Laughing and Crying. Oh, and Paula Abdul.
So here I am in Pennsylvania. It wasn’t easy getting here, either. Those of you following me on Twitter got to hear all about it, but I drove 90 minutes to the Orlando airport, after sleeping only a few hours, and found out my flight to Philadelphia was canceled.
Thank you, Frosty the Snowman. So long story short, I got scheduled on the next flight out (3 hours later than the original flight). That flight got delayed and I finally got out of Orlando at 1:00 pm.
By the time I landed in Philly, it was snowing and snowing pretty hard. Keep in mind, this is the first time I’ve seen snow in quite a few years. I called Lisa, told her I was in Philly, went and got my rental car (a Jeep), and plugged in my trusty GPS to head out into the white frenzy.
Lisa sent me directions to her house via email…she lives about an hour outside Philly. But I pretty much rely on my GPS to go anywhere new and I’ve never driven in Pennsylvania before…aside from a brief stint at TequilaCon last year.
Traffic was a bitch in places, but I finally pulled into Lisa’s driveway just before 6pm Tuesday. She was waiting at the door for me. Big hugs, a little tour around the house, the whole time she was doing this perpetual hostess thing.
Can I get you something to eat? Something to drink? Can I bake a pie for you? I kid…a little, but this is Lisa in a nutshell, generous to a fault.
Even now, as she lays in her hospital bed, she’s apologizing for the millionth time to me for being sick and a bad hostess. No matter that she’s in constant pain, at times to the point of crying, she’s more worried about me than herself.
So Lisa, if you’re reading this, let me say this again. I’m here to spend time with you. We don’t have to be drinking it up and partying like we did last year at TequilaCon for me to enjoy being with you. You don’t owe me an apology for being sick. You don’t need to make me breakfast or get me lunch, and I am perfectly happy and capable of microwaving dinner for the girls if the Dude isn’t here. So shut it. As you say, “It is what it is,” so just let it be.
We’ve laughed a lot and cried some. And we’ll talk blogging specifics today. It’s all been low-key, of course, talking and watching TV. Hell, she’s forced me to watch “American Idol” two nights in a row. If I get addicted to that show, I’ll have to haunt her in the next world.
Some things I’ve noted about Pennsylvania thus far…
1. A good deal is apparently two navel oranges for $1.49. These PA folks need to go to Florida, where you get around 80 oranges for the same price.
2. Pennsylvanians don’t like to drive in snow with their headlights on. Which is smart, because who wants to be more visible when there’s a snowstorm?
3. It’s fucking COLD. I’ve never before seen the word “bitter” in a weather forecast. Tonight it’s forecast to be “bitter cold.” The high today is going to be 24. On the plus side, I’m smoking far less than usual because I can’t stand to stay outside for more than 3 minutes at a time.
Today I’m going to go hang out with Black Belt Mama a little bit, since she lives pretty close by. That’ll give Lisa a chance to visit with her dad.
And tonight will be SecondHand Radio at its usual time, 10:00 pm Eastern. My guest will be the infamous Angela Gunn, tech blogging goddess. Perhaps you’ve heard of rags such as USA Today? ComputerWorld? Yahoo magazine? Well, I don’t think they have that one any more, but that’s where I first read Angela, back in the mid 90’s.
She’s cool, she’s geeky, she’s hot. And I hope you’ll join us tonight for an hour of fun, intriguing conversation. Well, it’ll be an hour, at any rate.
Showtime: 10:00 pm Eastern, 7:00 pm Pacific
Show Link:
http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/23738
Call-in Number: 724-444-7444, Call ID is 23738
Filed under 2HRadio, Local Goings On, Relationships, Tech | Comments (27)27 Responses to “Laughing and Crying. Oh, and Paula Abdul.”
Leave a Reply
I’m so glad you’re having a good time. And haha at watching “American Idol”…it all starts at just one or two shows:)
becky’s last blog post..Golden Birthday
Reply
February 5th, 2009 at 8:43 am
@becky, Yep, having a blast.
