Travel/no travel...WHAT WAS I THINKING???!!!

I was so looking forward to coming out to San Diego, if only for the cool weather. It's been too damn hot for too damn long in Tennessee, so I was thrilled to be heading to San Diego, where it is always 72. Except that it is 95. You heard me. You can't say the weather followed me, either, since it was waiting for me when I got here. 95. Thank goodness it is five degrees cooler here, or there would have been no point in coming.


I am only here for a week because... wait for it... I am teaching this semester. I know, I know, how stupid it THAT?- but I find I can be guilted/flattered into doing almost anything. I was supposed to teach a genetics class, and was praying it wouldn't make. And it didn't! So, in a moment of weakness brought on by the joy of NOT teaching genetics, I agreed to teach two other things. These things can't keep happening to me without having something to do with me!


One general biology, one anatomy and physiology, two campuses, three days a week... ah, well, it will pay for the carpeting I will have to replace once the kittens have all been claimed by their new owners. All the kitties are staying with Jake and Becca while I am here. I hope all is going well. Tiger and Pusskins will be remaining in their new home when I return, and I will miss them, but the remaining three babies, Scamper, Hiro, and Fluffanella, and their Mama Binx will be back to destroying my bedroom carpet on Saturday.


The carpet is not the only thing that has been destroyed this summer. 100 degree heat for weeks and weeks on end- and in the midst of the heat wave, our freezer in the garage flipped its breaker without our noticing. Odd smells started permeating the house. I, of course, blamed the cats. Carpets were cleaned, refrigerators were moved, floors were scoured, kitty litter was dumped and refilled, windows were opened to let fresh, 100 degree air into the house, all to not avail. It took us awhile to realize that a freezer full of meat and veg had begun to rot malodorously. I hate the smell of decomp in the morning. Just a little taste of the smells forensic scientists must deal with. At least we didn't have to autopsy the stuff. Still, Dave couldn't shake the smell off his skin and hands until he remembered something from a "CSI" episode, and bathed with lemon juice. Store that away for future use: if you ever stink from exposure to decomposing flesh, lemon juice will save the day. Don't say I never give you good advice.

So, even though it is hot here, San Diego has this going for it right now- there is no rotting meat, there are no fighting cats, and there is a complete absence of Febreze. Life is semi-good!