I was going to spend the day babysitting my friend's two kids while she had meetings in DC. She arrived pretty soon after it all started, and they all ended up spending the day with me. It was good not to be alone.

It's not weird.

When the plane crashed into the Pentagon I kept thinking "It's a Tom Clancy novel!!" And then there were reporters in front of the building interviewing evacuees and I was freaked out and so sure that someone was going to start shooting the people leaving the building.

What's grimly amusing to me is how many people I know who, in talking about it later, said "Yeah! I watched that movie that night, too!"

I remember how I kept telling Buffistas to stop watching the news if they feel like they can't watch anymore, how they should switch the channel or put some tape inside the VCR. I kept repeating that it's OK, that it's not disrespect, that it doesn't mean ignoring what's going on or trying to delete it, that it's just preventing a short-circuit in the system.

In the recent war here, I tried to watch a full news edition at least once a day, but not more than once a day. One channel put old re-runs (and, surprisingly enough, "The Inside") on at nights, which was a very good decision, too.

I recall I, and several people on the board, were grateful when USA showed Sabrina The Teenaged Witch Goes To Australia on the Wednesday night. (Though it was godawful, it was at least a distraction).

Jen, I didn't get to post with you before - I was so glad to read your news. I hope things will only continue to improve for you, from now on.

Thanks so much, Nilly.

Except Sci-Fi Channel, who I really ought to send a thank-you note to. They maintained their regular programming.

No! During the day, they were scheduled for a marathon of that grim, violent show Space Above and Beyond. (I knew it, because I had the kind of cable that tells you what is scheduled for each hour.) I spent several hours checking in with gentle Scott Bakula and Quantum Leap reruns instead, while the cable bar kept telling me I was watching a grim war show.

(I do remember them going over to Star Trek movies in the evening. I watched Ghostbusters instead.)

Thanks for the Happy Birthdays guys!!!!!!

I'm chilling in Jersey with the fam. We're about to watch 40 Year Old Virgin which I have never managed to see.

****

I think the "small plane" report came about because the WTC towers were so incredibly huge, even a passenger jet actually looked like a small plane next to them.

It was deffinately the scale of the buildings. When I got off the subway and saw a woman standing in the middle of 7th Avenue flipping out she was telling me she just saw a cessna hit the tower as I walked her to the curb, told her not to stand in the street, and RUSHED OFF TO WORK.

I remember meeting up after work at Toad for drinking with Buffistas... Jon, Emily, and TomW were there... I know there were others.

I was at work five years ago, and I hadn't really discovered the buffistas, yet. I watched the coverage on a tv in the admin. assistant's office with my coworkers. Eventually I left and went to the local Red Cross center to donate blood. There were hundreds of us there--it took hours before they could get to me. The local restaurants sent lunch to the Red Cross for the workers and the donors. I remember sitting out on the lawn--the line was way too long to fit in the building--on the most heartbreakingly beautiful fall day.