One thing you can see.

Bryan is in my kitchen making lasagna.

I haven't spoken in detail about things going on because there's been a lot going on and some of it I won't write about here, that's for my private blog.

Mostly it's been work (which has been stressful, but I think I'm starting to hit my pre-Ida stride again) and finishing Big Bang and going to Cheesesteak Factory with Scott and yesterday Bryan and Scott came over here and after I clocked out we hit the town to see if I could get my iMac. Went to two Best Buys, no dice, but after some confusion we went to Lakeside and I scored the beautiful blue iMac I'm typing this on right now. It was not an amount I was prepared to spend and half of me still believes I don't need it but after downloading Lightroom and experiencing the joy of mass photo edits, I think I'm sold. Now I just need a desk. And Christmas presents. And....ugh, I can't think about any of that now. Tomorrow, we're supposed to be going to Autum's to exchange Secret Santa lists. I gotta go print them out. After we left Lakeside, we went to Walmart and got groceries so Bryan could make the aforementioned lasagna. We wanted to get cheesesteaks from Philly Dat Up, but they were closed, so we went to Chateau Pub. Scott had to go back to get the right order but once he got back we watched the new Christmas Blown Away and I set up my computer.

This morning we woke up and got ready and jumped on the road to Hammond. Swung by LaPlace to grab Sid and caught up with Julian on the road. There was a freaking line to park. I've never seen that at Renfaire. Ever. And I've never seen so many people there. By the time we got there, everyone else was already at the food court. We joined Zach, Lacey, Holly, Glenn, Derek, Amanda, and Eli, got some jambalaya and an Abita beer cheese bread bowl (which I didn't like) and then made our way to the bar, where I got a $9 cup of raspberry mead (I was not paying $27 for a goddamn bottle) and then we all watched as everyone took turns trying to ring the bell at the mallet punch. I really wanted to take a picture with a goddamn eagle, but they were closed 😡 so we all hung around and watched the jousting while Sid, Bryan and Lacey hung out in a long line to get lemonade. It was at this point where we lost a lot of people. It was fucking HOT out there, which is extremely unusual for Renfaire. We dawdled around (saw Julia) and then went to the arms shop, but we were ready to go and there was no service out there so I had to go back up the hill to get Julian and Bryan. Julian stopped and threw some ninja stars and then when everyone was getting root beer, we bumped into Megan and her entourage, who was dressed up.

Then we finally got to go to Rainbow Crystal, which is one of the huge reasons we go to Renfaire in the first place. I wanted to replace the one that got sucked out of the window from the storm (it was found a month later, more on that in a sec) and got a really pretty round one. Also got a seashell necklace, which was actually dark orange and I didn't notice until after. It's still very pretty.

Lacey and I wanted fried Oreos before we rolled out, so we did another loop back to the food court. The line for Oreos was super long and not moving, but Bryan and Amanda had gone to refill their root beer, so we had to sit and wait. Nobody had service because we were in the goddamn woods, so I went to look for them. They were in the middle of a long line too, so I went back and got distracted by a much more accessible Fried Oreo line. We bumped into Kayla and Blake and their little one, which was awesome because we haven't seen them in forever. After Bryan and Amanda got back, we went up to the front and Bryan and Lacey got some roasted nuts (not $80 worth this time though) and then we said goodbye and split. It was a very long drive home. I wanted to take a nap so bad but I didn't wanna feel like shit so I took a refreshing shower and came out here and fought with Lightroom for awhile (I figured it out, booya) and now I guess when Bryan is finished with the lasagna, we'll watch Tiger King 2. Besides Secret Santa exchange, we don't know what our adventures will be tomorrow.

Going over to Aunt Patti's for Thanksgiving. Then I've got to go to Tee and Monica's Baby Sprinkle that Saturday. They had their third little boy a bit ahead of schedule, but he looks to be doing well and is super cute. Have to get something for them. Then we have two parties on one weekend in December, a Friendsmas @ Connor & Lina's, and then a birthday thing for Liz. Then Christmas. Then con. And god knows what else.

Anyway, when Scott and I went to Cheesecake Factory, we had to go to the mall to waste some time because there was a wait for a table. He went to Gamestop and I went to Attic Salt. Almost the first thing I saw was a purple hummingbird necklace in a case near the door. I had been having a terrible few weeks, massive anxiety, nervous breakdowns, etc. When I saw that necklace, it was like Meemaw was saying, "Look, I'm here. I got you." You best believe I bought that thing. I don't know if it's because I believe it has power or that it actually does, but my anxiety has been much better.

Room is booked for Comic Con, we got a suite. No one of note except Pearlman and Rooker have been announced, I hope they step up their game.

I am thinking about selling my SLR. Not sold on it yet, I still really like it.

So around October 3rd, I was walking Jack for his last pee break for the night, and something totally strange happened. Holly got me a crystal from Rainbow Crystal the year before COVID hit. I kept it hanging in my living room window, which of course, got broken during the storm. The storm just didn't shatter it-the blinds and the pane itself were totally ripped from the frame. I’ve seen pieces of glass and pieces of my blinds everywhere since I’ve returned home, which was a few weeks ago, but that’s all. I have been up and down the sidewalk by my building tons of times since then: leaving, walking Jack, which happens multiple times a day. When it rains, it creates a big puddle very near my stairwell. I was walking Jack and had to wade through the puddle when I saw something glinting. I bent over and there they were. Right there, smack dab in the middle of the sidewalk. I walked right through it this afternoon and those weren’t there, but that night they were. I have no freaking idea how they ended up there but I am a little freaked out. They’re in perfect condition and if anyone else would have seen them, they would have grabbed them too; this is a pretty well traveled sidewalk. How did these things all end up in the same puddle right next to my building when logically they should be down the road or in the lake or god knows where? I know they are mine because of the way they’re made. I never moved the sun catcher because I didn’t ever think my window would break and I was trying to get out of here and had other things on my mind. There’s just no explanation for it. I've since cleaned the remaining crystals and strung them on clear wire and hung them from my wicked tree. It is very strange how things come back to us.

Oh, and I got my R2 Tamagotchi. He's already dead. Annoying ass fucking thing. Tamagotchis are definitely not for adults.

It smells like Bryan is fucking burning my apartment down, I'm out

Rae