Chilling and icing are both good, though I think the icing might be easier in the situation.

In mememe news, I finally bought a printer, which means I need to clear off my desk and a bunch of other stuff so that I can actually use it.

Yay new printer. I need to do that at some point. Mine gave up the ghost and seems disinclined to be a zombie printer. It's just dead. Plain old boring dead.

Ice has been applied. As well as iced cafe au lait and Indy racing at Sonoma, which is just a pretty, pretty track. Thus I am achieving some degree of chill as well.

Jesus, category 5!? That's just really bad news. I can't imagine how horrid it is going to be for those that *can't* evacuate, or even get to higher ground.

If this falls out as it looks....there's going to be a lot of reckoning, human, political, financial afterwards.

I spent the day at the zoo. It was nice. I should get a membership so I can go wander there on weekends without shelling out $15 a pop. It isn't the nicest of zoos I've been to and they sorely need better maps and signage, but the animals are well cared for and have nice digs. And the property itself is very much set in the local- meandering in and out of MD forest. Nice for just walking in the woods.

I saw lions (heard them roar!) and antelopey critters; rhinos; zebrabutt; warthogbutt;otters ; chimps - found ALL about a big old rumble that happened last week and how they are putting the female whose pheremones likely prompted the males to go try to beat each other up on depro. And their poor basket case chimp who was rescued from a private zoo and she will not go into the open. She follows the walls. However, she is an excellent mother and the other chimps sorta protect her, so they're hoping she'll get knocked up again soon. (docents seem to love to talk to me. Every one I saw stopped to talk to me. ) Oh and lemurs! I want a lemur.

The leopards were being big cat puddles, but I got to be there for "feeding" of the cheetahs. The male and female are in separate areas but right next door since they are TRYING to get the male to figure out how to mate. Allie (the female) is game, but he can't seem to figure it out. They've resorted to bringing in an elderly male cheetah to, um, show him the ropes. And hopefully motivate him through competition. It's funny. Mr. Cheetah was supremely unimpressed by the bloody bone- he rolled over and showed his belly. Allie, otoh, was pacing and leaping as soon as she saw the staffs' green shirts. She lept and snorted and wrestled the evil bone to the ground. It was fun to see her move.

I went in the lorikeet cage and did not get shat on, though they really liked my earring.

And there were polar bears. Only one was out on exhibit, sleeping when I arrived. But when I left, she was studiously trying to drown her ball in the water. For 45 minutes. So that was cool.

I really need to borrow someone's kid next time I go. I try not to be that creepy grownup pointing stuff out to other peoples' kids, but it's hard. I mean, am I going to allow a kid to miss the lion stretching back in the corner because the parents are 8 feet back? No. And then of course, they start asking me questions and....and it's just cool and ... Maybe that's why the docents always talk to me. I'm kinda one of them in temperment. Based on the reception, I don't think anyone thinks I'm a creepy grownup (parents were asking me questions) but still ...I fear.

I'm pretty sure my extended family will have gotten out of NO. It's only my immediate family that goes home for hurricanes.

Sarameg! I got the book the day after you asked, but forgot to say anything.

Also, keep talking to strange kids. Just don't give them candy.

Woohoo! I just printed something from my laptop for the very first time, and it worked.

Porn Fanfiction, here I come.

Whoot!

ita, would you like some heat from here? It is frickin' 90 at my house right now and I don't want it to be. Is it really only the humidity that makes this feel me feel so twitchy in this weather? Living in various deserts, I was good until 105 and up to 90 was just comfy. But Hawaii was delightful too and they've got humidity coming out their bottoms. It's a quandry. A quandry that is too damn hot right now.

I don't think working tomorrow is a good idea. My back is twinging and I just don't want to be risking further injury or a longer recovery. So, hivemind time, when do I call my boss on her cell to tell her? I am also thinking of sending an email to her, the HR guy and his minion.

ita, would you like some heat from here?

Nooo. I need it more than she does. Gimme.

eta: I would send an email.

Send an email. You are in no shape to come in, and you don't need to give her the opportunity to try to guilt you into it.

ETA: Or leave her a voicemail at work that she'll get Monday morning if you want it to be a little more personal. But send the email to her and to HR, and don't actually talk to her. Is my advice.

I learned today that cheetahs have notoriously low spermcounts.

Cass, if I asked for more heat, kat'd kill mebe very sad. The Valley high is supposed to be 99. Low 90s in my neighbourhood. With which I'm good.

Also agree on the e-mail. Do not have a conversation.