Endings and Other Niftiness

[anarchist_nomad]

No coherence between topics in tonight's entry, so don't expect any. Just sayin'

• Finished reading The Nine Tailors in my hotel room before dinner tonight. It is the first Dorothy Sayers novel that I have read. Indeed, I am not a big mystery reader, so it is unlikely that I would have ever picked up the book had it not focused heavily on change bell ringing. That said, I thought it was excellently written, with intricate and elaborate detail. I may end up reading other books by her, particularly those featuring Bruce Wayne Lord Peter Wimsey. The book also made me missing bell ringing, which I have been doing less frequently between terms. Yes, it has only been six days since I pulled some rope -- and eight days until I do so again -- but I miss it nonetheless. I should practice some Plain Bob Minor for handbells to pass the time until then.
  
  
• Finished the New Super Mario Bros. after dinner tonight. First time I have beaten a video game in a couple of years. It was fun. The Kiddo picked a good Christmas present for me. I may go back and play it a bit more, just to beat it even more completely. For instance, I never discovered how to access worlds four and seven. There is something a bit odd, though, about hearing the stereotypical Italian accent that Mario sports... while I am here in Italy. Mildly jarring, when compared to the real thing that is all around me.
  
  
• Speaking of Christmas, and because I was playing with photos last night, here is a shot of me taken by theentwife in New York City last December, while we were out and about with squeektoy42 and a few others.
  
  
  Handsome bloke, ain't he?
  
  
• Many wishes for a very happy birthday to the ever-wonderful ms_redcat!!! Big virtual hugs for you, sweetie -- redeemable for real ones next time I see you! (And is it mean to point out that you are now older than me again?)
  
  
• It has been like Old Home Week^TM here at Gran Sasso. Apparently there is a meeting of some of the European collaborators from Pierre Auger, in preparation for the 2007 International Cosmic Ray Conference. Thus, I keep running into old and familiar faces from when I was a member of that august collaboration.

And that's about all the randomness flowing through my head for today. Time to go back to the hotel and catch some sleep before our video conference tomorrow morning...

Comments

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

So, when are you coming back to New York again?

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

Well, the April trip I had mentioned earlier as a tentative possibility is not happening. Which means that my trips to the States this year will be in July, October, and December.

I plan to hit Starwood in July, which is technically New York. However, as a born and bred New York City boy, I don't really believe that Starwood counts as being in New York. It is in Upstate.

So the next time I am likely to be in NYC is after P**T***, in October. Which is only six months away now!

[ms-redcat.livejournal.com]

So that's when I'll redeem the virtual hugs then! (And as the Knave of Knumbers, quantitative analysis of age is well within your purview!)

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

Uh-huh! Hugs-a-plenty at P**T***. Who'da thunk it?!

(Unless, of course, you want to pop on over to Merry Olde England before then to collect! *wink*)

[kat1031.livejournal.com]

When in October?

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

I'm flying into Boston on Oct 4^th, followed by a weekend at a Pagan festival in upstate NY. So I guess I'll be in NYC from around Oct 8 - 11^th. Got a wedding in Kentucky -- not mine! -- on the 12^th, so I can't stay longer.

Why? Is there any chance you'll be out that way around then?

[kat1031.livejournal.com]

Ach, that sucks. I'll be in NYC later in the month.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

Alex has gone to Starwood the past few years, and he hopes to be able to go this year, but he may be working then. I've never been to Starwood, but ya never know. But at least I'll definitely see you in October, because I always go to P**T***!

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

Yup -- saw him there in 2005. I've been going to Starwood since 1998, but not every year. I went for three, then missed four, then back, then missed. This year's schedule has been structured, in part, around making it to Starwood... so I've been planning half a month in the States in July.

As for P**T***, I've been going since 1997 and have not missed once since then. Ten years running! Not exactly an old-timer -- and B.S. has me far beat (having never missed one since they began as MAPCAF) -- but I think I know my way around by now! I also think that, for the past few years, cheshcat and/or I generally hold the record for who has traveled the furthest to attend P**T***! :-)

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

I'd sort of like to go to Starwood, but I don't know whether I can afford to. Also, I'm really not a big fan of camping out - I want real beds, indoor plumbing, and air conditioning!

Judy is also one of the founders of MAPCAF. I went to a couple of P**T***s at the Charming Barn - I lived in Croton-on-Hudson then, and I actually drove home every night, and back again in the morning, the first few times I attended. I honestly can't keep track of when I started attending regularly, but it was before the change in venue. It's my "family reunion".