Today was a good day.

Drove up to the desert with my parents and we got some time to talk. Weird that I have spent so much time with them, more than when I lived at home, and we haven't really had an opportunity to just *talk* until today. They are really very supportive about my plans to move to Portland and I ought to let them know that I appreciate that.

Joshua Tree was beautiful. It was just a perfect, perfect day. Clear, cool but with plenty of sun and just the barest hints of a breeze. The National Park (sooo want to call it The Monument still) was just eternal and calm and unspoiled.

The family gathered and we took grandma in a box (aka known as her cremated remains) up to where we had left grandpa nine years ago. Just to share the moment as it would be illegal to scatter her ashes there. Unfortunately I am clumsy and the box just oops tipped over. Just exactly like it happened nine years ago. I should work on that. The ashes scattered in the wind so we said goodbye to her there.

That is my story and I am sticking to it. I also know to lawyer up if questioned about my unplanned clumsiness that resulted in the scattering of ashes in a beloved location. Twice.

I didn't actually nap either way and am finally really feeling the totality of my gronk now. But I had a second or fifth wind and the day was really nice. Even had nice moments with the parts of my family that can drive me crazy.

[Though, and I will face this bullshit tomorrow, my brother managed to send me an email tonight that I had to just close and promise myself that I wouldn't look at again until after my bath and hopefully after I have some actual sleep. Fuckwit.]

My tummy even was nice-ish and never was so bad that I couldn't shove it mostly out of my mind. I have a bath waiting and then am crawling into bed.

Please don't Marcie yourself.

I stopped being so annoying and bitching so I am giving myself a second chance. But I am still on notice.

We had a poignantly beautiful, thoughtful, caring discussion about it

This? A good start if you really can get over it. And the dates sound like marvelous fun.

Hey! Survived my date! Had actual fun

Yay good dateage stories!

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Yay for good dates.

Cass, I'm glad it was a good day for you. Your family deserves a good day for your Gram's memorial.

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Cass, it sounds like a really lovely, memorable day. I'm glad you got to have that.

Also, YAY for good dates!

So far today I have done dishes, made coffee, surfed the Internet, walked the dog, made pear muffins, printed out necessary handouts for class and am about to reorganize my school notebook. It's been a busy morning!

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Bwah! I think I hurt myself laughing at the notion of date boy offending Erin with raunchy stories. I'm so happy to hear fun was had.

And Beej! It sounds like you had a wonderful time. Sorry about the complications. Good to find out the complexity at this point.

Fort Myers Florida

So near and yet so far away. 150 miles from me, but only 20 miles from my family. If I didn't have such a crazy busy week I would pop over and see the folks and get a drink with you at Fort Myers Beach. Stupid work.

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What a perfectly lovely day Cass. The comfortable mutually supportive relationship you have with your parents is so important through this transition. I'm grateful that Lori took me to Joshua Tree so that I am able to picture you there. (Hee, you silly clumsy thing)

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Cass, I 'm so happy you and your family had a good day.

I have just made our ticekt reservations for London/Scotland for a week in March. It will be a tough trip (dealing with medical stuff, etc, with Tom's mother) but hopefully we will be able to connect with his friends and family while over there, and at least get a little face time.

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Gronk. Class about to start. TIRED.

But I can go to sleep early tonight.

Must teach now. Just hearing about vw's morning makes me tired.

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'morning everyone.

Cass--How lovely. I can just imagine Joshua Tree (a truly beautiful place) gladly accepting your gran into its peace and timelessness. Bless you all.

Yay Erin! I'm with you on the passage of the nervous nauseousness. AND, you have more fun on tap. Good on ya.

Thanks for the good thoughts on my own dateage.

I'm definitely open to giving Fella a chance and Laura speaks what I thought about the whole thing. Better to know the complexity now. I just wish I'd known that particular piece of intel a couple of days before the fact. In the space between Sunday and Thursday, those two phone calls could have been made...to her and to me.

Sail, I've never been the kind who can juggle a string of beaus. I admire those who can. I've just never been good at that sort of thing.

In this particular case I didn't feel like it was 'serious' enough to warrant having any say over what Fella does with his romantic life. But it is my business how I manage my own. So yeah. Truth is good.

We talked more last night. It was a wee bit awkward at first, but we worked it through. Interestingly, we both brought up the 'metaphoric' nature of what is happening and I offered a metaphoric 'quest' to help us find resolution. He seemed really into it. But first, getting his stuff together is a priority.

Phew. Life. It rocks.

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Gronklies. I've already taught one class this morning, and I've got two more to go. I was planning to use this time in between classes to get some paperwork stuff done, but it hasn't really happened yet.

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Morning. Getting ready to go to work. Am dealing with depression that has suddenly cropped up - maybe as a result of having to return to "real life" and the consequences/fuckedupness thereof. Also, maybe because I am sick. Could be both. Whee.

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