Ho hum.

Yesterday was a nice day. I spent the day with Steve... we went and walked around in Colonie until it got muggy, then went for ice cream and it started raining, then fled north to escape the rain and ended up in Saratoga.

It's a good time for Saratoga, nice weather but before the throngs of stupid track people show up. We went to Yaddo, which I hadn't been to in a couple of years, and then we wandered around downtown for a while. It was nice to be the one who knew where I was going for a change -- usually, Steve picks where we go and knows the place much better than I do, but when it comes to Saratoga, that's my stomping grounds, so I could play navigator. :) Funny how much things change, though -- I found myself constantly going "when did they put that there?" and "oh, so THAT's where that is, I'd heard that was here now."

Today, I did some shopping with my mom, which we hadn't done in a while -- I own almost no dresses, since I tossed them all out 'cause they didn't fit anymore (I literally had two in my closet this morning, counting the one I wore to Shannon's wedding), so I had to get out and find some things to wear to upcoming summer wedding-type stuff. Mission accomplished.

Now, I'm just sorta sitting around, a little bored. I thought of going out and doing a couple more things, but it's awfully hot out, and I hate to get out and waste the gas running errands when I could probably consolidate the trips a little better later in the week (funny how $4 gas makes you rethink a trip here, a trip there). So here I sit, just sorta chillin'. Ho hum.

I wish I could go see some fireworks.

I can see some out our office window as I type this. In fact, I went over earlier and saw what I guess were at least three or four fireworks shows, all spaced out on the horizon from north to south.

But it's not the same as actually being outside, feeling the breeze, hearing the ear-popping noise, smelling the black powder as a cloud of fumes hangs in the air. I haven't actually been to see fireworks in ... I don't know, actually. I don't remember. I don't remember a Fourth since I started working when I didn't have to work.

It's not like it's a huge deal -- as holidays go, I'd rather be off for Christmas or Thanksgiving. But still, I miss it. I wanna go be a kid and sit on the grass or just stand somewhere gaping upward, going "ooh" and "aah."

But I did get to do something, at least, to celebrate the Fourth. I went to a picnic this morning with Steve that one of his friends hosted. It was the most carnivorous picnic I've ever been to, but y'know, it's the Fourth -- it's all about the meat, copious amounts of it charring on a barbecue grill. At least that part of the day felt like I was doing it right, like I was actually experiencing the holiday like normal people.

Busy busy busy ... somehow, I ended up with a million errands to run, all of them right around now.

But I did get to spend yesterday with Steve, which was wonderful. We went to see WALL-E. Go see it -- it's really good, and sweet, and cute, and funny, and beautifully rendered, and just an overall great movie. You'll laugh, you'll choke up, you'll go "awww".... it amazed me how they could take an ugly, beat-up little metal box of a robot and humanize him to the point that I was aww-ing over how cute he was within moments. :) It was even one of those rare movies that I'd go see again, if somebody wanted to go with me. And I'll definitely buy the DVD.

I've gotta say, Steve and I ended up being pretty lucky with the timing of our big trip (and I guess by extension our birthdays).

For one, it was waterfall season, when they're flowing nicely.

And for two, watching the news, I'm starting to wonder if some of what we saw will still be there, 'cause a large amount of the state seems to be on fire.

We saw Yosemite National Park, which was beautiful -- and now filled with a smoky haze all through the valley, drifting in from fires outside the park.

We saw San Francisco and spent time in San Jose -- also now covered with smoke, covering up the pretty blue skies.

And we drove along the Pacific Coast Highway -- now closed just south of where we turned around because Big Sur seems to be on fire (and that fire is likely to grow, meaning it could encroach on places I have been, making me more glad that I got to see them). In fact, this is where we turned around -- check out their webcam. That's not fog. It's smoke.

Y'know, if nothing else, life is full of surprises. Sometimes, they're good. Sometimes, they're not so good. I guess that's what life is all about, though -- taking what it throws at you and seeing what you can make of it.

George Carlin has died.

He was hands down the most talented comedian out there, I think. I know he was kind of old ... but still, what a horrible loss. And he was supposed to be getting the Mark Twain Prize soon, too.

