Quietude

Things have been quiet around here for the last couple of days, probably because I've been pouring a lot of energy into plotting and scheming. I've got my brother's wedding coming up soon, which includes an interesting expedition to the Bay Area. We're going to take the train from Maricopa, AZ (30 miles south of here) out to the area, and will stay with an old college friend of mine while I attend a pre-wedding conference. There are various other plans whilst we are in the Bay Area that will make more sense if they're explained after they happen. Because you never know how many plans we'll be able to carry out...

I've also been getting things situated for a trip the following weekend, out to Colorado, to attend another wedding. A lot of people from here are going out there, and quite some time ago, someone sent around one of those, "So...who wants to drive out?!" e-mails. Of course, the initial response was, "Oh yeah! Road trip! Sounds like fun!" but over time the numbers have dwindled and dwindled and now it's just myself, scrottie, and one other guy driving out and hauling out beer for a bunch of people. I think we should tell everyone that we are making no promises about the beer. On the bright side, I should bring along knitting and get a lot done in the car, since I can't exactly read books or get real work done.

Yeah. So, lots of travel. Sadly, I won't make it up to Seattle this summer, with those two trips plus a conference in Copenhagen in August. I just can't afford the time or the money it takes to get up to the Pacific Northwest. I'm really sad to be missing the Seattle-to-Portland and the delicious fresh summer produce. And seeing my family. I went and wrote out a letter to my grandpa because I won't get to see him this summer, and hey, he's an old dude who worked hard for a lot of his life and who deserves to hear from his grandchildren now and again. Plus, he gave me a beautiful old vintage bicycle that I ride everywhere. He's had some pretty severe health issues lately and feels like he's ready to die, but of course we'd rather not hear that from him. I just worry about what will happen to his farm, and continue to dream of moving up there while I finish writing my dissertation (or afterwords, completely changing careers. The farm's too small to be really productive, but hey, it's family land, and could house a lot of cool stuff, potentially).

And then there's research, which of course never goes fast enough. I'm still getting geared up for a big experiment, but it keeps getting delayed because I want to do it right. I think I'm getting there, though.

And with that, time to run off and do a few errands.