Kitanzi's Colloquium

We hosted the monthly filk last night, and much fun and junk food and music was had by all. It was a good time, you should have been there. (Unless you're one of the people who WAS there, in which case - zoooombies!) People cleared out about oneish, and we promptly fell over. Sadly, my brain (which I am NOT speaking to right now) insisted on waking me up at 6:30 ANYHOW.

Nap later. Dammit. But it was lots of fun and totally worth it and we're doing this again. But yeah, nap.

ACat and I trekked to Alabama yesterday for the monthly filk, this time at the home of quadrivium and her husband and son. It was about four hours each way, but really worth it. There was food, conversation, food, music, food, and did I mention food? I brought along a pumpkin spice cake with cream cheese frosting, but I needn't have bothered since there was honestly enough food to gorge twice the people who were there! (I think this may have been a rehearsal for thanksgiving dinner!) For some reason the recurring musical theme was zombies, but hey, we had fun, and there were a number of songs I'd only seen the lyrics to before, mostly on journals. ACat and I crashed at a local hotel at something like 1 am EST, which is really late for me, and proceeded to not sleep much (didn't bring his CPAP or the wedge I seem to need under my legs to sleep these days), so we got back on the road fairly early, ate a quick breakfast at Cracker Barrel, and traded off the driving twice on the way home due to too tired. S'okay, weekends are for naps, which we both proved when we got home. Now I need to go make a chocolate kahlua trifle for him to bring to his office party tomorrow, while he's still sleeping.

Well, the insanity is officially done at work, at least for me. As of today I am back to working one job, for one manager, and the cleanup on the cluster... er, special project for the other department proceeds completely without me, including accounting for a large (and indeterminate) number of missing files. I like it that way. I got out of work after only working EIGHT HOURS today! On a Monday! I even took a lunch break! How decadent and slothful. ****pppppbbbbbbbbt**** I even ran out of things to do at work today, it's amazing.

Back at home we have just under two weeks until the move, however, and I'm at the point where I'm ready to start simplifying my life with a flamethrower. The apartment is overrun with full boxes, empty boxes, piles of stuff, and half packed clutter which drives me nuts. There's very little left to pack that won't actually be used before we go, though, so blitzing through that doesn't make much sense either.

The upshot is that ACat and I are sitting at home in the middle of a halfpacked yard sale, and our lives feel like we're marking time - mostly because we are. We both seem to be a little down, a little unsettled, a little too quiet. I finally have the energy to realize that I feel like every thing is on hold, and I miss people. Me, the introvert. (A cynical corner of my mind wonders if this is because nearly all the books are packed. Shut up, you.)

Still, I do miss folks and while it's not quite the same I should finally have at least time to catch up on LJ. I'm looking forward to the July filk, too! (And I'm still planning some kind of housewarming thingie once we're unpacked. Yeeeeah, how long do you suppose *that* will take?)

I guess it's a tradition now - it's been twice! Last year I was kidnapped off to the GA Renfaire for my birthday by the conspiracy of autographedcat, joyeuse13 and abovenyquist for one of the best birthdays I've ever had. This year I instigated it, but dragged the same folks along plus thatcrazycajun, hilfy, wheezingirl and her husband Matt (who I don't think has an LJ - correct me if I'm wrong!) Hilfy, ACat and I got there about ten, and others showed up at somewhat staggered times in a typical herding cats fashion, but cellphones turned out to be a (somewhat mixed) blessing and we all had a great time with lots of fun, a bit too much sun, a Lost Boys concert, a couple of visits to see the Parrots of the Carribean, more street performer interaction than usual (maybe because we got there so early), and lots of browsing/shopping. This year I did get the gorgeous silk harem pants I'd drooled over last year - yay for having money! On the whole, however, I think we got off relatively cheaply, and I had a lovely time. ACat, Hilfy and I left after about four and a half hours due to heat, tiredness, and general soreness, and left the others still hopefully having just as much fun. (Yes, ACat will of course have photos up soon. I'm disappointed that the belly dancers weren't there this weekend, however.)

We dropped Hilfy off, came home, vegged out in the airconditioning with some amaaaaazing Ben and Jerry's ice cream - Willy Nelson's Country Peach Cobbler. Seriously, brand new favorite flavor, sooooo good. Anyhow, we had a quiet afternoon and evening, and finally finally finally watched the premiere of Blood Ties from where it was lurking on the tivo - I recommend that, too. And now, I think, to bed. I hope everyone had just as good a day, whatever made that for them.

37 seems pretty damned good right about now, and in fact I'd have to say that overall life keeps getting better every year, in spite of life being full of Goddamn Learning Experiences. I guess that's how I get to keep having birthdays, right?

( Why, did you say? )

As I expect to be making my best imitation of a night owl tonight (which is probably to say MAYBE still concious at midnight, or at least expecting people to wake me up for it) I'll just say it now.

May your new year be better than your old one in every way possible, may you learn from your mistakes, cherish your blessings, and hold tight to those you love. May we all have what we wish most for, and none of us settle for what we deserve.

(And I may I see as many of you as possible NEXT weekend at Gafilk!)

Here's a meme that might actual generate content of use to folks, for some value of the word: For those of you who went to OVFF and are just too tired right now to do a proper report, what are three things that you particularly remember about the weekend? They don't have to be the very best, but three memorable bits, and between enough of us we may have a good con report to share.

For me, I'd say bearhugging Maedbh7 when I first saw her, Cadhla's brilliantly executed and choreographed on-stage quick change behind a sheet, and the pool party Sunday evening - we need more people for that next year, if only to warm up the pool!

Went to the filk last night at the very beautiful home of joyeuse13 and her husband Aaron, had a great time, stayed up way later than my bedtime. Got home, went to be about twoish.... and woke up four hours later just in time for work. (And I am apparently SO tired I not only can't remember his LJ name, I can't recognize it on a friends list.)

It's Sunday. Go back to sleep.

No luck. Bahhhhh.... this will be a day for a nap, I think. But the filk was SO much fun. Met a bunch of very friendly new people, sang WAY more than I usually have the nerve to (not sure why), drank lots of caffiene (for that staying awake thing), sat in the car being a happy zombie while ACat drove us home. Want to do that again.

But please, right now, sleep, dammit. *sigh*

Today, tomorrow, a half day Friday - and then I go HOME! Thank you very, very much to the people who have called, have sent cards, and have travelled well out of their way to cheer and entertain me. It has been a long week and a half so far, but that's made it so much easier.
( I have some amazing friends. )

It was the best of weekends, it was the suckiest of Mondays. I haven't even made a token attempt at catching up on LJ yet, but I know if I don't do this now it just won't get done - and if you don't report on your own damn con, whose con should you report on?? (Is there anything from the weekend LJs that I really should know about? Anyone?)
( Happy daze! )