Good luck to Tim and his brothers! Seems to me that camping in early March is kind of ...? but ok!

Traditionally, they've always gone camping in late February/early March because the colder weather means no bugs and a way lower chance of running into drunk rednecks with guns. That trip was always backpacking/tent camping.

But now that they're in their 50s/early 60s, oldest brother has a camper (not an RV; the kind you tow) (although on the inside it's the same as an RV), so they're camping in the camper. But they also plan to hike and whatnot, but then they don't have to sleep on the ground when they're done hiking.

When I showed up at the neighborhood rec center for the clay handbuilding class, no one had even heard that there was supposed to be a class. This is the third attempt I’ve made at taking a craft-ish class that has fallen through. I officially give up. If I want to learn craft-ish shit, I will learn from YouTube. And now that I’m awake, clean, dressed, and full of coffee, I’m going to go hit the grocery store. (Which, based on my luck, will be inexplicably closed. Or just entirely vanished like Brigadoon, with only one old dude in the parking lot saying “Trader Joe’s? Ain’t never heard of that ‘round these parts.” I'll be reduced to foraging. And by "foraging," I mean "DoorDash.")

Oh, my word, Steph! What the hell with the craft blocking?

The craft blocking is a mystery. I'm going to assume that the universe does not want me to do any sort of crafts. Maybe I'd be too powerful if I knew how to turn clay into a bowl.

Trader Joe's was, in fact, still there, so that worked out fine. Now I'm going to do some laundry, eat lunch, do some yoga, and read my book.

Oh, I also went to Wal-Mart, and they were playing Billy Idol. I don't know how to feel about that.

Dang, Tep, I was sure the clay would work out after your earlier craft disappointments. My guess is time travelers are working hard to prevent you from becoming too crafty.

The craft blocking is a mystery. I'm going to assume that the universe does not want me to do any sort of crafts.

That's so weird!! I'm sorry you are too powerful for crafts.

I dutifully waited 3 months and took an at-home A1C test this afternoon, and it was 5.6! Normal range! I'm feeling a lot more encouraged now.

When I showed up at the neighborhood rec center for the clay handbuilding class, no one had even heard that there was supposed to be a class.

I'm starting to wonder if these classes are secret fairy market locations where nobody expected people to show up to get their craft on.

A1C ... 5.6

Oh, very good. Whatever is working, keep doing that.

Thanks, dcp! And I'm sorry you've had to trudge through so many bureaucratic onerous tasks.