(no subject)

We have random thunderstorms today and I have some sort of cold and I feel like spending the day in bed. I've heard back from most of my friends and family on the east coast of the US, and, although there's been a lot of flood damage and a pondsworth of goldfish that were washed out to see and trees falling on houses and cars, everyone's in good health. It's bad, but my friends and family have so far been lucky (although at least one friend has a brother whose house is completely done in my Sandy) and it could have been much worse. It *is* worse, in fact, for many people in all the places Sandy hit. The thunder here is, I think, largely in sympathy.

I'm teaching tonight, but I'm still not certain if I can get to the bus stop to get myself home. This is because they're changing the road around the university and have forgotten that people have to get safely to the bus stop after dark. It won't be quite as dark as a month ago, at least, and thus it won't be quite as unsafe, so I doubt I'll be asking for lifts this time. Still, I'll be happier when they finish the roadwork and I don't have to worry. (Getting into university is fine - in fact, it's more than fine, because they've added a whole new bus stop and I walk about a hundred years less.) This is my week for small frets for me and big worries for my friends.

I have three hours to drink coffee and zap my to-do list stupid before my afternoon's meeting and my library visit and my photocopying and my teaching.