Holiday News

Tipsy and I spent a most uneventful break at Miss Caitlin's Parents' house. The esteemed Deirdre accompanied us on the train at the beginning of break. Miss Caitlin was sympathetic to my suggestion that it would be extremely rude to leave her alone on the desk here for Thanksgiving, and there was no opportunity for her to return to Miss Adrien while we were still at University. So we brought her with us and returned her to Miss Adrien on the day before Thanksgiving, when Miss Caitlin visited Miss Adrien and her Puppy, who were both staying at Miss Adrien's Parents' house.

We had a diverting time catching up with all of our friends at Miss Caitlin's Parents house, including Hamlet the Elder, who was visiting Miss Caitlin's room, having been long neglected by her brother. Her brother was also in attendance, though only for a few days, as he had to make sure that their lab's cellular research was not neglected.

Having returned yesterday, Miss Caitlin has commenced with Holiday preparations. Caitlin adorned the windows with snowmen and snowflakes, and Master Gabriel accompanied her in the picking out of a small Christmas Tree for the apartment. She belatedly realized that she had forgotten a star for the tree, and that it could do with some more beads. However, it is suitably charming for the time-being.

Miss Caitlin also found out today that the English Honors Committee has accepted her revised proposal for her project, so she will begin looking for sources to check out over the long winter break to begin her research. She will be examining creatures like "the Fey" in different cultures and will try to ascertain if they are connected to each other or to a common ideal. While the committee said that she had picked a large project, they approve of her enthusiasm.

Otherwise, Miss Caitlin's time will be spent between final projects for her various classes as well as keeping her sanity. She has yet to commence her scene design project, but that will be begun for certain tomorrow, as they have time to work in class. Otherwise, she will be fitting things in as she can.

The Continued Adventures of the Snowdrop

I am so sorry. There's been like two and a half Traveller games and I haven't reported on them. One was a short day where Sera Lewellan made sure that the local authorities were aware that the Snowdrop was in NO WAY involved with the bombing of a rebel base. They also made a fair profit on their speculative trade goods. It was short because Cat was really sick and couldn't focus on the game.

In the next exciting session, the ship was almost blown up by pirates. Comm and sensors officer Midnight and Pilot Chester Mannix had their hands full managing the long distance battle with a ship significantly larger than they were. With the help of the Steward's shooting as well as the engineering know how of Chad Ahron and Van Hawkins, the ship managed to stay together while taking the pirates down. Captain Gerrick Ransly kept the crew organized while the battle took place, and even managed to help hack into the enemy's computer. Drake Reed waited impatiently for a boarding that never came while Sera Lewellan stood at the back of the bridge with her fingers crossed that these fools would NOT succeed in blowing her and her ship up.

Having triumphed with a ship that was barely holding together, they limped to the spaceport in system where they received a discount for having taken out an impediment to business. While the ship was being repaired, the crew sampled "Argentinian" Pizza and gambled. Captain Gerrick ran into an old friend from the time he was in "information gathering" for a organized crime boss a few systems over. His friend, in "acquisitions," needed a loan to complete a pre-arranged transaction. Not liking the thought of what would become of his friend should his business not come through, Gerrick agreed to loan him 20,000 credits with a nice interest rate. Unfortunately for Gerrick, his friend was nailed and port security got his name. Gerrick lied his way out of charges of aiding a drug run, but he was less than thrilled with the news that his friend had gotten away and did not seem likely to pay him back. Taking the group's muscle with him (Reed), Gerrick went to confront his friend about the 20,000 credits and interest that had been promised to him. Unfortunately for them, his friend was hopped up on some highly illegal and unstable psi-drugs that sparked an immediate fight. Leaving Reed stuck under a steel crate, the criminal escaped.

Gerrick of course informed port security of the criminal's whereabouts, but they where soon proven no match for the rouge psionic's mind powers, hiding ability, or his drug-filled tranq darts. Gerrick again decided to take matters into his own hands, taking with him Reed (who was pissed because the guy "cheated" with the telekinesis thing), Chad, Chester, and Carmichael the steward. The remainder of the crew ordered pizza delivery and watched the fight on the bridge, Midnight having used her hacking ability to put the security camera feeds up onto the main screen. In the firefight that ensued, Carmichael parried the psionic's telekinesis with powers of his own, much to the surprise of the rest of the crew. The crew succeeded in taking out the dangerous drug runner but decided that they had had enough trouble in the system and kept a low profile until their repairs were finished.

In other news, Cat went to see a play at the school Kyle went to. Snibbly went, and he went on and on about the whole thing forever. They saw the other Caitlin from the Girl Scout troop and heard all about her summer research. Again, Snibbly went on and on about cell wall permeability in red blood cells because of it (I think it was for Deirdre's benefit - she's visiting again - anyway it certainly wasn't for mine). They also saw Kyle and met some of his gaming friends (wish I was there for that at least).

She also went to Columbia one day to try and find shoes for work. No go on the shoes, but she did find an awesome hat to wear when she doesn't have time to do her hair in the morning.

Cat took the GRE while she was sick, and rocked its socks even though (because?) she was on a little too much medication, taken so she could sit up long enough to take the test.

Thanksgiving's this week. She still hasn't taken the tickets off the fridge and given them to me. She really ought to do this. HINT HINT. We'll get to see all the home people. It will be lots of fun.

My last bit of news is very sad and very solemn. After many years of faithful service, Cat's oven has given up all hope of life. It totally killed Cat's breadstick earlier tonight. And in like 4 minutes too. It was pretty sad. Cat left a phone message for her landlady about the tragedy. Hopefully the appropriate steps to dispose of the poor thing will be taken soon.

Cat's not here right not because she's at the play, "house managing." She says that means she bosses the ushers around and tells people not to bring food into the theater. It doesn't sound all that important to me. Cat doesn't really like the play, not that it's not done well, she says, she just isn't a fan of Brecht. I guess he wrote it. It's called Threepenny Opera. Anyway, tonight's the last night for that.

That's all for now folks. I'll try to stay on top of the Traveller thing better from now on. That was a lot to write!