on the table where an international selection of today's papers are stacked.

After a recent incident of over-enthusiasm with fireworks, there is a brand-new magic forest stretching away from the back porch of the cafe. It is still a bit over-fecund, and therefore resists trail-blazing. Until it "settles" we must, therefore, issue a waiver of responsibility for any customers who get lost trying to find the kite clearing or the swimming hole. Wait a couple of days.

The IIEM (Infinite Improbability Espresso Machine) is always available to fill your orders, whether or not the staff happen to be on duty. We have a wonderful range of coffees, teas, and specialty drinks (but nothing alcoholic), and we also feature a daily selection from Joanna's Donut Stall, pain du chocolat, and Aunt Lil's Home-Baked Mbougatses.

JINGLE JINGLE

Those are the bells of sarna behind the front door as you come in. Welcome!

*jing-a-ling*

Good morning Lil. Hi, Ook!

Well met, redbeard! *serves rbb in fttf cup*
----------> ^}~{^

I've just been to the ICU to see if there's been any change in DD's status. *sighs*

*jingle-lingle-ling-aling-ding*
*somewhat winded*

Morning, all. Seems like I've been running for two days. Can't stop now, either. Just stopped to get a cuppa and a pastry. Will stop back later.

Thanks for the cup and the chew. Ta.

*whoooshhh..*

*jingle-lingle-ling-aling-ding*

*something stirs beneath the afghan*

'lo everybody.
Oo, the walls are dancing. How pretty.

*the Something curls back up and dozes off again*

Awww.
*fixes green tea for Odra and sets on table by sofa*
This will be tepid by the time she wants it.
*puts codiene tablets by tea*

It's thundering overhead IRL: must log off for a while. I'll be back later.
*heads down into basement to take tunnel back to Atelier*
We need a sign down here so the curious ones know what this is for...

This is for loony:

The more I love myself, the more I will be loved

*wakes, sits up (veerrry slowly), and carefully sips tea. Follows tepid tea with the tablets(thank you infinitely, Lil), wraps self in afghan, deciding to sit on the porch and take the forest air (and, in her slightly altered condition, stare at the Venus for a while. Should be entertaining.)*

*nods hello to Sporky on the way to the porch, wincing slightly. Diogenes follows her and sits in her lap, inspecting her ice pack with great interest*

*comes out of new forest onto back porch and stops to groom*
Tangly out there!
Hi Blue Ape.
*looks in cafe*
*sees cat enjoying sun in window and stands tall high and looks at cat with red glowing eyes*

*cat looks at me and decides to stay on window, ha!*

*sees Odradek lying on sofa and goes over, stands up to peer into face*
sniff sniff
Odra is wounded!
*sits so can see all of cafe and nothing behind me*
Wish owner buddy was home.

ignore me?
*snarls and runs out of cafe into the woods*

Wait! Styx! I might need your help in tracking the rat-ants!

Hello Odra, Sporky, jr-lovely day!

*looks around*

I thought I saw Styx come in the Cafe from the forest, guess I just missed him. Ah, well. IIEM, may I have an espresso? Thanks.

*walks over to table by open window*

Hi, Afi-the rat-ants are afoot I take it.

[rushes in just to say he was there]

He was there!

Er, I'm thirsty. Can I have a beer of the root variety?

*blinks*

Oh, did l miss Styx?
Sorry, ratface...you're not getting any of my Perkiset, though...nope...wheee...

Still no change, on DD, but the blood tests will be out shortly.

I'm back. An intense storm -- the kind that won't stop barking -- went over and I had to go offline. Everything is protected but the phone line into the laptop. And it was good I got off, because the fax kept getting goosed!

Is DD officially comatose? Sorry to hear it. I'm sure it's not true that his liver was weakened to begin with.

Styx was in and out, eh? Looks like he took offense over a simulpost.

Here's a root beer for YK ----------> c (with ice and a straw)

Hallo ox, I heard you're thinking about a retreat in the woods.

*returns to couch, settles self comfortably*
Hiya, Lil. Any chance of some tepid tea, please?

Hi, Lil! Yes, a retreat always does me good. Affy has me slightly concerned about the rat-ants, but a true hermit can't focus on probable danger. Too bad I missed Styx-I'll bet he's made it through a good bit of the new growth.