Friday midday things

* Almost at "escape velocity" - my train is actually mirabile dictu, running early at the moment (outside of Cleburne) and while it's very, very typical for it to lose time in the "hole" between Fort Worth and Dallas - well, it's not hours upon hours late, which means I have hope of boarding not too long after 5 pm, eating a nice dinner onboard, being able to set up in my room with one of the books I'm carrying along, and have a bit of quiet relaxation.

* Books being brought:

"Miss Mackenzie," which I may well finish on this trip; I'm only about 100 pages out from the end I think. (I hope John Ball doesn't dump her now that she's penniless; I hope she winds up with some kind of happiness in this life)

"So Pretty a Problem," which yes, I am restarting, because I lost the thread of the story and I like Mordecai Tremaine enough that it makes me happy to revisit him. This might be my on-train reading.

"Resorting to Murder," which is one of those British Crime Library compilations of classic (Golden Era) short stories

"Life in Year One" which is about Roman Palestine in the time of Jesus. Am slightly apprehensive as I read some negative reviews BUT some of the negative things (copious footnotes, a somewhat meandering style) are things that do not bother me, so. We'll see. (I think some people thought the book was going to be ABOUT Jesus, rather than Jesus being mentioned here and there, and that might be the source of some disappointment)

* I'm also taking my new Interweave Knits, which came yesterday and I only had time to take a quick glance at - it looks like this is a REALLY good issue. Or at least a really good issue in my opinion - all the knits are in some way science-themed, though it's subtle (The most blatant one is the DNA cable pullover).

My favorite out of the gate is the "Little Prince" inspired (because asteroid - sort of sciency) scarf. But I also like the Saturn Rings pullover, and the Chrysalis sweater (despite not normally liking bulky weight things). And the DNA sweater (and why, so often do I look at the men's sweaters and go "I like that one and want to make it for me"? I might do a smaller size or shorten the waist or use a girly color, but...I guess I just like the Boyfriend Sweater look, despite not having a boyfriend)

There are also lots more I'll have to look at in more detail.

I also took the Webs catalog - my mom asked for a Christmas list, and if I find a sweater I really want to make, maybe I can ask for the wool for it.

* I have other stuff with me in my bag. Took a couple bags of the "Candy Cane Lane" tea that I like (decaf green tea with mint and milk thistle). Might ask for a cup of hot water with diner tonight and make myself a "I can still sleep after this" cup of tea. (The new box of the tea I bought, it comes with a little tin for carrying the bags, and I am a total sucker for those kinds of things, so of course I bought it, despite having a few bags left at home).

And Emotional-Support (stuffed) Ponies (Fluttershy and Derpy/Muffins, the two favorites of the ones I've made). And I also tossed in a newer stuffie I have - a little version of the "Squishmallow" animals shaped vaguely like a sloth (You can see her in "Pack A" here but I'm quite sure mine is a bigger size - not the huge one, but bigger than 5".

Oh, here's a bigger version (I have the smallest of the three, the 8" size. I got mine super cheap at Five Below). They have the sloth named Simon but I call mine Slothilda after the incredibly cute online .gif comics. She doesn't look JUST like Slothilda in the comics, but that's okay.

For one thing, she's nice and comforting - good to tuck up in an arm or press to your chest when you're sad. But more importantly - she will work as a stand-in pillow, so if something goes wrong and I wind up having to travel coach (it happens; sometimes sleepers are "bad ordered"), at least I'll have a pillow for my head. And yes, that matters to me A LOT.

I find the older I get the more strongly I desire the little comforts of life: good tea, nice soap, a comfortable place to sleep, things that give me emotional comfort (like having the small stuffed sloth in my bag along with my Ponies). I never was one of those ascetic, "I can camp out happily with just a sleeping bag and a shovel to dig a latrine" people, but I find as I age I am more vocal and insistent about my little comforts - even if they do cost a bit of money.

(Case in point: I used to travel overnight in coach on the train and after doing sleeper *once,* I was like "Why the heck would I do coach any more if I could get and afford a sleeper?" Because sleepers afford privacy and quiet and a chance to actually lie down).

* Oh, and I just realized: lots of places will probably have their Christmas lights up, and once it gets dark (early enough on my journey), I'll get to see them. One of the best parts of the trip, and especially with a sleeper: you have the window to yourself.

* I'm hoping this trip is more restful for me than I'm anticipating. I'm hoping my mom's cataract-removal goes smoothly, and there are no hangups with family members demanding more of me than I'm able to give in that moment, and that I can get a little quiet time, maybe even a chance to run out to the bookstore or something.

And ironically (because it's more noise and bother), I hope my brother brings his dog; being able to say "I think the dog needs a walk....I'LL TAKE HIM OUT" is my way of being able to go "y'all are making me crazy, I need some air" without coming out and SAYING it.

* I have a few embargoed posts for while I'm gone; had a little time to write up a few short things the past couple days. I should be back home (here) on the 24th.