snow day

After being home for 22 hours, I had to fly back to the east coast (flew home from New Hampshire yesterday, got in at 1030, left my house this morning at 430 am). Not had to, flew back here for my dad's birthday.

My flight was supposed to leave at 720. It took an hour to de-ice the plane so we didn't leave until almost 830. We were one of the few flights that took off. I was just hoping that I would make it out for my dad's birthday. Airport was strange because it was so empty, especially for a friday. I was looking at the departure screens and after every flight it said "CANCELED". My flight was supposed to be full but only half the people made it. They closed I-70 minutes after I got to the airport.

Don't take off in these conditions. It's scary. The plane was sliding all over the runway...

Have gun will travel. Especially for my dad's birthday.

My parents were happy to see me. By the time I get home to Denver on Friday I'm sure all of the snow will be gone. Best part, I got a great parking space at the airport. At least, I think I parked in a parking space.

With all that snow, who knows.

I guess she was hungry

Last night I had the most bizarre dream.

I dreamed I was awakened in my house because a large black woman was banging on my window. I could see her through a window in my bedroom but it was through the blinds so I could only see the bottom of her arm and her body as she was banging on my window. I couldn't see her face at all.

I was afraid for some reason, and then the woman started yelling "Just let me in! I'm hungry!" I started thinking about how I could give her some food without letting her in my house and then realized I have no food in my house (that's true, in real life, except for some soup and a big bag of gummi bears).

I woke up in a sweat and realized:

1. I'm not home, I'm in a hotel in Massachusetts.
2. Even if I was home, my bedroom is on the second floor of my house.

I don't know why but the feeling of fear from the dream lasted all day. And it was so real. It's been a while since I've had such vivid dreams. First the aliens, then this.

Full disclosure and confession:

Yesterday I ran 2 1/2 miles on the treadmill. I couldn't stop myself. And I did an hour of exercises (like crunches) when I got back to my room.

My knee feels fine today. Shoulders kind of sore...

crows

I've been researching animals for my kid's book. One animal I'm really starting to like are crows. I always kind of liked them when I lived in Baltimore. Other birds just seem like mangy little poop bags. But you could tell crows are smart. New Caldonian crows are the smartest. And they have a great name.

Of course, a scientist finally built a test to stump the crows and to prove they can't problem solve in their heads, but rely on visuals. I love this quote which says the same thing but in science speak: “Our results raise the possibility that spontaneous string pulling in New Caledonian crows may not be based on insight but on operant conditioning mediated by a perceptual-motor feedback cycle.”

What kind of person spends time trying to stump a crow on a logic test? What, did his kid not get into Montessori school and now he wants to make everyone feel dumb, including the crows?

Which brings me to the story of my day today. I'm thinking my company can fire all of the administrative "support" and hire crows.

Got to the airport at 6 am this morning, got into Manchester NH at 5 pm because of the crazy multi-leg flight they put me on, hauled ass to my company's building in Littleton, MA where I was planning to set up my class for tomorrow (set up was confirmed on Friday with the front desk at the building)...only to discover the room empty. Of course, it may be the wrong room because all the room numbers in that facility have 4 numbers and the fuckwit at the front desk who sent me the room number sent  only a 3 number room number. But they were all the same number (A111). This was also the woman who said the facility was "close" to the airport. It's an hour away. I have a 6 am flight Thursday morning. That's going to be fun. Getting up at 3 am. Why do I do this job again? Oh yeah. Bills to pay.

And the class I'm teaching next week...apparently the customer has been unable to download the images for their laptops. I know this will shock you, but they've had a trouble ticket in for 2 weeks already with no solution.

Ech. Or, should I say "caw".