Not in the world’s greatest shape. First, I’m battling a headcold, which couldn’t be worse timed considering I have business meetings, a charity auction, and tickets for “Spamalot” over the next few days.
Added to that is that Ariel is off to visit her mother, which once upon a time wasn’t a big deal. But her mother moved to Arizona, so putting my unescorted minor on an airplane by herself for the first time and watching her take off has left an Ariel-sized hole in my world. The drive back from JFK was about the longest of my life. She’ll be back in a week, but it’s gonna be a rough week for me. I’m sure she’ll be fine. Still, if Caroline starts going around saying “Riel? Riel?” and thumping on her bedroom door looking for her, it’s going to be hard not to lose it.
PAD
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“Added to that is that Ariel is off to visit her mother, which once upon a time wasn’t a big deal. But her mother moved to Arizona, so putting my unescorted minor on an airplane by herself for the first time and watching her take off has left an Ariel-sized hole in my world.”
I hear ya there. Sure absence makes the heart grow fonder, but missing someone just plain sucks.
Hopefully, PAD, you’re busy enough that the “just plain sucks” part flies by.
Distraction: The Other White Meat.
i think you’ll love spamalot. i saw it opening night of previews and it was hilarious. feel better, mate.
Oh, don’t worry, Peter, you’ll be okay. Before you know it, you’ll be as acclimated to the idea of Ariel being on her own and away from home as with Shana or Gwen. Like the finest Borg drone, you’ll adapt. 🙂
Chicken soup. It’ll do you wonders.
I sympathize, but you can at least be happy knowing that it could be MUCH worse; like being the noncustodial parent. Imagine having that hole times two for 9 months of the year and welcome to my world.
But then again, there are folks worse off than both of us and that knowledge doesn’t make me any happier about it. So…never mind.
And not to be the bearer of bad tidings but if this is the same cold that has swept through North Carolina the last month, it is one BÍTÇH of a virus. lasts at least 3 weeks. 3 Weeks! My advise–take everything, zinc, vitamin C, Cold-B-Gone, prayers to St Jude, whatever is available. I’m 44 years old and this was the worst cold I’ve ever had. I did my time tested method of “gutting it out”, taking no medicine so that my body could best fight it off and it lasted exactly as long as the folks who did the other method of “taking every pill in the medicine cabinet”, only they at least were semi functional (though very poor drivers).
The last thing you need when keening over your missing children is the added misery of this cold. Attack it with full aggression.
Take care.
Don’t know about anyone else, but whenever I have headcold, I eat nachos with REALLY hot salsa, drains me right out.
And, as far as Ariel, I sympathize. I don’t even like going to work and being away from my son, so a week? Off to the loony bin. Absence makes the heart grow fungus.
And not to be the bearer of bad tidings but if this is the same cold that has swept through North Carolina the last month, it is one BÍTÇH of a virus. lasts at least 3 weeks. 3 Weeks! My advise–take everything, zinc, vitamin C, Cold-B-Gone, prayers to St Jude, whatever is available. I’m 44 years old and this was the worst cold I’ve ever had. I did my time tested method of “gutting it out”, taking no medicine so that my body could best fight it off and it lasted exactly as long as the folks who did the other method of “taking every pill in the medicine cabinet”, only they at least were semi functional (though very poor drivers).
So you’rfe the son of a bi-. I swear, Bill, I don’t know where you were standing when you gave me this cold, but I will track you down…8^)
Actually, funny thing is I was supposed to be in New York this weekend visiting a friend of mine. When I told her I was sick and couldn’t come, she went to St. Croix without me. Actually, now that I think abvout it. It’;s not all that funny either…
Whoa dude, you passed up a chance to go to St. Croix with a girl and you passed it up??? I said it was the worst cold I’ve ever had, I didn’t say it was the frikken Black Plague.
A testament to type of father you are.
Mark
Whoa dude, you passed up a chance to go to St. Croix with a girl and you passed it up??? I said it was the worst cold I’ve ever had, I didn’t say it was the frikken Black Plague.
I didn’t “pass it up” on purpose. I literally haven’t been sick in at least five years with so much as a head cold. So when I got this one my immune system was already on vacation. It hasn’t got back yet.
Hey there, Peter. This is a completely unrelated comment, but I have practically every one of your novels and the other day I decided to search your name on amazon and saw a book titled “Prometheans (Star Trek New Frontier).” I was wondering if this was an actual book in the ST:NF series that I could possibly have missied or maybe just a misprint. Please e-mail me or something! Much appreciated!
-A-
eClark,
Hey, didn’t mean to pour salt in the wound. 🙂
Besides, you would have undoubtedly made everyone in the airplane sick (I just know that the person who 12 Monkeys the avian flu to the rest of the world will probably do so on a TWA jet).
It’s been about 4 or 5 years since my last bad cold as well. Maybe there’s something to your theory. At any rate, I hope you take my advice about heavy medication. If it’s gonna last 2 or 3 weeks anyway you might as well be functional. Get lots of sleep. Drink lots of fluids. Beer is mostly fluid and makes you sleepy. Remember that. (and pour a bit on the ground in memory of Hunter S. Thompsom)
Bill, np problem.
since I was supposed to be on vacation anyway, getting rest is not going to be a problem. The last time I went to New York for any length of time, I caught strep throat, so I only go in the spring and summer now usually.
Your beet advice is lost on me as I don’;t drink/. But I do take Nyquil which is just about as good. Even if it doesn’t cure me, I sleep through most of my sickness anyway.
I also heard the sad news about both Hunter S. Thompson and Sandra Dee, both pop icons of their times. Both rather young too, considering.
Alex:
As far as I can tell, “Prometheans” was a hardcover omnibus that re-printed “Martyr” and “Fire on High” in one volume.
I think it was only available through a book club.
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Dazza
Dazza,
Okay, thanks! I just freaked out when I noticed that there may have been a Star Trek: New Frontier book that I DIDN’T have. The thought was very unlikely, but the just the same: very unnerving!
-A-
Sorry to get off topic, I’d love to see PAD riff on this upcoming Kids WB show http://www.aintitcool.com/downloads/LoonaticsPreview.mov
Maybe I’m just culturally clueless (no surprise), but can someone explain the “Riel?” reference for me?
–R.J.
“Maybe I’m just culturally clueless (no surprise), but can someone explain the “Riel?” reference for me?”
If you re-read PAD’s initial post, I think you’ll see from the context clues that “Riel” is Caroline’s nickname for “Ariel.”
PAD, this is the _first_ time Ariel has flown by herself, or just the first time she’s been gone for that length of time? My first time flying by myself was when I was 5 or 6 (to visit my Grandmother, then wintering in Florida). Hmmn, wonder how my parents felt about my absence?
Never did get the answer to that, but I remember being puzzled as to why there were bits of confetti about the house when I got back. Strange, there hadn’t been any when I left.
Probably just a coincidence.
Rick