furtech | Visiting Virginia

calicougar finally got me to visit her family in Virginia. I hate boarding the dogs and traveling by air these days, so the only way to get me to visit my out of area friends is to either offer some amazing adventure or blackmail me. Both have proven effective in the past.

This time Tracy suggested that we road-trip up to FurFright, a con that I truly enjoy and my second favorite after Eurofurence. I've had great experiences on the road with Tracy in the past: we both are easy-going travelers, are tolerant of each other's musical taste and enjoy interesting/good food.

I took a red-eye to Charlottesville and arrived in a pouring rain. The baggage handlers were kind enough to leave everyone's bags out in the rain long enough for them to get thoroughly soaked (the three books I'd packed deep in the bag were very wet). Thanks, guys.

I love the Charlottesville Airport: it's very new and modern, but so small that I almost ran past the entire check-in/baggage area and into the parking lot before I realized -how- small it is. I'd fly into / out of this place any day!

The rain limited the sights we could see around Charlottesville-- which mostly revolved around Thomas Jefferson and the University of Virginia. No biggie.

At Tracy's home I was re-united with Cody, her smooth collie that I knew when she lived in Los Angeles and Seattle. Cody is great: he's like a giant, pointy-nosed cat. Very dapper and disliking of mud and rain and anything common. He's deaf now, but otherwise still the slinky, rubby dog I remembered.

Between the rain and some neglect when Tracy was in L.A. this summer, the garden was not looking its best. Still, I am impressed with how much work she's put into it. It is possible she will be able to bribe or blackmail me into visiting in the early summer next year (but I doubt it-- I hate having to board the dogs and air travel is no fun these days).

She also has a new cat, Tikka, who is an apple-brain Siamese. Very nice cat: loves affection, but does not demand it (and one of the few friendly cats not to leap onto me at night). She's adorable.

Her home is very warm and cozy and I had a great night on the couch. I did have one amusing moment when Cody, in the middle of the night, decided to ask for petting and attention. The soft bump woke me and I opened my eyes to his body/face inches from mine. I was very startled and yelped out in shock and surprise. Tracy heard and was amused.

The next day we had a relaxing time packing the car and looking at the garden (with slightly less rain). Then we got on the road to Connecticut.