Slidell is part of a major east/west railroad line, and a freight train can easily close every crossing in town.

Just as I got in sight of the railroad tracks along came a long freight. I made it to the street where I turn just after the train did, thus trapping me while a much larger than usual number of cars made their way across the road, headed for (probably) Atlanta. I though that darned train would NEVER end. The cars were stacking up all over the place. Finally the last car of the train went by, the gates came up, my light turned green, and I zipped right around and into the turn, then up the street.

Luckily, I had been slowed down on the drive home to the point where I thought it a good idea to stop and get some Wendy's for supper. And not at the drive-up--inside is where I REALLY needed to be. So, for roughly $5 I got to use their john--and have OPC for supper.

I got a lot done at work-- finishing up the preliminary inventory on one carton and getting a healthy start on another. Along the way I read a letter from a Congressman that said absolutely nothing the least bit relevant to the question the constituent had asked him.

Can you imagine??? A Washington politician giving a non-answer to a question!!

This evening I should be grading exams and/or paperlets, but I have to get up earlier than usual tomorrow since I'm giving a make-up exam at 6:45. Instead, I'll run over my Sub-Saharan Africa lecture notes so I can sound halfway knowledgeable at the 8 AM lecture. (This coming weekend will be solid grading.) (And grading is a valid excuse for avoiding yard work.)

I shall now veg out for a bit, then head for bed early.