Reply
Oh Karl, you are such a wonderful friend. I totally pink puffy heart you.
Sarah’s last blog post..Emerson
Reply
February 5th, 2009 at 8:43 am
@Sarah, Meh, I’m okay. But I pink puffy heart you, too. In a very masculine way.
Reply
Karl! I understand your pain, I’m a Texan newly transplanted in Connecticut and I’ve been freaking out at how truly cold it is. The other day, no shit, it was -1. NEGATIVE. You’re a wonderful friend for making the trek to see Lisa. I know that it means so much.
But don’t you dare get sucked into the Idol voodoo.
Reply
February 5th, 2009 at 8:59 am
@MaryLeigh, It’s kinda cool seeing snow after all these years, actually. No Idol voodoo! I won’t even admit that I kinda liked it last night.
Reply
Totally sympathize with the cold thing. It’s 9 degrees where I live right now.
Musing’s last blog post..Pre-pregnancy jeans
Reply
February 5th, 2009 at 8:59 am
@Musing, Man, I don’t know how you people do it all the time.
Reply
Oh nice – enjoying my weather!!!
How long are you there?!
Enjoy your time there (as if I needed to tell you) – it’s warming up soon!
Reply
February 5th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
@Sybil Law, Enjoying is a bit of an overstatment. I leave in the morning.
Reply
You both have been on my mind! <3
Angel’s last blog post..What you mean to me
Reply
February 5th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
@Angel, Really? You must be very bored.
Reply
The cheapest I have seen oranges, here where they are effing grown, is 45 cents a piece.
You are missing the fear coverage of the Florida Winter Blast 09.
No lie – the imbeciles on the news said “make sure to dress in layers and wear a jacket” it was 40 degrees outside.
Reply
February 5th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
@Jen, South Florida, OK, maybe I exaggerate a little.
I’ve been watching the FL weather. Course, the day after I leave PA, it gets warmer.
Reply
3°F? That was the HIGH temperature here yesterday.
pfft.
Weather pussy.
SciFi Dad’s last blog post..Gender Stereotypes
Reply
February 5th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
@SciFi Dad, I AM a weather pussy. Florida turns everyone into weather pussies after a couple of years.
Reply
The weathermen are such bitches. They throw that word “bitter” around in these areas as soon as it hits 30!
You are such a good person (don’t deny it!)
metalmom’s last blog post..Snow
Reply
February 6th, 2009 at 7:01 am
@metalmom, Oh, it’s bitter!
Reply
Complete sympathy for you on the weather front, Karl, but glad you made the journey. Give Lisa a hug.
Reply
February 7th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
@Janer, Gave her lots of hugs.
Reply
You are good soul, Karl. Never doubt that. Squeeze Lisa extra hard for us.
Dragon’s last blog post..Mocha Hot Chocolate
Reply
February 7th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
@Dragon, I squeezed her, but not too hard.
Reply
I grew up in Florida. My parents, who were from Pennsylvania, decided we were moving back when I was 13. It was fucking cold. In April. It has taken me over 20 years to get used to it (not including, of course, the FSU years when I broke and went back). Now, I start to sweat when it’s only 85 degrees. I’ve been converted.
Enjoy Pennsylvania
Reply
February 7th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
@Eden, Yeah, apparently I’ve been converted to Florida weather!
Reply
Thanks for coming to visit me Karl. The little one talked about you ALL day long.
Black Belt Mama’s last blog post..Clothes and Earrings and Lunch
Reply
February 7th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
@Black Belt Mama, It was my pleasure, truly. Enjoyed your kids immensely.
Reply
[...] We laughed a lot in those 3 days. Cried a lot, too. I watched and marveled at her interactions with her family, how she remained strong for those girls even when she was in severe pain. She rode them about their homework, even from that bed. And she rode me, too. [...]