Bless the folks at United

Well, It's been too long since my last post, and now, I have need to start updating, and to explain, here's a story of what's gone on in the last 24 hours.

After getting off of work, Nikki and I spent the night extreme morning packing and end-tying, money and document shuffling, all toward the goal of her departure to Europe. We didn't sleep until 4 AM, and even then, that sleep wouldn't last more than 5 hours. The packing kept us hopping until I drove her to the airport, where I watched her leave for O'Hare.
Don't worry, she'll be back.
Nikki's off to Europe for a month abroad, with a university in Pennsylvania, to study law in European centers of legality (Brussels, Den Hague, Strausbourg, Vienna, Luxemborg).
Watching her go though security was one of the hardest things I've had to do in a long time.

Well, the excitment didn't end there! You've no doubt heard about the horrible flooding in Iowa? Well, it hasn't gotten that bad in Minnesota, but the weather sure makes things harder than they should-

You know what? I'm going to break from the story for a sec. It's June, and we've finally hit a day that was 80 degrees. Remarkable, huh? May was shot to hell, with cold, and wind, and rain. It was very uncharacturistic of the midwest that time of year...

- Anyhow, her flight was delayed. It did eventually get off the ground, but it's ETA was exactly one minute before her connecting flight to Schiphol (Amsterdam) would take off. From about 4:30 to 7:45, I spent with my ear to the phone, trying to shore up an alternative. She had to be in The Hauge by 21st! Orientation starts the 22nd!
It was grueling, but United Airlines was able to get her onto a plane to Heathrow (I would rather have spared her the horrible experience of Heathrow for that of Gatwick, but beggers can't be choosers), and a connecting flight to Schiphol with their partner, British Airways.
Now, Nikki should be close to the Atlantic by now, if not proceeding across it. More later...

So here's why I'm going to be more prudent about my updates.

In other news:

- I recently got an old scanner to work for my computer, and have been busy scanning old scraps of magazines and comics. Junk paper I've held onto for too long, but don't need to have hard copies of anymore.
The scanner has also gotten me excited to create installments and updateable content for the site. I'm continuing Bert's Wake (for those of you who would know) and expanding it. I'm also excited for the prospect of illustration. A book explaining artistic symbols in western art has gotten me peaked (sp).

- The job at VF is still good and strong. The commute is a pain, but otherwise, I can't complain. I've even had people specifically ask for me! It's flattering, but awkward when it's not my turn...

- Persepolis is on pre-street this week. I haven't the energy to watch it tonight, but tomorrow might be a good time to check it out. I'm excited, since I've not read the book (sorry!), so the experience of watching the cartoon won't be spoilt by comparison. I'll undoubtably read it after I see this movie.

- I bought a copy of Issac Asimov reading some of his short stories in 1990 on iTunes. It's a worthwhile $15.99, as his stories are amazing, and something I hold up as quality scifi, as a benchmark to attempt to reach, an influnece, and perfect short fiction. Also, he pronounces "Robot" as "Rhr-butt" (or "Ribbit").

Well, it's not prohibitably late, but I am quite sleepy, so I bid thee a solid good night!

TTFN1