Something Squirrelly this Way Comes

The toile came on a vase. It became Luna's Halloween costume. Fiona didn't appreciate it.

Happy Halloween everyone! :)

Happy Birthday Rachel!!!

Happy Birthday JT!!!!!

How is it that when I start cleaning, the room ends up looking even messier than before I started? And that's before Luna gets involved pouncing upon whatever she can.

Spring cleaning usually hits me about this time of year. It's part of my NaNoWriMo preparation process. Good way to procrastinate thinking of a plot, characters, any sort of kernel of an idea.

Besides, if I don't do it now. I'll feel the need to do it in November when I should be writing. Or hosting write-ins. Or monitoring posts in the forum.

Luna
Played long and hard this morning, afternoon and evening. She's been sleeping most of the late evening. Lying right next to me, looking adorable and purring. What a sweet, sweet girl. Just don't look at my right hand. Or arm. Or either leg below the knee.

Work has been crazy. Busy, stressful, challenging. It's Budget time.

Hockey
Canes had a 1-0 lead for two periods. Then the third period came around and they fell apart. Final score of the game 1-4. Stupid Penguins.

Milk rings have got to be one of the best cat toys. Ever. Luna has been playing for days with one. Over an hour tonight alone.

She's also much better at pouncing without having her claws extended. At least, the initial pounce. Once you wiggle your foot to get it away from her teeth, then the claws come out.

Unrelatedly
I may have to get these. Some day.

So Miss Luna was pouncing on shadows earlier today. Hers, mine, dust bunny's. It was most entertaining. Currently she's purring while she kneads and suckles on my KU blanket.

Hockey
Canes flew home this afternoon. I did not stalk them at the airport. Tho I have a friend who did. He promised to call the next time he does this, so that I can come with him. He even offered to give me a ride. How spiffy is that?

Unrelatedly
The title is a twist on a lyric by U2 (shocker). Can you guess which one?

Luna was a sweetheart today. Well, except for when she was chewing on me. She spent several hours napping, either with me or just on me. It's hard to be upset about the plethora of scratches and tooth scrapes she's given me, when she's sleeping and purring and looking like a little angel. Instead of the little hellion she often is. Such spunk in a little package.

Hockey
Canes beat the Ducks tonight. Wooohooo!!! Way to go Leighton! Some incredible saves! Although, FYI, Cam is still my fave.

NaNoWriMo
I sort of have a plot. Maybe. I definitely have some ideas that could turn into a plot or subplot. I'll have to let them stew some more, see what my subconscious can come up with whilst I sleep.

More Luna
She's pouncing on the back (top? non-screen side) of the laptop lid. Apparently the solid grey or the NaNo sticker on there are not artsy enough for her. She wants to add some designs of her own. At least she didn't send me to any random websites today.

I was listening to/watching this Dallas (Edge's right hand guitar guy) clip on U2.com and Luna freaked. She went from snoozing next to me, to looking around all confused. And then scared. She ran to one side of the bed, then the other. All hesitant and low, yet fast.

She didn't know where the sound was coming from at first. When she figured it out, she came back to me and sniffed the laptop. Then walked across the keyboard. Twice. Thankfully she didn't open (or close) any windows this time, unlike earlier.

Apparently Miss Fee thought I needed some guidance with Mozilla, so she opened up a new tab and sent it to Mozilla Help. Eight times. That's my girl. Ever so helpful.

Unrelatedly
Yes, I really do have paw prints on my glasses. They're small and Luna sized. Err, make that Fiona sized. Ferocious Fee.

I've captured several videos of Miss Luna frolicking and pouncing about. Once I transfer them to the computer, I'll do my best to post them here. Or maybe I'll make her famous and post them on YouTube.

She's a riot. And adorable. But I might be biased.

Hockey
Canes play the Kings tomorrow night in LA. There are no home games til November 1st. Bummer.

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Tonight vs the Florida Panthers at the RBC Center in Raleigh. Let's Go Canes!!!!

Public Invited to Terminal 2 Open House

RDU Airport, NC — Raleigh-Durham International Airport will introduce the new Terminal 2 to the public on Saturday, October 11. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., members of the public are invited to tour the new terminal, which will officially open for business when the first flight departs on Sunday, October 26.

“During the development phase of Terminal 2, the airport focused on creating a terminal that not only simplifies and enhances the travel experience for our passengers, but one that also reflects the dynamic region RDU serves,” said Teresa Damiano, RDU’s director of marketing.

At the open house, the public will see firsthand how the region influenced the architecture of the building, from the large wood trusses to the terrazzo flooring and granite and tile walls that reflect the region's history of craftsmanship.

Attendees will also have an opportunity to sample the regional fare that will be featured in Terminal 2 courtesy of 42nd St Oyster Bar, Carolina Ale House and Brookwood Farms Barbecue. National favorites, including California Pizza Kitchen and Gordon Biersch, will also offer samples from their menus.

Specialty retail shops featured in the first phase of Terminal 2 will give the public a sneak peek into items the shops will offer travelers. Shops in Terminal 2 include locally-based Anders Natural Soap Co. and 2nd Edition Booksellers, along with Borders Books, Techshowcase and University Market/University Kids, among others.

