steal this sign

Good evening, firedogs!  I’m here in New Haven in front of Sullivan’s again, piggybacking on the hotel wireless from across the street.  I know I said I was going to try to do a big post about the New Haven Gospel Festival tonight, but unfortunately, it’s been non-stop since I woke up today and I haven’t had the time to organize the necessary photos and videos to bring you an accurate impression of how amazing that event was.   Maybe I can get to it tomorrow (?), but then again, things are happening so fast that it’s hard to keep up.

Very quickly, some of you have written to ask about Juan Carlos the Wonder-Kitty and I am happy to report that he’s bright-eyed and alert and purring for his TWO cat-sitters (one in-house, one popping by to give him his medicine and snuggle and spoil him).  His appetite has returned and he’s his normal sleek, happy, lovable self.  I feel certain that your prayers were a big part of his speedy recovery.  Thank you all so much.

Yesterday’s first big adventure happened as the plane was leaving the ground in Atlanta.  I was nervous about flying.  It’s been since before 9/11 since I took a jet anywhere.  That wasn’t really so much a conscious decision, but more a matter of not really needing to fly anywhere and always having a better option to get where I was going.

But anyway, the plane taxied to the end of the runway, then lunged forward as we hit that burst of acceleration necessary to leave the ground.  My knuckles whitened as I gripped the arm-rests, silently praying.

"BANG!!" went something behind me.  I heard a woman say, "OH, JESUS CHRIST!!" followed by a great deal of clatter and crashing.

"Well, this is it," I thought, "My excellent adventure (not to mention my life) are going to be over before we even get off the runway at Hartsfield.  The plane is disintegrating!"

I looked around and the people behind me had disappeared in a tangle of wires, panels, tubes, and those yellow plastic oxygen masks.  A section of the cabin ceiling had fallen in.  The flight attendents came rushing up as the plane levelled out.  They managed to stuff a good deal of the debris back into the ceiling.  The captain came back from the cockpit and examined what was happening and patiently informed us that our lives were not in danger.  There was no depressurization, and we continued on to Philadelphia, where I was supposed to change planes.

The poor woman in the next seat sat quietly sobbing for the rest of the flight.  I leaned over and squeezed her hand.  The rest of the flight was uneventful.

(Man, it’s loud out here. The people around me are getting liquored up and their discussions are increasing in volume and intensity accordingly.  Forgive me if this is a little disjointed and rambling.)

Uh, so today I spent at Lamont Headquarters in Meriden.  Phones ringing, people running in and out, much buzz and activity.   There’s such a sense of excitement.

The great moment of the day came when the Greenwich police called to tell us that they had arrested a group of LieberYouth stealing campaign signs from yards and intersections.  We were unable to ascertain whether any of them were college republicans from Boston or lobbyists for Big Pharma.  Apparently they’ve moved on from brawling in cheeseburger joints to outright vandalism.  Yaaaay, LieberYouth!  The Lamont campaign should send you all thank you notes for how much you’re helping our side.

Okay!

WordPress and my crappy connection just ate half of this post.  F*&K!!!!

But, this is what I’ve got and it’s getting late.  Gotta run.

More tomorrow! 

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