So I'm kinda back

[drwex]

We took our summer family trip, this year to Niagara Falls by way of Herkimer. I have some pictures, a few crystals, and have learned several things about touristing in that area. Pictures will have to wait because I'm still working on Arisia 2014 shots. Yes, really.

I have been deliberately hermiting and lazing. I've done a lot of walking. I took an extra day off work so I could have 10 days away. I hope it will help, but I doubt it.

I'm going to be traveling to Houston again for work in a couple weeks; this is largely by choice, but it's travel and it means another week away from the people and things I love. Then come holidays, which are early this year.

I've unlamed to the point of moving our party invite list to the new host. If you somehow expected to be on it and are not I'd be happy to add you. Leave me an email address.

Pygment's been posting about her car issues. I'm trying not to get into money stress things, but staring at college costs four years from now and knowing how phenomenally unprepared I am is daunting. That said, I'm still planning family trips for the next two summers anyway.

I'm looking back at the things I did this summer, all of which I thought were good. If I regret, it's that I didn't do more of these things. Dig my social anxiety all the way into the ground and bury it somehow :(

I already have tickets to three shows this fall, and a puppy who just came in to be played with so I'll stop here. There will be pictures and more updata later.

Comments

[selenite.livejournal.com]

If you get a layover at DFW, give us a shout so we can come say hi.

[drwex]

Thank you, it's almost worth it to try and spend time with you guys. I tend to fly direct to/from Houston, though. With work paying the fare it's easier on me.

(Here I elide a long rant about TSA security theater and how airlines have forgotten they're in a service business. Ask me over a beer sometime.)

[selenite.livejournal.com]

No, minimizing time dealing with airlines and TSA is best. I'll cheerfully listen to the rant if I get the chance. I've been actively avoiding TSA as best I can.

[chienne-folle.livejournal.com]

You said that you took a trip, but you didn't say whether you had a good time. I hope so.

I went to Niagara Falls with my girlfriend in 1983. While we were standing there watching a zillion gallons of water roar by, a man tapped me on the shoulder and asked, "Is this Niagara Falls? I mean, is this IT?" We felt sad for him, that he was so jaded that watching a zillion gallons of water roar by seemed tame and disappointing to him.

[drwex]

Generally, yes. It was about 50% good and 50% neutral. There were no really bad bits, and some bits that might have been really bad turned out not so bad.

My dad's having a really rough time physically - he has post-polio syndrome and trying to keep up with all the things we wanted to do was really taxing for him.

[chienne-folle.livejournal.com]

Ah, that does sound difficult. Glad the potentially bad bits turned out to be okay after all.

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

Welcome back?

I couldn't tell if you were glad to be back or not, so I'll timidly guess that you're gladder to be getting back into Normalcy than to be staying away from it. Apologies if that was incorrect.

As for social anxiety, I wish I knew what to tell you. I know that I'm glad to see you whenever we do cross paths at social events. But FWIW I understand when large events seem daunting.

[drwex]

Thanks. Traveling is also anxiety-inducing for me, so I'm glad to be back. I'm also sad not to have been able to do more. It's mixed.

Thank you

[sweetmmeblue.livejournal.com]

for helping with the money stuff and not being too much a stress monkey at me. I totally respect these thoughts and have been having them too. If you want help doing more, let me know.

Love ya! SMOOOCH!

[drwex]

More what?

[intuition-ist.livejournal.com]

at some point, i'd like to come over and be social (possibly even with the puppy).

[drwex]

That could be fun. Tomorrow is mostly empty except for getting kids through pre-school stuff. Busy tomorrow night. Other than that... depends on the night.

[intuition-ist.livejournal.com]

hm, maybe next monday eve?

[drwex]

Mondays in general tend to be busy. Tuesdays are easier for me, if that works for you.

[intuition-ist.livejournal.com]

sure, how about Tuesday 9/9?

[drwex]

Sorry I haven't responded sooner - we've been juggling a whole lot of tentative plans. I think the way it's going to work out is that Thing 1 has to go to an orthodontist and Pygment has a movie that night. So I'll be home soloing the kids if you want to try for a bit after dinner.

[intuition-ist.livejournal.com]

ok, just let me know when "after dinner" is on a clock :) I'm guessing 8 pm or so, but i could be o so wrong...

[drwex]

I think from 7 would be fine.

[intuition-ist.livejournal.com]

ok, see you then-ish.

[sariel-t.livejournal.com]

*pebble*

[spinrabbit.livejournal.com]

Wait, Herkimer Falls is a real place?

"Down at Herkimer Falls where the great river rushes/ and crashes down crags in great gargling gushes/ the Herkhimer sisters are wielding their brushes./These falls are just fine for toothbrushing beneath/ if you happen to be up that way with your teeth." from The Sleep Book by Dr. Suess

[drwex]

Well, sorta.

Herkimer is a small town in upstate NY about 4 hours from Boston. There is a place in Herkimer where you can take hammers and bang on rocks, which are mostly granite but which have various intrusions. Some of those intrusions create crystals, and a few of those crystals are remarkably clear. Those are called "Herkimer diamonds" and people seriously spend days banging on rocks to find them. There's an entire KOA campground set up across the road from the mine, and we met a family that spends four days a year doing this. Others we saw there were likewise serious about it.

Us, not so much. We took the rental hammers and banged on rocks for a couple hours before we ran out of steam (man it was HOT in the sun). We got a couple of shinies and I got to explain to the children what actual *work* is, as opposed to these desk job things we call 'work".

The falls, such as they are, are small things because water still runs over those rocks just as it did millenia ago, still forcing its way into cracks and washing out different minerals to make new crystals.

Kind of like Barbie-doll-scale Niagara falls.

[rednikki.livejournal.com]

COLLEGE COSTS FOUR YEARS FROM NOW?!?

Holy hell do I feel old.

[drwex]

Welcome to the club. I'll move my cane and you can sit down.