So I'm visiting the US in August/September,

phooey! What is with you coming into the country just as I'm leaving?

Have Midwestistas all heard of Megabus? It started up fairly recently with routes between Chicago and Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Indy, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Detroit, maybe a couple of others. And it is cheap. I just bought a ticket for Thursday between Chicago and Milwaukee for $5. The return, because it's more than a week away, is $3. My friend C took it last week and said it was comfortable, clean, and on-time.

Cass, I would still like to take a brief jaunt to Portland sometime soon(ish)--maybe a solo two-day trip or something. Would I be able to crash with you so you could show me your fair city then?

No definite plans yet--just something I was pondering.

Absolutely. Mi casa es .... well, still mi casa but you are quite invited to come stay for a couple of days.

[edit: Eh, I hate when "tone" doesn't carry across right. What I meant to say, it would be lovely to have you here for a couple of days and I am even getting to be a decent tour guide.]

Are you having any ideas of when soon-ish might be?

FYI: I am working on F2F photos NOW.

Don't know when they'll be ready to go up, but they'll come in batches.

11th Frikkin' Regeneration, Baby!

I had to filk my recent adventure. And now I have to share it with you. And yes, I know I am a hopeless English geek...or should I say geeke...though my faux Middle English may not be the best.

The Worcester Tales

Whan that Junne with his shoures soake,
the deluge of day hath perced to the roote,
and bathed every carre with suche licour,
of which confusion engendered is the driver;
whan Victor doth with his swete breeth,
inspired hath to visit holt and heeth
the tendre Buffistas, and the yonge sonne
hath 'neathe clouds his halfe cours y-ronne,
and NPR radio maken melodye
(that watcheth politicks with open ye,
so pricketh liberals to vote in perpetuity),
than longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,
and Buffistas for to seken straunge slounges,
to talken of television's gems and dredges;
And specially, from every shires ende
of New Engelond, to Worcester they wende,
the former Somervillian for to seke
that them hath left for California's sake.

Bifel that, in that seasoun on a day,
on the Yahoo Maps, a faulty path wast lay,
which would cripple my pilgrimage
to Worcester, tho with ful devout corage,
at night was diverted to desert road
and trapped when tyre did explode;
with nary a sign nor landmark to see
to helpen anyone to finden me,
the rental companye wast afraide
an address wast needed ere rescue made;
so walken I through falling rain
until college scoreboarde didst provide name
that allowed my knights to seken my carre
whiche had not taken me verra far.

Rescue came with Buffista and tow
and doughnut tyre attached to go
to Victor's house, tho houres late
in time for Indian food to eate;
as conversation didst ensue
the night's travails were nearly through,
whan rental companye brought new carre
from Boston to replace one marred;
my pilgrimage wast at laste success
and revels began with hoste and guests:
Victor, Connie, Sarah and love dear,
good companye who asked to hear
this tale of all the strength to muster
before pilgrimage taken is to Worcester.

Have we been playing Halo2 again, Pete?

Nope, that tag's been there awhile. It's a reference to a perfectly sensible conversation in Boxed Set that suggested I was Doctor Who.

Miracleman got brutalized in Halo 2, poor scone (as fay would say).

So far I'm holding my own though.

Your own what? Intestines?

Don't make me reduce my handicap from 'Severe'!

So, did you guys have any more games after I left?