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

What a glorious weekend! The weather has cooled off- the heat of summer is gone at long last, and my brain can finally stop sizzling. It's actually gotten quite brisk for this time of year, we usually don't see temperatures like we're having till near the end of October... but I'm loving it! The air is crisp and cool, the oppressive humidity is gone, and when it's sunny (it's a bit overcast today, but that's okay), it's not scorching. It's my favorite time of the year! Soon, the leaves will turn and begin to fall, and I won't be able to resist the urge to play in them.

Things are going all right otherwise, all things considered. No news is generally good news, and things have been relatively quiet around here. Hopefully it's not just the calm before the storm. Other than picking up about 15 hours a week of overtime recently (which is a *good* thing, under the circumstances), I've absolutely nothing new and exciting to report.

But I'm so looking forward to the first snow! I love the wintertime, even if winters in Chicago can be downright brutal. It still beats roasting to death in the dog days of summer!

I thoroughly enjoy spending these quiet weekends at home. It's wonderful to get up at the crack of dawn, when all is quiet, and get my projects and tidying up done, then lounge around in pajamas all day just goofing off. I got a new bookcase this week, and had fun this morning arranging my multitude of books in it. Now that I can actually find them, I can get back to reading some of them again. Woohoo! All I've left to do now is a load of laundry, watch a movie or read while having a pot of tea, and wait for a couple of phone calls to come in. It's so nice being able to RELAX once in a while.

Let me know how you're all doing, and what you've been getting up to. Take good care, everyone, and hope to talk with each of you soon! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, and have a good week.

Hi psychocandy, I often wonder just how much more I could accomplish each day, if I got up earlier, at the moment dragging myself out of bed at 10am is difficult enough! Good to see you motivated and happy!

Hello Psychocandy, hello Kaz.

Just whizzing in to say hi, so glad you're feeling mellow Psy, feeling pretty similiar here; a low-key Sunday, just eaten a typical "weekend leftovers" type supper, spim is drawing (Yoda on his lap; it must be "luurrrve"), pondering on what to write about for this weeks H.O.T....

Domestic bliss time, no doubt it is boring as hell for the rest of the world, but has a great deal to recommend in my book.

Look forward to squeaking soon on msn if poss too.

Take care,

Terri.

Yeah, I'm also one who has always tended to wake up around 10 and drag myself to the office around lunch time.

Starting tomorrow, I'm taking an 8:30am class () at the university where I wake up, in the hopes that it will get me in the habit of getting up and going earlier.

I really like sleeping in, and I'm quite productive at the office when I work late after everyone else has gone home. BUT -- when I work late, I tend to work *too* late -- it's so easy to just get in a groove and stay way too long at the office. All in all, not very good for the social life.

This class meets every day, Monday through Friday, and it should be a fun class -- although it will be weird being surround by a bunch of 18-year old freshmen. Still, one of the perks of working for the university is that you get to take classes like this for free if you have your boss' permission. My boss just laughed hysterically when I asked him to sign the form and he saw what time the class was at -- he doesn't think there's a chance in h**l that I'll manage to make it that early. But he went ahead and signed it -- it's not like it would interfere with my work schedule, given that I've never been at the office that early anyway.

And to top it all off, my ankle is rehabbing from the surgery faster than they had expected given where I started out from -- I am just a little compulsive about doing all those exercises.

AND, my bank called earlier this week with happy financial news for me.

Life is .

Glad things are also rolling pretty smoothly at your end. Make sure you make a snowman for us when the snow comes -- that's the one thing I really miss, living out here! The last time I visited Chicago during the winter I made a snowman and it ended up looking like a really evil snowhag -- I have a picture of her that I should scan in one of these days....


Mikey

Thanks, Kaz, Mikey & Terri! Good to hear from you all, and thanks for all of your well-wishes. I really appreciate it.

I'm glad to hear that life is , Mikey! I'm so happy to hear you're recovering quickly. Have you been swimming yet?

Terri, I had a great time chatting with you this evening on MSN. I'm looking forward to doing it again soon, and I'll email you for that info we discussed, just in case.

You know, i used to like sleeping in and staying up till the wee hours myself, as well. Someone (hmm, I wonder who *that* could be?) has had a corrupting influence on my sleep patterns and has turned me into a regular Early Bird. I'm kind of enjoying it, though!

Off to bed now, so I can be up at 4 and do all the stuff I have to do before I head in to work. Catch you all later!

