CONconcon

I know someone's done it, but I've never seen it, and I am so frustrated that I can't find a way to type it so it would be read correctly. Yell the word "Con" à la Shatner's great scream line in that Star Trek movie: Khaaaaaan! 

I went to Bubonicon with the Danish and her Consort. It was great and I got to hear a bunch of authors speak. I went and had some books signed. It is the first and last time I'll do that I think. I'm not a fan of waiting in line in general. And the compressed social interaction is odd. I had rumination about my book signing interactions - one of which was good and successful! one of which was awkward! - all night. The costumery and fan/gamer events are not for me. My delight is all about the booky book books of course.  

Speaking of the Danish and Co, they had a grand week of entertainments recently. Cultural stuff every day for a while. It included an opera premiere at the Santa Fe Opera that came with an Act I violent thunderstorm. D said she was grinning the whole time as the rain spray reached them - in the back of the upper balcony! The orchestra was drowned out by thunder at times and parts of the stage were getting wet as well. A clash of dramas. Gotta love rain in NM no matter how it arrives. I do love a storm. 

I'm going to the last Chatter at the Museum night tomorrow. I've hit 3 of the 4 this year and I love them. It's a great space and also freeee.    

I'm going to the Y after work today. It's been too long. I had a meeting with a trainer and then immediately went on my Portland trip and haven't retained much. Trying to see what I can try of that and not get in a guilt-avoidance thing about it. Or maybe I'll just go jog.  

We had games with Gem on Monday. She's mostly healed after neck surgery earlier this summer. But in pain - different but still daily and impacting her work. Awful. I will hope that the coming months will allow it to shift and lighten. Surgery recovery always takes longer than expected. She brought Azul and Skyjo, my faves. I was lucky in Skyjo and won. I'm not very good at Azul strategy but am finally absorbing some of it. A picked it up quickly.   

I know we don't use this verb any more but look who's blogging: mimi smartypants - Seriously, though: what's with the penguins? !

FF ffs

Mid - July

Summer is not the best season for our house. The elderly swamp coolers are doing their best but it's not very comfortable. I seem to be past the worst of the hot flashes (gods I hope so). I've been closing the drapes in the morning and keeping the heat out as much as I can. It's dim and warm and I would like to fast forward to late August at this rate. 

The monsoon storms started last week 7/13 and it brings the temp down even if we get no rain. I wish it would rain of course and sometimes we'll get ten minutes or so. It hasn't been enough to replace watering the yard. So I will gather my summer complaints and put them aside and remember to be grateful for change and clouds. 

Trying to support youngest kid who is trying to figure out how to do the last (6?) classes for her degree. So many dominoes need to be set up and knocked down. I wish us an organized energy toward completion. 

Cooked two small pizzas in the science oven last night. It still feels like a magic trick but I'm getting more confident. 

Late - August

I've gotten this far at least. The high temps are too high. Waiting for the coolness to swing back. I know that's what we'll be doing for the rest of our lives. But I'm going to focus on what's in front of me now. 

The excitement of the new semester has arrived. Even with our current miasma and troubles, I keep communicating with cheerful instructors. I wish them and all students so much goodness. Teach and learn, what a good general base human activity.

Our college student is back with us and has started her three online classes for the semester. She's physically and emotionally stronger than when she left. I'm glad she was able to spend time with her friends and good old T I M E is helping. There is more support gathering yet to do. Good to see that hopeful forward movement. Spring semester will be in-person and we will plot and scheme to make that successful as well.

Today I'm going to pick up a painting I bought through the estate sale auction site. I have a bid in on a quilt too. It's so much fun to look at all the junk! Will try to keep my shopping excitement in the realm of replacing items rather than piling them up. 

I'm hoping to see the new Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson movie in the theater with the Danish. I found the last season of Hacks very satisfying. I have some nits to pick but what a landing. I realized at the end as the last shot pulls wide on the Las Vegas strip that this series made me love spending imaginary time in LV. While IRL I hope I don't have to go there ever again. Hannah E is very beautiful when she's acting sad and distressed, what a Pieta face.        

I finished Hell Bent by Bardugo recently. It made me mad as well as entertained me. She is a strong writer. I love the glamor of magic and history and secret societies as much as her characters do. And the continual frustration is probably a good realistic tension. But it could have been shorter. Using Darlington as the McGuffin was particularly upsetting. I hope our rough outsider can get a little solid ground underneath her by the end of this series. And that the next book is a hundred or so pages shorter.