Just got back from Cleveland, safely and in good time (despite the continued presence of my Check Engine light, which, according to the nice mechanic who looked at my car on Saturday said was not going to strand me on the side of the highway and was still under warranty). I even stopped for Skyline Chili (which tasted strangely of cinnamon)

I had a lovely time and will miss everyone terribly. Pretty much everything I could say will have been said by others, but I may post later, anyway.

Tom Scola and Jessica, insent.

Also, hey, look at me, I'm in NYC!

Arrived home safe and sound. Wish I could say the same for my cameras. Milwaukee airport security sucks. Hateses them. A scant few half-way survived the mean x-ray machine and can be seen here.

Hoping Wolf Camera will be able to assist in getting the rest of the pics developed. Especially since I took quite a few of Deena's shirtless Nick. Such a cutiepie!

I even stopped for Skyline Chili (which tasted strangely of cinnamon)

Right ON!!!

A scant few half-way survived the mean x-ray machine and can be seen here.

The X-ray machine zapped your cameras? I didn't think that happened anymore! Oh, that sucks. I hope the camera place can save the pictures.

(And I actually like that picture of me talking to Deena while we walked.)

Skyline Chili (which tasted strangely of cinnamon)

Exactly as it should have.

Skyline Chili (which tasted strangely of cinnamon)

seekrit ingredient

I like traveling by train much more than flying (if I have the time). And who knows how much longer Amtrak will have long-distance trains....

Some years ago, I did some overnight Amtraking between DC and Atlanta during a fear-of-flying phase. Coach was reasonably comfy for sleeping if you can fall asleep in a moving leather recliner. Dinner reasonable quality, but not too badly overpriced if you went for dinner as opposed to a sandwich. On-timeage wasn't too good.

I road coach from San Francisco to Chicago and back about ten years ago. I managed to sleep OK because I had an empty seat next to me the whole time. Otherwise I can't sleep for shit.

Oh, and if you get a private room then you get free food in the dining car. And a place to plug your laptop into. My last Amtrak trip I would drink vodka tonics in my room while I watched Buffy DVDs.

For those of you interested, I typed up a little description of some of this past weekend's activities in Cleveland here: [link]

I hope the camera place can save the pictures.

Walgreen's gave me the negatives of the pics they weren't able to develop and I can see one of Kara sitting on your lap from Tiara Night. Must get that one developed!

And YAY! I'm glad you liked the pic of you and Deena and Aidan. I almost didn't include it. Sure, I could fib and say I was actually trying to get the building in the shot...

this past weekend's activities in Cleveland

Now I'm sad again. I miss you guys. And even with all the mix-ups and rushing, I'd do it all again in a heartbeat!