Flora

We've had a German invasion of the hostel recently, with around 30 students everywhere and making quite a mess of things. They're leaving tomorrow morning, so I foresee a lot of sheets and pillowcases that will need collected, washed, and folded.

Although I was struck with a nasty cold on the train ride back from Staunton, VA on Wednesday, my naturally superior immune system soon recovered and now I feel fine. I think this hostel is keeping me tough. I bet I'm going to get bird flu.

On the way back from a NOYS conference at the education building last week, my supervisor and I passed a flower shop and since flowers are the easiest things in the world to photograph, I have pictures.

Without the untold hours of free time, I don't get to go neat places and take pictures. However, on Tuesday I found myself with the time to get out to the Botanical Garden which is marvelous and free. It's their "Orchids A-Z" exhibit and wasn't every crowded. Believe it or not, I took more pictures until the batteries in my camera died and I had to trek back to Union Station to recharge them. Incidentally, I forgot my charger and batteries in the outlet and was twenty minutes on my way to Charlottesville before I remembered and called Amtrak in a panic. They were still there, and my faith in people was momentarily restored. I went to retrieve them on Thursday and the grouchiest woman ever was working the lost and found.

I did make a friend with a woman working the bag storage counter, though. She needed to get rid of a ticket that some other person didn't want anymore so she sold it to me at a discount. After working the box office for years, I can understand that.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. library has a rather unimpressive DVD selection so I have been revisiting the classics. Already seen: A Streetcar Named Desire, Double Indemnity, and Sunset Boulevard. Still left are Pygmalion and some Korean film that looks simply wacky!

Oh, we stopped by a Wal-Mart when we were driving to Staunton and to my surprise - they sold beer! And wine! Out of obligation, I bought a $2.97 bottle of Merlot. I will report back on the taste and quality once I manage to find a corkscrew.