(no subject)

[marta_bee]

The Kid and her mom are officially airborne. I'm glad for them but feeling very sad for myself. It's weird how living a flight away but with them in a US city feels so different from them being in Europe. We can still chat and talk and visit. But the distance feels so much more real.

I'm planning to visit them in October, but that's another thing that's been weighing on me. Maybe I pay too much attention to the news. I'm, like, 97% sure it won't be a problem, but you hear such stories about people going through customs these days. I also have dual citizenship and have traveled quite a lot between Germany and the US (though not recently), so I'd be concerned I stick out more than most. So there's this worry it might not be quite safe to go over and expect to come back. Probably it would be fine, but the worry is there and the fact that I even have to worry about it is upsetting.

Anywho. Nicer news. Peeta is settling in more and doing better about not jumping on my bed at night. It's not perfect but we're making progress. She'll never be a snuggler, but she likes to nap on the ottoman near my feet, which feels like kitty-affection. I've also been piddling along with the Silmarillion again, and am endlessly amused by how hard the Valar had to work to get the Elves over to Valinor. The latest instance is Ulmo having to stop moving Tol Eressea because the Teleri got sad about leaving Middle-earth. (Though you get the feeling he didn't need much convincing.) It really was like herding cats, wasn't it? (Again with the cats.)

And I did discover two essay collections on "Theology & Tolkien" (Vol 1 & Vol 2). They're so expensive, but I may put a request in at my library. Even just browsing the topics was fascinating.

I'm thinking about volunteering as a beta reader for Holmestice. I feel so undependable lately, I'd hate to commit myself and not be up to it. But maybe a little committing-to would help.

So that's the news from Lake Wobegone on this fine Thursday afternoon. Hope you all are doing well.

ETA: new Peeta pic, below the cut. She is almost gentle when just waking up from a nap, as are we all.

Comments

[shirebound]

Awwww, Peeta pic. My Pippin-pup wasn't a snuggler and I was sad about it, but Rena sure is. Yay.

It's weird how living a flight away but with them in a US city feels so different from them being in Europe.

It totally is! I agree with you.

[marta_bee]

This cat is much more willing to stick around and be photographed. :-) And she's actually a sweetie when she's not on a tear. She can have her space, that's allowed!

Thanks for hearing me out. This week's been a bit hard with all the changes, and it's good to hear they're actually big things.

[cairistiona]

Aw, sweet Peeta.

It's really hard to know how much of the news/social media noise is accurate vs panic-mongering vs false "it'll be fine* pablum. *sigh* I suppose you could purchase the flight tickets but be sure to have travel insurance in case you change your mind later, depending on what the future brings.

[marta_bee]

I avoid social media news and try to stick to professional news sources. Even there, I'm on the guard for bias and hype. Being raised by journalists and trained by logicians doesn't wear off easily. *g* On this one, I believe at least some of the accounts are true, but that doesn't mean it's happening often. I'm probably more likely to get in a car crash on the way to the airport than to run into problems like this.

I mean, the possibility is really upsetting. That I have to even ask the question and can't say "no, of course not" out of hand. It made it harder to say no because the niggling fear was in the back of my mind: I had a night where I was doubting I'd feel comfortable travelling, so everything felt much more permanent and unfair. But it was more in my head than a rational, practical concern.

Will definitely buy travel insurance, though! Now more than ever, that's just being wise.

[ellynn_ithilwen]

cutie 💜 a tortie, if i aee correctly?
and yay for the good news! 😊

[marta_bee]

She's a dilute tortie, yes. Mostly a medium grey but with some yellow and even reddish hair mixed in. Photos don't always pick up on it, but it's really pretty interesting.

[ellynn_ithilwen]

oh, now i see the typo i made in my comment. *if i see correctly

i was typing on my cell phone, which is more difficult (for me) than typing on computer. but i am not at home these days, i am on 4-days-holidays, off work, and i am in italy right now 😊

and yes, the photo did look like a diluted tortie 😊

[erulissedances]

She's simply gorgeous!

Sorry that the rest of the family had to return overseas sooner than expected, but you'll hopefully have a chance to visit them in the next year or so.

- Erulisse (one L)

[mrowe]

Oh, she's gorgeous! I wouldn't be too sure about her not becoming a lap cat ever (and yes, staying near you like that is a sign of affection)... My previous cat didn't discover laps till she was about five or six and after that seemed to be velcroed to me, and Lidy has only ever been an occasional lap cat (probably because the other one was on there), but has been coming round to the idea over the last few years.