Productivity

In the past 24 hours, I've fixed my dishwasher, swamp cooler, and dryer. Today, I'm reaping the benefits of that work, and getting caught up on laundry, and using the time saved on dishes to get other things down around the house. I managed to rake up the entire back yard and balance the checkbook, which hasn't been done in three days. Work in progress, I suppose. Just keep moving forward.

Childhood

Today, i went with my daughter and her second grade class on their field trip... to a park. We learned about all sorts of cool things, though. How beavers live, how many fish are not native to Colorado, how to float in the river... it was a good day 

Colorado Spring

This time last week, i was roasting, antsy to hook up and run the swamp cooler. Saturday, we had a foot of snow. Today, it's all rainy and cool. I love Colorado.

State of Local Weather, 06:17, May 21

It's hovering right at 42 degrees, and there's a few inches of snow burying everything in sight. It was 90° days ago? And it'll be 75° again in four days. I'm preparing for flooding. Cross my fingers.

2022 Is For Chumps

I'm sitting awake. The kids are asleep. The checking account is positive. The house is quiet. Time to find another job.

The Universal Language of Music

Spoiler Alert for anyone interested: in the second episode of the Strange New Worlds saga of Star Trek, the crew of the Enterprise finds a comet that actually is an alien religious relic. The key to unlocking it is music.

Yesterday, my three year old was singing Bohemian Rhapsody in the car.

This morning, my oldest two kids were singing along with Alt-J, Sufjan Stevens, and Metallica and getting stoked about Public Enemy.

It's everywhere, and melodies don't need translation. Feel it. Let it in.

Post Starfest Bliss

It was a bittersweet weekend. I got to see so many incredible people, famous and only famous to me. I gave out hugs like candy, and felt a warm reception from everyone. It went out with a bang, and life is calmly and sadly better for having been touched by this nerd clique. Peace and long life, y'all. Live long and prosper.

The Final Starfest Saga

Old Russell T's log, Earth date 2022 05 12. I woke up at 0520 this morning to make sure everything was packed and loaded. I got the kids up and fed, said goodbye to my wife, and hit the pavement at 0710.

The walk to the bus station from my house is about 18 minutes. I snapped a few pictures of the beautiful sunrise on my way.

I boarded the Colorado Bustang and left for Denver, an easy, lazy journey consisting of a three and a half hour regional bus ride to Denver Union Station, and then a few minutes of walking to connect to the light rail train to the Tech Center, which is where i am now. Mellow and uneventful, which is how I like it.

I'm sitting in this beautifully appointed lobby at the Hyatt, the centerpiece of which is a huge, grand staircase to a second level and an immense, twelve story high foyer, complete with an elevator that goes all the way to the top.

Familiar faces are starting to trickle in, although it doesn't really start in earnest until tomorrow night. The mood seems good, although there's a sadness I'm curious to see shake out. This will be, as well know it, the final Starfest. We will see how it goes.

Sigh

Sometimes i wonder if it would be easier to live in 1882 instead of 2022...

Family Financial Realities of 2022

Just a snapshot of what my family processes in an average month:

Net income: $6817.48 (extra paycheck, 5th Friday)

Medical Bills, Donations, Insurance, School Fees: $299.92

Groceries, Toys, Fast Food, Inebriants: $1965.25

Rent & Utilities: $1823.96

Debt Payments: $701.80

Work Related Expenses: $75.99

Transportation: $277.55

Savings: $100.00

When I read this, I see I obviously need to get the grocery expenses down. But it seems like every time i go to Walmart lately, it's $100. Every time. It's getting hard.

I Hate Sick Days

Three nights ago, my youngest took it upon himself to start puking. The puked in the living room, puked in the bed, puked in the toilet and then immediately next to it... it was terrible, but i knew it was only the beginning.

Two nights ago, he seemed to be okay, but then within seconds of each other, my older kids started yakkin', too. Luckily for round two, they are champions and made it in their trash bins.

Yesterday, as a result, i was wrecked. I slept for almost ten hours overall. And yes, after a whole day of rocks in my own stomach, i finally managed my flop-sweaty puke last night. So i guess this is day 4, and I'm up at 0500 getting ready for work. This is the way.