I’m just back from New York, meeting The Blonde’s baby*, being Auntie Hedgehog and all that. Courtesy of New York drizzle I got to spend a charming extra four hours in O’Hare airport.  I appreciate American not making me do a mad sprint–when we touched down I would have had all of five minutes to get to the gate, get off the plane, and make it to my next gate, no mean feat in those terminals–but I really wanted to get back to La Crosse and tackle an inbox that was looking dire.  While I adored having borrowed the HP Mini from work, (only a DVD drive would have made it better), there is only so much email I can face on that small screen.  The most pressing things got answered, everything else is still mocking me.

Gypsy, Her Furriness, Queen Widget the First, stayed at home with O again.  She seemed relatively pleased I returned, though once again I was receiving complaints that I’m not as fun.  Comes with the territory and the nail trimming duties I suppose.

Twas good to go home though, back to my favorite city. There was excellent Thai food (twice!) and time with people with whom I can truly be myself and to whom I can say what I’m really thinking.  Or where we’re all obviously sharing a brain and a glance expresses all of the thoughts on that outfit that just strolled past us.  The people watching is so amazing sometimes.

I read frivolous books and ignored my RSS feeds.  I wore jeans for five days and moved into my new white hooded sweatshirt for the fall.  I had a bacon-egg-cheese-on-a-roll at 2:45 a.m. and the guy behind the counter didn’t even look at me funny when I asked.  And there was a bodega open at that hour to make me one. I went to the National Museum of the American Indian downtown and then sat in Battery Park staring at the ocean.  And, courtesy of the Brunette’s new apartment, I got to see a whole new part of Manhattan that I’d never explored.  Who knew Bailey of Barnum and Bailey had a small castle on the northern edge of Harlem? Truly lovely buildings up there.

And now I’m back and plunging  in.  It’s fall and storytimes are in full swing. I came back, dropped off my suitcase, and came to work for my Wee Reads. I owe y’all an update on that.  I start a genealogy program next week–called the Incredibly Patient Mother and asked her to ship my notebook from 4-H summers past. I’m looking forward to showing the kids how I’ve been able to use the Census (much of which wasn’t as readily available online when I was doing my research) to trace my DAR eligibility. I’ve an upcoming Rick Riordan party, 39 Clues party,and Legends of the Guardians/Guardians of Ga’Hoole party to plan…

Also, my desk appears to be missing. Much to do and September ends in only a couple of days.

But the smell of salt water and the sound of the subway trains lingers…

*he’s going to need his own blog name.  First Nephew? Boy Blue (Dad’s NYPD and he has BLUE eyes)? Suggest something…