Hey there psy, et al.,

We've got news! The missus is preggers again! Yup, two wee-ones in less than two years. Big yikes there. We weren't really ready for this news, but we were planning on another, someday, so the someday is estimated to be May 12th.

We found out earlier in the week. We're getting used to the idea of being pregnant again so soon. (I say WE because I, though i do relatively little, do have to DEAL with and ACCOMODATE a pregnant missus)

In other news, the baby is doing fantastic. She's walking on her own a little, which is tons of fun.

This weekend was nice, although I was on call on Friday, so i came home from work at 10 AM saturday morning, couldn't sleep, was worthless all day then slept in late on Sunday. Still, i went to the store, and made a great beef stew tonight.

Psy, I agree, this is my favorite season. I love the crisp air. It's my favorite time of year. I love putting on my flannel PJs and sitting on my porch with coffee. mmm, love fall!

Glad all is good with everybody!

Friar

Hey Friar! Long time no talk... Congrats on the good news!! How exciting!

Glad to hear you're all doing well. Did you ever get your house finished? You'll be needing that extra space for sure now. Being on call must be a pain, but your hours must be a bit better overall these days, eh?

Looking forward to another beautiful autumn day, though I'll be at work for nearly 12 hours of it. Won't be long till it's dark both when I leave the house in the morning *and* when I leave the office- I hate that part. Otherwise, mmmm is right! Hot chocolate, mulled wine, and crunchy leaves to jump around in. Not to mention my favorite holiday of the year, Hallow'een!

Take care, Friar, and keep in touch when you can. Thanks for sharing the wonderful news!

hi PC. I agree with your seasonal sentiments, Autumn is the best season. Not so keen on winter & don't know about snow, as we don't get any. The last time we saw snow was 7 years ago (my 6yr old has never seen it) Must take a winter holiday one year so children can throw

P.S. hello and congratulations to Friar and wife on the good news

Hi Meg. I'll be enjoying the weather a lot more once I'm over this cold I've got and can get outdoors some! I can't imagine winter without snow, though I must admit I'm a bit jealous of you. Snow's pretty, when it's blanketing the grass and the trees and all. But it's not quite so nice when you've got to shovel it off the steps and plow through the knee-deep stuff to get around. In the city, it can look really icky, it turns quite black from the asphalt and gets all slushy and sloppy. I don't know as that I'd miss it all that much if I didn't see it.

Throwing s is heaps of fun, though! Especially when you're the thrower, and not the target.

Hi PCandy, I love hearing about your cozy day. I can't think of anything nicer than arranging a new bookcase; there is just something so satisfying about having your favorite books at arm's reach.

I'm listening to John Lennon's Mind Games at the moment. He had such a wonderful voice. Micio is napping by the computer.

Friar, congrates on the news that a baby is on the way!

Has everyone seen the new smileys?? I like them. There is a "don't panic" and an "evil grin" .

JEllen

Hi everyone Lots of good news
This is my favorite season also!
The season saved me during my computerless time.
It would be more difficult for me to be without during the coldest winter months.

I do not know you Friar but congrats on the new baby comingand nice to meet you

Good morning, everyone! Hiya, JEllen and Abbi. Abbi, welcome back, we've missed you! I'm glad your computer's back and running properly now.

That's too bad that you won't get to see Twinny before Hallow'een. Hope you'll see her again soon. How's your friend who was stung by the bee? I'm allergic, too, I know how painful (and scary!) that is. I hope she's doing all right!

I'm feeling a little bit better today. Still a bit feverish, and tired. I know I'll be wiped out by the end of the day, it's hard working extra hours when you're not feeling so well. It's a beautiful morning, though, crisp and cold. The whole building is asleep so it's nice and quiet. And I had a lovely phone conversation earlier this morning with Krispy .

It's kind of nice being one of the handful of corporate employees who crawl in early mornings. The plant is open, so I can hang out down there and smoke for a few minutes, and I can grab a taco or two (mashed potato smothered in cilantro and hot peppers, mmmmm) off the Roach Coach for breakfast. I seem to be at my most productive early, then it's all downhill and lots of goofing off after lunchtime.

Take care, all, and have a good one!

Pcandy -My friend with the sting is doing better. The swelling slid down her leg and has settled around her ankle The original site has gone down considerably though.Thanks for asking

*waves* Hi Krispy.

Abbi, I'm glad to hear your friend's sting is doing better. I hope the swelling goes down soon, and she's not in too much pain. You take care, too. It is so good to have you back and your computer running properly.