*opens ul tag*

[constance]

• In case you were thinking that my self-proclaimed status as a walking tropical heat wave needs some sort of verification, I have it for you: I recently spent three days in an Undisclosed Midwestern Location (and I know this won't be as impressive because I am not at liberty to disclose the exact location but bear with me here and trust me when I say that this is a mighty snowy place, usually) and not only did it not snow, but the temperatures were pretty much higher than they had been since early autumn last year, and then like the day I left plummeted again so that all the snow that'd melted away for my visit returned in force within a couple of days after I'd got back home.
  
  Do you really need further proof than that? Because dude.



• Then last weekend I went to visit my brother and his wife. The trip, originally planned as a nice leisurely two-day cross-country jaunt, turned into a vicious headache of a 1000-miles-in-13-hours forced march when my father decided at the last minute that he wanted to go along too (my father, you understand, being consitutionally incapable of making a nice leisurely sort of trip anywhere); and I spent the rest of the long weekend trying to catch up and recover my equilibrium and failing utterly. I admit I'd sort of forgotten what it's like to be in the middle of the chaos that comes as an accessory with a new baby, friends, but this went beyond that! My brother and his wife are constantly busy, constantly socializing, constantly going places, and the chaos just gets ramped up with each activity and person and toddler added to the mix. And I am not used to that! Not even a little bit!
  
  Not that my niece isn't the most adorable toddler of all time, because she certainly is. Not that she's likely, with the regimen of playgroups and in-and-out her parents are setting up for her, to turn into a recluse like her poor maladjusted aunt, which of course that's a good thing. But man, when you're sitting in the middle of the DFW airport thinking, oh, God, this is so relaxing, you know it's been a stressful weekend, is all.



• My computer box arrived DOA. It's been a couple of weeks now, but I have yet to recover from this blow. Also I have yet to send it back. Must get around to doing that.



• To distract myself from my handwringing computer-related frustration, I am thinking that I will sign up for another month of NaBloPoMo. There's a theme this month, and that theme is Lists, and Lists are things I can make in my sleep, but I'm thinking I'd like to take some requests: if you have any Top-Five lists you'd like to put in my hands, I'll work them up into a post. Because I want to work with you, and also, I am lazy.



• Hello. It's good to see you.

Comments

[amelia-eve.livejournal.com]

Hello, hello! Wouldn't you like to bring your tropical self up to New York where the wind is blowing right through me tonight? I got all softened up in Florida and now I can't take it! I'm wearing my souvenir T-shirt from Sarasota and trying to feel more tropical. It's got a hibiscus and everything.

I was in mind to ask you to post the top five kinds of home-made cookies, but I'm really trying to get serious again about WW, so how about your top five WW menu items ATM?

[tofty.livejournal.com]

I should really hire myself out, you know. Tired of winter? Put me up in the luxury hotel of your choice, and kids, your winter is over but good!

As much as I sometimes wish we had snow here sometimes, I know that as a born-and-bred Southerner I'd have an awful time with a serious winter. I'm spoiled, we all are down here, and we are totally willing to spoil you too, when you all come down to visit us.

And I will post that post! Mmmmmm, foooood.

[kickthebeat.livejournal.com]

i would like some tropical weather, please! and maybe some lists of relaxation/destressing techniques? these are things i find very interesting these days, unlike doing nablopomo again myself. oh man.


hiiiii.

[tofty.livejournal.com]

:*:*:*:*:*:*:* <----- orange-tea-flavored kisses

[coco-palmolive.livejournal.com]

I can't believe your computer didn't work! UNFAIR. Will it be possible to exchange it or will you have to start from scratch?

FYI: snow in the forecast tonight, though I think it will more likely be rain.

[tofty.livejournal.com]

I can't exchange my computer! I bought the very last one on pcconnection, and so I can only return it for a refund. I found one on newegg that'll work for me. It's not ideal, it's not the model I wanted, but it'll be fine. And hopefully it will work the way it's supposed to.

SNOW. UNIVERSE, WHY DO YOU TAUNT ME SO. *shakes fist*

[laurelwood.livejournal.com]

That's quite a superpower you've got there! Clearly, you'd be a popular choice of traveling companion for summer vacations, but maybe not for ski trips. :)

I'm so sorry to hear about your computer! What a rotten thing to have happen. Here's hoping that replacement maneuvers aren't too laborious.

As for the stressful weekend, wow, can I ever understand that. How nice it must be (aside from the DOA computer) to be back in your own house with your fabulously non-busy and non-verbal roommates.

Oh, wow. A month of lists? I'm in heaven. For starters, how about a "top five childhood memories"? That'd make for a nice, meaty post. (She says, greedily.)

[tofty.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that opens up a whole new avenue of income, really! In addition to hiring myself out to places who're wanting winter to be over, I could make money out of people who'd be willing to pay me to stay away. I foresee riches in my future, man.

I buckled down last night and put the returns I need to make together, and it wasn't so bad. They really were very cooperative, and everything's ready to go this morning with very little effort on my part. Which is the way I like it.

It is wonderful to be home! Not only is my house blessedly quiet, but also I really missed my puppy, and he missed me, and we are happy to be together again.

Oooh, nice list! I'm looking forward to making it, and just to thinking it over. :D