I really should be packing right now
Jul. 10th, 2007 02:10 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pallas_athenaBut I'm writing this instead. It's deep night, and only a few optimistic fireflies are still out. I've been having a last walk around the yard barefoot, enjoying the different surfaces: damp grass, flagstones still warm from the heat of the day, smooth wooden planks. And water: I stood ankle-deep in the pool for a short while. I probably won't have the luxury of going barefoot outdoors in scuzzy London-- at least not much. There was one memorable day a few years ago when I locked myself out of my flat without my shoes and had to spend all day without them and then walk across Brixton in my socks to find the friend who had my spare keys, but I don't know if that counts.
One of the highlights of this vacation has been meeting![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
laughingmagpie and her consort, the dashing and enigmatic Dr. Smith. The Magpie was in town for a family wedding, which was lucky, as it meant we were able to spend some time doing frivolous, fun DC things such as having dinner with speedlime, shopping for vintage clothes and going to the zoo.
In fact, we had one of the best days at the zoo ever. At Dr Smith's suggestion, we watched the octopus being fed, which I'd never seen before. The keeper would skewer a piece of shrimp on the end of a stick and wiggle it around so the octopus would chase it-- and let me tell you, an enthusiastic octopus is a sight to behold. It was basically the same sort of game you might play with a cat, if the cat were squishy and eight-legged and underwater. The octopus didn't want to let go of the feeding stick, and when the keeper tried to pry it away, the octopus captured her hand instead. I shall treat our cephalopod brethren with great respect from now on.
We also stopped by the Small Mammal House, where our hearts were won by some giant elephant shrews with mobile noses. Later, the Magpie-Smiths admitted they'd never seen an armadillo: Canada, apparently, is an armadillo-less land. We asked a passing keeper: "Where should we go to see an armadillo?" He said "Well, I've got one right here"-- and indeed, he was holding one in his hands. So now the Magpies have seen an armadillo from close up, and had all their questions answered by a professional armadillo-keeper. (Armadillist?)
Of course we stopped to pay homage to DC's firstborn panda, Tai Shan (AKA His Royal Fuzzness The Duke Of Squeeee.) The Duke himself was asleep in a cave, but his parents were being extra cute to make up for it. Pandas rule.
Indeed, the Magpie-Smiths were exposed to rather a lot of DC's wildlife: over brunch the following day, we watched a baby sparrow, barely fledged, being fed by its mother. The chick showed no interest in the breadcrumbs we threw: its mother had to pick them up and bring them over, and only then would it flutter its wings and open its beak and make "feeeed meee" sounds. It looked young to be out of the nest; I hope it survives.
In between, we hit the vintage shops of Takoma Park. The Magpie found a few shiny objects to take back to her nest, and I made a couple of unexpected finds too. But the best find by far was two new friends. I do hope the future will contain more Magpie moments.
Last night I went out to the house of some friends who have a ballroom: they have dance parties every so often, and while I'm a total dance n00b, I always enjoy them. (Hats off tobadmagic, a skilled partner and a fine wit.)
Today the mercury hit 100, so after a morning of rushing around getting stuff done, the only sane place to spend the afternoon was in a swimming pool. Speedlime and two other friends jumped in too, and then we all rode out to Glenmont wheresomewanker served us red beans and rice and Futurama DVDs. A splendid last day in DC.
I've thought a lot in recent years about the concept of home. I seem to be able to make myself at home anywhere I happen to be, which is good-- but at the same time, there's no one place I think of as Home with a capital H. I like London, but I don't want to be there forever. I like DC, but if I moved back here for good I think I'd be climbing the walls within a month or so.
So I'm thinking of adopting the stray-cat definition of home as "anywhere I get food and friends." By that token, I'm at home now-- and going home soon.
In an hour and a half, to be exact, so I really should throw some things into a suitcase. See you on the other side, or as I like to call it, "Jetlagistan." Till then, stay out of trouble. If you can.
One of the highlights of this vacation has been meeting
laughingmagpie and her consort, the dashing and enigmatic Dr. Smith. The Magpie was in town for a family wedding, which was lucky, as it meant we were able to spend some time doing frivolous, fun DC things such as having dinner with speedlime, shopping for vintage clothes and going to the zoo.In fact, we had one of the best days at the zoo ever. At Dr Smith's suggestion, we watched the octopus being fed, which I'd never seen before. The keeper would skewer a piece of shrimp on the end of a stick and wiggle it around so the octopus would chase it-- and let me tell you, an enthusiastic octopus is a sight to behold. It was basically the same sort of game you might play with a cat, if the cat were squishy and eight-legged and underwater. The octopus didn't want to let go of the feeding stick, and when the keeper tried to pry it away, the octopus captured her hand instead. I shall treat our cephalopod brethren with great respect from now on.
We also stopped by the Small Mammal House, where our hearts were won by some giant elephant shrews with mobile noses. Later, the Magpie-Smiths admitted they'd never seen an armadillo: Canada, apparently, is an armadillo-less land. We asked a passing keeper: "Where should we go to see an armadillo?" He said "Well, I've got one right here"-- and indeed, he was holding one in his hands. So now the Magpies have seen an armadillo from close up, and had all their questions answered by a professional armadillo-keeper. (Armadillist?)
Of course we stopped to pay homage to DC's firstborn panda, Tai Shan (AKA His Royal Fuzzness The Duke Of Squeeee.) The Duke himself was asleep in a cave, but his parents were being extra cute to make up for it. Pandas rule.
Indeed, the Magpie-Smiths were exposed to rather a lot of DC's wildlife: over brunch the following day, we watched a baby sparrow, barely fledged, being fed by its mother. The chick showed no interest in the breadcrumbs we threw: its mother had to pick them up and bring them over, and only then would it flutter its wings and open its beak and make "feeeed meee" sounds. It looked young to be out of the nest; I hope it survives.
In between, we hit the vintage shops of Takoma Park. The Magpie found a few shiny objects to take back to her nest, and I made a couple of unexpected finds too. But the best find by far was two new friends. I do hope the future will contain more Magpie moments.
Last night I went out to the house of some friends who have a ballroom: they have dance parties every so often, and while I'm a total dance n00b, I always enjoy them. (Hats off to
badmagic, a skilled partner and a fine wit.)Today the mercury hit 100, so after a morning of rushing around getting stuff done, the only sane place to spend the afternoon was in a swimming pool. Speedlime and two other friends jumped in too, and then we all rode out to Glenmont where
somewanker served us red beans and rice and Futurama DVDs. A splendid last day in DC.I've thought a lot in recent years about the concept of home. I seem to be able to make myself at home anywhere I happen to be, which is good-- but at the same time, there's no one place I think of as Home with a capital H. I like London, but I don't want to be there forever. I like DC, but if I moved back here for good I think I'd be climbing the walls within a month or so.
So I'm thinking of adopting the stray-cat definition of home as "anywhere I get food and friends." By that token, I'm at home now-- and going home soon.
In an hour and a half, to be exact, so I really should throw some things into a suitcase. See you on the other side, or as I like to call it, "Jetlagistan." Till then, stay out of trouble. If you can.