To those who were planning to meet up tomorrow night for Shalimar, I have sad news: I called there today, and apparently, they're not open on Sundays anymore. :(

But since we'd still like to see each other, here's the current plan, as devised by Sarah Beth: Meet us at 6 p.m. outside French House. We'll figure out there what we want to do for dinner.

(Which is more important -- eating in Troy? Or eating Indian? (I know there are a few places in Latham, though I've never been to them, but the reviews look decent.) And if nothing but Shalimar will do, there's one in Clifton Park that's open, though I've been there once and it looked sorta small, like maybe they wouldn't be able to handle a big group like we usually have. Not to mention that it's farther away than any other option.)

The good news is that I got an e-mail from my boss tonight (how the heck he knew that address, I don't actually know) and apparently, I still have a job to go back to -- there were layoffs this past week, but I didn't get axed. Huzzah for that.

However, he told me where they did make the cuts, and I'm still a bit stunned, 'cause they cut someone I never thought they'd possibly get rid of. Wow.

Steve and I got back from California late last night, and I've just now gotten to the bottom of my inbox, waded through my friends page and sorted through my photos from the trip (not to mention thrown in a couple of loads of laundry).

So here's how it all went down...

( Courtesy cut, many photos below )
All in all, it was a wonderful trip to a lot of beautiful places, and I had a great time. :)

I'm home.

I'm schlogging through e-mails and messages and sorting through my many, many pictures.

A better entry will follow. :)

I'm really glad this whole Democratic primary kerfuffle is pretty much done with. I'm also glad Obama is probably gonna end up on top, 'cause I like his views a bit better than Hillary's.

But I'm grateful to Hillary, despite her complete inability to know when to quit, 'cause she really has made a lot of progress for women. She almost had the nomination for president. And y'know, it's actually almost better for feminism that she lost, 'cause she lost for a good reason, the best reason. She didn't lose because she's a woman, 'cause if you want to think like that, you can balance it by saying yes, but Obama could've lost because he's black. No, she didn't lose because she's a woman -- she lost because people simply liked her opponent and what that person stands for a little bit better. She lost fair and square, and she made a really good showing, and that's great, a great stride forward for equality.

And now, I'll be rooting strongly for Obama, 'cause my party has totally failed me by choosing a candidate that only believes in half of the party platform, and that's just crap. Bob Barr is no Libertarian -- Libertarians don't support a marriage ban amendment, or the War on Drugs, or any of the other anti-freedom ideas he's espoused over the years. Obama matches my views a whole lot more than Barr or anyone else any party is running. He'll have my vote in November.

This is the dumbest debate I've ever seen, and it's also a rather stupid compromise.

Those two states knew the rules -- if you have your vote too early, you will lose your delegates. That was well known. Those two states defied the rules while knowing exactly what the consequences should be.

And now, they get delegates anyway? I mean, c'mon -- rules are rules. The rules were very clear. If you make a stupid choice and you know what the punishment will be, you should have to live with it, case closed.

Plus, no matter what formula they come up with to pass out the votes, they'll never truly be an accurate count. Most of the people in those states knew at the time that their votes wouldn't count -- how many do you think just stayed home on primary day, then, knowing that? Plus, Obama didn't campaign in either state, and he wasn't even on the ballot in one of them. How would the votes have been split if both of them, if all of the Dems still running at the time, actually, had all been on the ballot and all campaigned in both states? Who knows? Maybe Clinton would've won anyway. Maybe Obama would've. Maybe Edwards would've taken both. Nobody knows, and there's no way we ever will know now. It's impossible to have an accurate, fair vote count for those states.

But the fact of the matter is, if I break a rule, I know that I'll face consequences for it. Why should this situation be any different?

I can't believe that in less than two weeks, I'll be in California. I'll be in California!

