Another fitful night...

I started to have another night of tossing and turning, some sleep, and then intermittent wakefulness, but got wise about half way through and ripped open a sample dose of NyQuil, which put me out until late morning. I then lollygagged in bed until 10:30 am.

I called the United reservations line, with the intent of hanging on until I got through to a human voice. (Such determination!) Eventually, my work was rewarded by a voice that helped me snag the last seat on tomorrow's flight out of IAH up to Denver. With any luck, I'll be in Pagosa by 9 pm tomorrow night.

The flea situation here has become untenable. I've sprayed the place twice (technically, fogged once and sprayed once), and this tends to keep the place free of fleas, but only for about 24 hours. (Does the next generation spring to life so quickly?) The following day, if I walk out into the living room in bare feet, I end up with a few dozen of the critters attacking me almost at once. I sprayed once more this morning, and if that doesn't do it, then I'll have to call a professional, I guess. This is ridiculous.

I disappeared from the house after spraying today, first to an IHOP for breakfast, and then down to the Baybrook Mall, just to walk around. I resisted the temptation to buy stuff, so I'm feeling good about that.

I'm back now and tired. I think I'll take a nap.

Cheers...

The pledge...

The e-mail reminds me that I have a "candidate's" statement due Real Soon Now. Earlier this year, I agreed to step in and be the Assistant Administrator of the Slavic Languages Division in the ATA. Now it is time to stand for re-election, and prior to that - now, in fact - I have to provide a statement of my views.

Ye gods.

What can I say? Promise "a dictionary in every pot"? My boss, the full-up Administrator, has put together a nice statement, but it'd be hard to plagiarize, even creatively. All I can basically say is that I'll support the Administrator, and be prepared to step into her shoes should she be abducted by aliens, etc.

I read Ross MacDonald's The Instant Enemy. It's got enough layers to it to make an onion cry "Uncle!" In any event, it's good, solid detective fiction from some time back in the late 60, with a bit of literary panache thrown in with the plotting.

The Mavrodaphne is going along very well, particularly with the pork cutlets and pasta. I think I shall pack tomorrow morning. And though the airline suggests arriving at the airport 2 hours prior to departure, I think I shall arrive a bit earlier than that. I expect the place to be worse than my first two days in boot camp, in terms of lines.

Cheers...