Here, safe, tired
We made it. The expected DSL was not available owing to a phone-number snafu with Verizon. (Which I thought I’d resolved this morning, but David’s parents say they still can’t get through. Sigh.) Using wireless now.
The Goths survived the ordeal, though they predictably weren’t happy about it. Didi hunkered in her carrier and emitted “I’M MISERABLE!” waves in all directions, while Dream yowled a lot and burrowed busily into our sides when we let him out of the carrier (leashed, of course) in O’Hare and Dulles.
I hate, loathe, abominate, and abhor O’Hare as an airport, by the way. (The Bus/Shuttle Center is actually an amazingly convenient regional transportation hub.) I trucked from one concourse to another on information from the first flight, sat two hours, and then had to retrace my steps entirely owing to a gate change. Not to mention that debarking onto the tarmac meant hideous construction noise, completely ruining any chance poor Dream had at composure. He just howled, poor beastie, and there wasn’t anything I could do for him.
Our pilot out of Chicago did a nice bit of flying, getting us into Dulles in the nick of time before a thunderstorm that shut down baggage handling. Of course, this meant waiting an hour for our luggage. Yay Dulles, Home of the Gray Walls, Gray Floor, and Heck, Gray Everything. Dreariest damn airport anywhere.
The Goths did not much approve of their new home. Didi sniffed about a bit and then hopped back into her carrier and looked up at us beseechingly. “Okay, housemonkeys, this has been a fine joke—take me home now.” They’re better today (though we had to reorient the fridge because Didi managed to get herself lost behind it), though still a bit clingy.
We’re roughing it for a week or so until the pod gets here. (Something’s up with their phones; endless ringing this morning. I assume they’ve got Dennis overwork problems, because I’m still getting automated email from them.) In the meantime, we’ve bought a few groceries and miscellaneous oddments like bath mats, scoped out the local shopping, opened a credit-union account, failed to find someplace to duplicate our single set of apartment keys, failed to find a vet who can provide the Goths’ prescription food, walked down to campus, and watched the penguin movie (which is pretty amazing).
Tomorrow I hit work; let us hope work doesn’t hit back too hard, because I’m still tired. If you sent me email and I haven’t answered, give me another day or two, please. Thanks.