Volunteers will be on hand to provide attendees information on the art featured in the terminal, themes that guided the design of the new building and the technology used in the building to improve the passenger experience and terminal operations.

Tours of the new processing area for arriving international travelers will also be available.

Other festivities planned include live music from local musicians and activities for children.

The Passenger Experience
The open house will highlight the passenger experience and will begin in the airline check-in area.

Designed to ease congestion, the airline counters are located in the middle of the lobby in a unique island design. Thirty-eight electronic kiosks are placed throughout the lobby for ticketless travelers. The design and placement of the counters and kiosks ensures that passengers can move easily and effortlessly from airline check-in to security screening.

The concourse features 25 specialty retail shops and restaurants, two moving walkways and 19 boarding gates, including three gates for international flights.

Terminal 2 Phase Two
The first flight will depart Terminal 2 the morning of Sunday, October 26. Within weeks of the opening, what remains of Terminal C will be demolished to make way for the second phase of Terminal 2.

When the second phase is completed in Winter 2011, Terminal 2 will be more than 900,000 square feet, nearly three times the size of Terminal C.

The second phase will also bring an additional 17 specialty retail shops and restaurants, 13 gates and two additional works of art.

RDU Terminal Name Changes
When Terminal 2 opens, Terminal A will be renamed Terminal 1. The numeric designation follows industry standards and addresses the elimination of a facility known as Terminal B when it was combined with Terminal A in the early 1990s.

The $570 million project is being financed by airport revenue bonds that will be repaid through airport revenue, including a passenger facility charge. No state or local tax proceeds were used for its construction.

Updated information on Terminal 2 and the public open house can be found at www.rdu.com.

It's a gorgeous day. Bright, sunny skies. Fluffy clouds. Gentle Breeze. Excellent weather to spend waiting in the van for ...assistance. Let me give a recap:

Minion "Are we done out here?"
Me, "Yep. We can go back to the office now."
Minion, "Okay, how do you turn the van around?"
Me, "I usually drive it up the hill to the old construction area and turn around there. The van doesn't have the best traction and I don't want to get stuck."
Minion, looks around, "I think I can turn it around here."
Me, "Oh okay." I look around. "It's dry, so we shouldn't get stuck in the mud."
Beep beep beep beep beep (van backing up sounds) ka-thunk
Me, "Oh crap!!"
Minion, "What?"
Me, "Let me get out and check something." I get out. "Turn off the engine!!"
Minion, "What?"
Me, back at the passenger door, "Turn off the engine, the exhaust pipe is covered in grass & weeds."

Minion & I spend some time looking at the van. Yep, it's stuck. There's a nice culvert/ditch which is holding both rear tires hostage.

I clear the exhaust pipe, she gets back in to try to pull forward as I push the van from the back. It moves a bit. We reverse positions. The van moves about the same amount, but I give it some more gas & am rewarded by lots of white smoke. Man does burning rubber really stink. At least I didn't start a fire.

We finally give up and call for help. Third person we try is at his desk. After he finishes chuckling, he comes out to help. Since it was lunch time, he picked us up and dropped us off at our office and then arranged for the van to be towed.

He said nobody would ever believe that we got the van stuck when it's so dry out. Said he wouldn't tell anyone and said we should just tell folks that the van was at the shop for routine maintenance. Great guy.

Unfortunately, two other employees were doing their rounds and came upon us. I'm not sure they'll keep the incident under wraps. Ah well. It *is* funny. I know we were laughing like loons. It'll be interesting to see how long it takes for the whole facility to find out.

At least it was a lovely day to back into a ditch.

I know I've mentioned this before, but I feel the need to repeat it. I sooooooo cannot stand people who slurp their food!!! Or chew with their mouths open. Or who slurp. Or chew loudly. Did I mention slurping? And people who do all the above - ARRGHHH!!!!!!!! What is wrong with you???!!!! Did no one in your childhood point this out to you? My God! Learn how to eat!!

Don't think I won't pounce on you just because I look so regal.

It's Friday! Except most of the day felt like Monday, how pitiful is that? Thankfully now it feels like Friday and I am anxious to go home and pounce on the Lunacat. She's growing so fast! Amazing how much food she can wolf down.

Hockey
Canes won last night! Two wins in a row! Woohoo!

Unrelatedly
Suck it up, at least I posted something.

I just ate lunch. A peanut butter & applesauce sandwich on whole grain (15 grain) bread. It was yummy.

Oh and I discovered Twitter. Am I up on the tech world or what?

Also, I created a page on FirstGiving. They enable folks to create donation drives for the nonprofit of their choice. So now yall can help me support NaNoWriMo. If that makes since. This is my page.

My copy of U2's Live at Red Rocks - Under A Blood Red Sky should be here by Friday!! Wooohooo!! Assuming Amazon & the USPS don't do squirrelly things like they did the last time I ordered something from them. The item arrived nearly two weeks after it was supposed to. Bah!

It's the remastered CD of Under A Blood Red Sky and the DVD of U2's performance at Red Rocks. I'm sure Luna-Fiona is just as thrilled as I am. Although, she's been running into things a lot lately. Doors, boxes, the wall. So I'm not sure how thrilled she is about anything. Hopefully she doesn't give herself a concussion.

Anywho, happy first day of October! :)