girl at large

reflection

this just in from Anna's Thanksgiving visit with the family---"Cloud", the new public sculpture in Chicago's Millenium Park--but everyone's calling it the "Bean". great shot. I really, really miss Chicago--which is strange as I've not lived there in um, a decade? But to me, as I've said before, the holiday season will always be the Q clan and the big shiny city of Chicago. sigh.

not-homesick

Ruby and I stumbled (in a grey fuzz of delayed-onset jetlag/climate adjustment--even the dog is affected) past a vintage Citroen 2CV on our walk this morning. It was red. And mint. I still haven't recovered.

Thanksgiving

I had a great Thanksgiving with the Mysterious H. ---shared the cooking a bit (I was assigned stuffing, cranberries and white-trash style sweet potatoes--no sweat)and had a perfect day. You know, for spending it in a strange town, with strangers (well, not really) and feeling entirely discumbobulated (sp?). We found a complete butterball turkey, still in its wrapper, on a lawn down the street. Grandma woulda freaked--what a waste.

Happy Birthday Thomas!

He's a little bummed still about Stella not having been born on his birthday, but this year is still my brother's Golden Birthday (are Wisconsin folks the only ones who know about this? Golden Bday=turning 27 on the 27th, 14 on the 14th, etc). Happy Birthday Kiddo!

Stella!! Stella!!

look at that cutie!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

She's here! I got the call at 4pm Pacific time, 1am Mom's time in Antibes, midnight in London--just a few hours after my niece entered the world! Stella Mikkelsen Faulkner, born November 18, 2004, 6lbs 14oz. Mom and Baby are both happy and healthy and on their way home soon. The Coolest Auntie in the Universe has some yarn shopping to do...the sun sets so early here, what else am I to do but crochet booties??

What freakin' time is it?

Jet-lag is one thing---jet-lag confusion is quite another. I know I'm jet-lagged, I can feel it---thing is, my body can't figure out WHICH time zone to be je-lagged from!

Howdy!

That's quite a change from "Bonjour!". I've arrived in Portland, it's been nearly a week today. I made incredible time driving across country--or so they say---I left Atlanta on that Saturday morning, arrived to the outskirts of Portland on Tuesday night. I spent the night in a hotel to get one last night of good rest and then drove in to the city on Wednesday morning to unload the van. Of all the things I've done in my life, my father seems most proud of my drive time. On-the-road phone call: "Where are you now?" "I'm just outside Boise Dad" "Man, you are flyin'!!!" More entries and some photos of corn and wheat fields and mountains to come soon, my computer access is limited at the moment, but I'll do my best to keep everyone posted.

some things never change, they aren't supposed to

Life in Savannah remains about the same---warm, muggy, relaxed and friendly---even as the storefronts on Broughton Street continue their revolving-business roller-coaster. The squares are lovely, the moss is hanging and cocktails flowing---and I can't help feeling that it's time for me to get going. Savannah was good for me, it was the first big change that allowed me to make all the later changes, some smaller, a few much bigger. It was the first big adventure, the first new place, new culture, new fears, going out there without a rope----I will miss it: that moody, rough-around-the-edges spirit that welcomes kooks and eclectics and makes miracles of crab cakes. I leave on Friday morning. I'll be back, but no, it won't ever really be the same.

qu'est que passe?

I really miss being in France today---aside from the jetlag (wide awake at 5am), it would be interesting to learn what Europeans think of yesterdays election and the as-yet-unconfirmed 'results'. I miss international news coverage BBC- and ITV- style. And the International Herald Tribune, I really miss it, especially Mom's daily obsession with the Jumble. Kerry conceded: Now that it's officially a very sad day, I'm a little tempted to use that return ticket to Nice--and not just for the cheese!

storage units, saluting strangers

woo-hoo! All my belongings are safe and sound in the storage unit, and with some editing and creative packing, they should all fit in the rented minivan (not a uhaul truck, an actual minivan, much more comfortable!) without a problem. Now, just have to pick up the rental, get some maps and I'll be all set to hit the road....with some advice from my Dad, I should be in clover: "Finally, remember when driving across Nebraska that it is considered polite to raise your index finger off the steering wheel to greet approaching tractors and pick up trucks, emphasis on INDEX." What is it with dads and driving/car advice?

The Big Day

remember to vote! vote, vote, vote!

howdy!

I'm back! What a journey (!), and it's really just begining... The huge suitcases (2) met the wieght limit (70 lbs each) by just a hair--after I removed a few things at the counter into an impromptu carry-on. Ruby was boxed and loaded, tagged and transfered, customs checked, off-loaded and re-loaded, lugged and finally, let loose. To pee on our keeper's carpet. Oops. Flying over the eastern seaboard at night---an unexpected pleasure--the lights of the city grids, harbors and highways were gorgeous ---orange,white and blue designs on black out into the horizon. If only my seat mate had been so attractive. Everything----everything!----is so LARGE. Cars, sandwiches, roads, buildings, --all of it, the scale--I'm thrown. Don't even ask me about the frightening muffins.