Speaking of Weetabix, we are T-minus seven for Journalcon. I will be meeting lots of people whose journals I know and love. I will be seeing lots of other people who I already know and love. I will be plying people with martinis and trying to lure them back to-- uh, oh, sorry. Muscle spasm.

Today was a good day, in that I managed to get up early enough to do something before work. I didn't have to leave for tutoring until 3:00 in the afternoon. You would think this would leave plenty of time for a bike ride and an errand. But I have this amazing talent for staying in bed until the last possible moment before I have to get up, even if it is 3:00 in the afternoon.

This morning, I managed to haul myself out of bed before noon! Okay, before one. Approximately two. The point is, I got out of bed, and talked myself into my bike clothes, and hopped on Britney and went for a ride. My errand (buy headphones) didn't happen for me, so it was a silent ride, but a good one nonetheless. Another one where I felt like I went pretty fast-- imagine what I could do with a road bike! (Let my covetous drooling begin.)

At the halfway mark (2.6 miles or thereabouts) I looked at my clock and noticed it was 2:15. That didn't give me a whole lot of time; I figured I'd be lucky to get in a five minute shower. So I pedaled home as fast as I could manage, walked up the sodding hill, flung my clothes off, flung myself into the shower, made myself all squeaky, and flung myself out. All by 2:45! No idea how I managed that.

I had just enough time to grab a turkey n' bacon sandwich (man, was I hungry) before hitting the freeway. Remind me never to schedule tutoring for Friday afternoons in Alamo again. It takes me an hour to get there, what with traffic and all. It's a nightmare. Fortunately, I made it on time (it was a near thing) and was able to leave on time and make it to Starbucks for my short closing shift-- again, I got there exactly on time. Whew.

The shift was good; I ended up getting into a fun conversation with a couple who is three weeks away from getting married. The guy told me proudly that he's been playing D&D since 1976 and has a first edition something or other. The girl and I bonded over how sexy geek boys are. By the end of the conversation we were quoting Monty Python at each other... of course. It's like a secret handshake.

Then I came home and kissed Angus. Oh-- you haven't met Angus yet! Well, remember how I had a rather demoralizing day yesterday? I came home and there was a box sitting on my doorstep, and inside the box was Angus. Sent to me just when I most needed a hug.

Give me a big fluffy stuffed animal, and I am transformed into an ecstatic five-year-old. I don't deny this. I named him Angus McFluffypuff.

After I got home, I sorted, folded and put away all my laundry. (You have no idea how long this particular task has languished.) I even filled a garbage bag with clothes to get rid of. These things were accomplished courtesy of my new hands-free phone headset, since I was talking on the phone at the time. (If I hadn't been on the phone, I probably would have watched my tape of Firefly and John Doe.) (As if you give a damn.)

My only regret is that I didn't get any writing done. At the very least I wanted to type up my poems from Wednesday, and work on my spoon-salesman bordello poem. I'm quite curious to see how it turns out. Aah well. There's always tomorrow for dreams to come true.

(And you might be wondering why I didn't work on poetry rather than this entry. This is because, although I am too keyed up to sleep, I am exhausted. My brain will not fixate on poetry. Believe me, I tried. This is the best my brain can do at the moment.)

Before I go, I want to mention that I am thinking of Charlotte, who had to put her kitty to sleep today. Miss Kitty was Charlotte's baby for many years, certainly ever since I've known her (11 years now, is it?) Such a sweet, affectionate kitty-- I will never forget her. I love you, Miss Kitty! And I love you, Charlotte.

Also on my mind-- a possible retreat. The idea of getting away from it all for a couple of days and doing some writing is incredibly appealing. My roommate just got back from New Mexico, and when she told me about her trip, a teeny lightbulb went off in my head. I have the freedom to take off for a few days, and if I do my research, it should be affordable.

It would be great to do this during the thesis-writing process. (Especially if I had a laptop.) (That was a hint to all of you who have piles of spare laptops lying around.) Obviously, this wouldn't happen until my schedule frees up in mid-November. But I am formulating a plot, even as we speak.

Oh, and I also wanted to randomly mention that Eleanor and I went out on Wednesday. (Later we met up with Jen for sushi. I paid $1.75 for "iced green tea" that tasted like absolutely nothing, but we had a fabulous time.)

The reason I wanted to tell you this is because Eleanor and I were sitting in a bar, listening to one Bryan Adams song after another, and she said, "What is this music they're playing in here? It's like, 'Songs I Used to Sing and Masturbate to in the 80s.'" Hee! She cracks me up. And I've already begun compiling my own list of those songs, and plan to sell them in an infomercial.

And I guess that's all the news from the Cassiecabana tonight. I am clearly in desperate need of sleep. Back to you in the studio.