Last week, my company sent me to Boston to work with some of the
engineers in our Concord (Massachusetts) office. The plan was for me
to fly out on Monday, work from Tuesday to Thursday, and fly back on
Friday. That was the "mystery" behind my St Patrick's Day post. The
reason I was cryptic about it was that I don't like to announce to
the world at large that I am thousands of miles from home. Hey, world!
My house is empty, come rob it!

However, on Friday, the region was deluged by a big snowstorm. Flights
were canceled left and right, and I was stranded in Boston for a couple
of extra days. I was upset because I missed my kitties as it was, poor
Roxy was boarded at the vet hosptial, and I didn't have enough of my
regular medication to last until my flight back, which had been
rescheduled for very early Sunday morning. Plus I had to shell out for
two extra nights in a hotel (which I hope my employer will pay for!).

But now I'm home, and I got quite the welcome back from the 4-foots.
No pooping in shoes from this gang. They've been all over me. Yesterday,
Smudge couldn't decide whether she wanted to go outside (since she'd
been cooped up inside all week), or hang out with me. When I let her
out, she would yowl for me to come out and play with her. So I spent
at least an hour outside, petting her, and taking a little walk with her
(she loves that), and that seemed to make her happy.

One fun thing I did while I was there (pre-snowstorm) was get together
with Takayuki and Suz! We met at Suz's house, Tak brought Indian food,
and we hung out for a couple of hours gossiping about RPCA. :) (OK, just
a little.) I got to see Spicey for only a few minutes, because she was
very freaked out by there being strangers in her home, so she was in
"protector" mode, as Suz explained. She really was rather fearsome, and
glared at us with her ears pinned back and a long, low growl issuing
forth. Poor girl!

I hope that the next time my boss decides that I need to work with the
co-workers in Massachusetts, it will happen at a more hospitable time
of year!

Joyce