I keep having these moments where I'm almost shocked, like "holy crap, I'm gonna be in California!" It's like one of those things where you're doing something, and you totally can't believe you're doing it, so you get all amped up, like "holy crap, I can't believe I'm doing this!" I actually was flipping through the channels last night and caught some show where they were counting down West Coast attractions, and they mentioned Yosemite, and I was like, "I'm going there! Oh my god, in two weeks, I will have been there!" :) It's like part of me is amazed that I'm going on such a huge trip, that I'm going all the way to the other coast, for a whole week, spending all that money and taking all that time off, for no necessary reason. Guess I'm still not really used to spoiling myself. But holy crap, in a week and change, I'm gonna be in California with Steve!!! *bounces and squees* :)

Really, my whole life is like that lately. It's all a big string of "holy crap, I can't believe this is happening to me!" I'm just so damned happy. Life is definitely a pretty sweet fruit. :)

It's shaping up to be a good week.

I'm at work right now, horribly busy, as you can tell. The boss told me today that he's changing my schedule around a bit, but that's actually sort of a good thing, so yay. And I'm daydreaming about yesterday, which was just wonderful. :)

Y'know, it's nice to be able to smile. I don't think I've smiled so much in my life as I do these days. I'm just so darn happy I can hardly contain it. :)

Didja ever have this nagging sense of impending doom, like "this is just not gonna be a good day"?

I went to bed last night totally wiped out but with this nagging bad feeling, and I had a horrible dream about today. That probably set the tone for this morning, when I got up to hydrant flushing, meaning sporadic water, meaning "oh geez, can I take a shower, but I have places to be today." (I did manage to fit one in, thankfully.)

Still, I have this gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach. Or maybe I'm just hungry (though I did eat a little something, since I'm up sorta early). Or maybe it's nerves.

Edit: And of course, as it usually the case, doom did not occur. On the contrary, it was a perfectly lovely day. :)

Holy crap, I'm tired. Fun fact: Four and a half hours of sleep is not enough, especially when you follow it with a 14-hour road trip. Ungh.

But it was worth it, 'cause today was the annual trek to see my meager little family. First came the planting of flowers for my grandparents, and then came the visit to my aunt and uncle's house, where my other aunt and other uncle were also waiting for us, and then one of my cousins showed up with his wife and two kids. Good times.

It's always nice to see the family, 'cause there are so few of them and they're so far away and we see them so rarely -- it's astonishing at times to think that these other people are actually blood related to me, and they love me, and they're family, 'cause my whole life it's pretty much been me and my parents (and my sister, if she counts). It makes me feel good to realize that there are actually a few other members of my family out there who care about me, even from a distance. And they're family -- they're genetic ties to the grandparents I've only ever heard about, two-dimensional pictures in my mind of ancestors I never got to meet who never even knew I existed. I just wish we could see them more than once a year.

My friend Hank posted about this recently, and it got me thinking. What are 50 things you'd like to accomplish in your life, your hopes and dreams and goals, both easy and far-fetched?

Here's my list:
( In no particular order... )

And just to make that list seem less impossible, what are some things you've already accomplished?

Here are some of mine:
-- Traveled through southern England (London, Bath, Exeter, Canterbury, St. Ives, Tintagel, Stonehenge)
-- Went to college and earned a bachelor's degree
-- Sang solo on stage (and got a standing ovation at least once)
-- Joined Mensa and Intertel
-- Got into National Honor Society, Sigma Tau Delta and Athenians
-- Saw a game at Yankee Stadium (a few times, actually)
-- Stood on the beach and touched both sides of the Atlantic Ocean
-- Fell in love
-- Learned to love myself
-- Made friends with an awesome group of people

My parents are pretty cool sometimes.

They know I won't be around for my birthday, and since the day I'll be around again will be Father's Day, no birthday dinner for me.

I came home a little while ago, and what do I find sitting in my bedroom?

A set of luggage, with a note on top: "Happy Birthday -- Dad & Mom."

They know I'm going away, and they know I'd planned to bum a suitcase off my mom, 'cause I don't own one... so they bought me a full set of my own. :) (Mind you, it might've been cooler if they'd waited until a little closer to my birthday than three weeks (it's not even Memorial Day!), or if at least one of them had been awake to see my reaction ... but nice gift, eh?)

We're going to California!!!

*boing!* *boing!* *squee!* *squee!* *squeal!*

(Gee, can you tell I'm excited? :) )