Liese! Was it really? That's fabulous.

We did it, Suela, since the government wouldn't. Mark Charles, a Navajo activist, organized the event. Native folks read the appropriations bill it was buried in, and then the apology was read in English, Ojibwe, and Navajo. (My buddy read the Navajo, and he got some really nice compliments from Elmer Yazzie, the artist who did part of the banner for the event.)

It went well. There were probably about a hundred people there. No major news and no politicians or officials. Native Net News was there. A few things were said that I squirmed at, but on the whole, it was a really good event, done really well. It was streamed, and they're going to edit the video and post. I'll be in all the footage, 'cause it was so windy I ended up holding the artwork up the entire time. So I didn't get video or photos myself.

Y'all did a good thing, Liese.

I'm so wiped out from it right now I'm not sure if I did or not! Apparently while I was there, a shitstorm erupted on our mission page...by another missionary, WTF? So I was kinda pissy that I stood outside for hours in the cold and wind holding a painting, and there he was making asshole statements on my fb page. No, you don't get to ruin 12 years of relationship building I've been doing, fucko.

And then the organizer called on the Native tribes to reject the apology, which honestly, I agree with, but I wish he'd indicated that was his intention before I endorsed it. I understand he was hoping for politician involvement, who probably wouldn't have shown up to be rejected, but they didn't show up anyway.

So I was a little fatigued by it all.

But I do think it was an important thing, and I don't know that anything will come of it in the big picture. In the small picture, I made a ton of Native work contacts. I'm pretty sure I introduced myself to every Native person there, heh! Not all the white people, though, which I probably should have done, but oh well, and plus I got anchored once I was holding the banner.

And overall the message was a really positive one, looking for reconciliation, adoption, relationship.

Nice, Liese!

So I should be packing. I've got a load of laundry in, my floors are vacuumed and kitchen floor isn't sticky any more, cat care email sent, recycling out, cat food double checked.

Oh, I need to bring in the extra litter.

Water plants.

Clean off tables.

Packing will take all of 30 minutes, max, right?

I have to get keys made tomorrow and deliver them to B.

I have to pack.

Yeah, I haven;t even unpacked from the wedding I didn't. But now I'm tired and there's laundry, so sitting.

Also, have to work out how to kickstart a frozen Nook. Motherfucker, where's the battery in this thing?

I think you get a pass on unpacking.

Me, I HATE being packed. So I put it off until the last minute and unpack the minute I can. For this trip, it's just 7 tops, jeans, underwear, toiletries and jewelry. And my paltry gifts. And cookies.

Which reminds me, need to do Heifer from my brother's.

I need to go grocery shopping. I'm into my canned goods now. Cracked open the creamed corn. Nunya thinks anything involving a can opener is tuna fish, and therefore she is entitled to the juice. So I let her sniff the corn to show her it wasn't desirable.

She began eating it, go figure.

Me, I HATE being packed. So I put it off until the last minute and unpack the minute I can.

I've never considered that I hate being packed but I certainly unpack like a superhero and put off packing as long as I can. I just like knowing my stuff is at hand.

I don't like winter. I am cold and it's been dark for hours so I feel like I should be asleep. I want to be warm and asleep. Which is unlikely since it is barely past 7 pm.

I've gotten through the whole day without putting on a bra, and now I have to get dressed to go pick up CJ. Bummer.

It's night! You'll have a coat on! Forget the bra, lady.

I love the challenge of packing, trying to get the most outfits of the fewest items of clothing, paring down makeup and coordinating everything with one pair of shoes, if possible, leaving room to bring things home, picking all the right books. But I hate being packed, even once I get somewhere, because I'm always scared I'll forget things if I completely unpack.