10.21.2003

Post-trip update... :)

I flew down to El Paso on Friday the 10th, and we packed the critters (one cat, two snakes, and a tegu [a big lizard]) into the Suburban (hereafter known as the 'Burban) and left El Paso on Saturday around 11 a.m.

I, unfortunately, had been fighting some kind of sinus affliction since Wednesday, and it caught up with me on Saturday. Blarrgh. Tylenol Sinus was my friend. :) So between me not feeling well and Michael just getting used to driving the 'Burban, we decided we wouldn't go too far the first day, so we stopped in Odessa, TX.

No matter how early we got up, it seemed like we never hit the road before 11 a.m., so we decided not to worry about it — we weren't in any rush anyway, since I had the whole week off. Our real concern was for the critters, and stressing them out. At night we'd bring Charlotte (the cat) and Clio (the tegu) into the hotel room. Khayman and Samhain (a Dumeril's python and a sand boa) were fine in the vehicle; Khayman was in a 50-gallon aquarium, and Samhain was in a critter carrier inside the 50-gallon (Samhain is pretty small).

Charlotte did really well — she'd meow for the first hour or so, then she'd settle down. She's such a good kitty. :)

It took us five days to make the drive. We stayed in (let's see if I can remember) ... Odessa, TX; Sulphur Springs, TX; Jackson, TN; and Wytheville, VA. The last day it only took us about four hours to get to Front Royal, and we had to stop by the pet store before coming home to get some new substrate for the bottom of Clio's new tank.

So we finally arrived home Wednesday afternoon. It was a really gorgeous drive through Tennessee and Virginia, although it was extremely windy, making it difficult to drive the 'Burban, but we managed.

I was wondering how Kitty and Mia would react to Charlotte. I thought Kitty would be upset, but she walked right up to Charlotte, sniffed her, and did the Kitty equivalent of a shrug. Heh. She's too old to care ... either that, or she can't see enough to know the Charlotte wasn't Mia. Hee hee!

Mia and Charlotte did some hissing and growling, but they're making progress after just a couple of days. Charlotte likes all of Mia's favorite spots — the chaise lounge and the futon in my office. Heh. I think they'll get along just fine, though. They're already coexisting in the same room without tangling. :)

Michael's getting all settled in. It's so good to be home! :)

pixie.dust sprinkled at 2:50:00 PM • 0 witty remark(s)

10.09.2003

And the latest news (for all three of you that read this, probably ... *snort*) ...

Michael is moving in with me this coming week. :) Yay!! I'm very, VERY happy about this. Some things in life are just so right that you can't NOT do them, you know? This is just one of those things.

I'm flying to El Paso tomorrow evening, and we'll probably set out (driving) for Virginia on Saturday or Sunday. So if you happen to see a Chevy Suburban (AKA "da 'Burban") en route to Virginia with a couple happy people in it, that could be us. :-D

Meanwhile, the hours can't pass fast enough. Eeeek!

pixie.dust sprinkled at 3:45:00 PM • 0 witty remark(s)