I just found out that one of my cousin's (my mom's brother's daughter) only 3 years younger than me, passed on August 21st.

Haven't seen her in 15 years, and we didn't keep in touch. My youngest brother just happened to look at our cousin's Facebook page, and discovered her passing.

What's got the rest of our family concerned is that NO one called us about her death.

Problem also is we've all got commitments on the day of the memorial (next Saturday) and nobody in our family will be able to attend. If someone had just phoned that would have been enough.

Still processing all this myself, and actually not surprised; She'd had congenital heart problems for years.

Well, my folks sold their house!

They got the asking price, though if their Realtor had put in more effort (and more newspaper ads into circulation) they could have gotten more from a bidding war.

But, it is what it is, and the 3400 sq. ft. house now belongs to another family. After my two younger brothers and I filled 6 storage units (YES, you've read it right.. 6 units) we're all beat!

Now, what little that didn't fit into storage is (sigh) back in my house; my folks and their cat are staying with me as well.

Cozy? Bwhahahahahahaaaaaaaaaa... HELP!

Okay, I do love my folks (Hell, I obviously wouldn't BE here if it weren't for them) but I sure hope they find a new place soon. All this activity is one BIG reason I've been AWOL from the streams of  genesisw and  foxenawolf and  peterandcompany since MEGAPLEX.

It's also meant:

* No privacy.
* Giving up my master bedroom to my folks.
* Discovering I'm allergic to cats (never expected that one).

Well,..., I'm adapting.

Hoo boy!

* plane - 30 minutes late at Orlando.
* told to transfer to another plane, AT the last minute upon arrival at Las Vegas.
* finally landed at 10:30pm, Pacific time in Reno.

Now on my way home by car.

Hi all!

Waiting around Orlando, FL, for my 6:15pm Flight back home. But, it's going to have an odd schedule change.

My plan was (after flying into Reno, NV) to stay about 4 days at our family cabin in Lake Tahoe. As of 30 minutes ago, that all went to pot. My folks' house sold, officially, in the last 48 hours. Great news, yes, but so did the sellers old house! Now we find ourselves in the mad scramble to get the hell out of there ASAP!

Oy!

It's great, truly, but it's "F"-ing up every family members schedule as we scramble to remove & store the remaining items (substantial unfortunately)!

So, I may go sort of "persona non grata" for a while as this all gets sorted out.

Muddy

PS; some really cool NASA Kennedy Space Center photos ASAP:-D

Drive to Reno, NV on Wednesday, staying info Left on Southwest from Reno, Nevada (least expensive option) at 7am. Arrived in Las Vagas 1 hour later for a transfer flight to Orlando.

From Las Vegas. Orlando. Saw the Hoover dam, the Grand Canyon, farmland over Texas, then as we flew down to Olando we ended up circling for ( in the end ) 45 more minutes, before our scheduled arrival time. Rain!

A huge downpour & lighting had actually closed MCO for a time. When we finally landed, it took me time to find the baggage check out. Then we had to wait for bags because it started to rain and thunder and lightning again. They didn't want to bring those bags in until it stopped.

Finally got to the hotel around 7.. Something PM, & was greeted by  holliehyena
Such a great gal; after she let me get registered at the hotel she helped me out with my registration at megaplex. Then about 8:30 Hollie, me, and from my overall rough count 70 others went Bowling! Fur suit bowl is something everyone should see .. Truly fun, and an absolute riot!

Back at about midnight, have a drink at the at the hotel witch hazel and Hollie, and finally retired about 1 AM. So, ends my first day at megaplex, totally exhausted with a smile on my face.

Next Contact will be from the event, via iPhone.

Currently I'm in Redding, California.

Big astronomy get-together lasting a whole week.

* One Cassegrain telescope.
* One 3 inch refracting telescope (all lenses basically).
* Digital camera for astrophotography.

.., then...

1 dome tent to sleep in, along with sleeping bag, cot, camp stove, food, water, etc.

Total about 550 pounds of gear (me included) packed into my car .. the cargo weight limit is 800 pounds.

Internet and cell phone contact will be spotty and limited, so I'll do my catching up on Monday of next week.

Then, on the 30th, it's off to MEGAPLEX!

Okay, I think most of use have some allergies (and a few like me have the chronic "Hay Fever").

Well, my "Hay Fever" took off BIG TIME over the last week.

Starting with a mild attack of pollen (and possibly Cat dander -- I've got my folks cat with me presently) it blossomed into heavy coughing fits! Fits so bad they woke me at odd hours of the night -- Like 3 AM, sort of odd.

Finally caved and saw the doctor, and for the first time I was given an inhaler (yeah.. THAT bad). All this coming just before my 5 night Astronomy camping trip, and Megaplex 2-weeks after.

No worries though.. I plan on attending BOTH! Nothing's gonna stop me.

Yes.. I am going!

Yes.. I am arriving (with luck) around 5pm on July 30th.

Airline: Southwest >> I just bought the round trip tickets today!

Side trips (*maybe*) Universal & the Harry Potter Experience, and I'm also looking at NASA Kennedy Space Center.

Departing on Wed., August 5th.

Now.. to get enough extra $$$$ together for food (thought I don't eat much).

My home Internet is down. It seems that when the local carrier upgraded and installed my new neighbors Internet, they screwed up mine.

So, I have no DSL connection at my house at all. At least I still have my standard phone line; I can use my smart phone for Internet.

But that iPhone Internet use, will be limited. Hopefully, they will have the problem rectified by Monday.

So, anyone expecting to see me in their chat during their Livestream, Ustream, Picardo, or Tigerdile – I'm going to have to pass this weekend.

Classic California license plates were (for DECADES) black background, with yellow letters & numbers.

Then, in the last 45 years we've used a metallic pearl color for a background.

Now.. The Black & Yellow are going to return! Seems it's the result of AB1658, sponsored by Assemblyman Gatto. Nothing special about that, right???

* Well... the Assemblyman's a classic car collector!


>> HEY, I personally think this is great. True, he used his position in the State gov., to put this into law, but the result is still pleasant for use classic car collectors.


Just not too thrilled about the cost --> $45 for a plate. Oh well.... It's cheaper than the registration of car's in our state, along with the Smog exams every two years.

Okay, here's a question.

Since the next Abrams type Star Trek movie's coming out for the 50th anniversary of the series I'm going to make an impromptu poll:

[ ] Paramount should host anyone able to prove they had their Birthday on the show's 1966 premier date.

[ ] Movie theater's should give 1 free showing on the movie release day for those who's Birthday's fall on the 1966 premier date.

[ ] All of the above.

[ ] None of the above.


To respond just cut & past one of these. I'll leave the journal post up for 24 hours, just to see what the sample space is.

Yep... officially Summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

Longest day of the year & shortest night time!

Now the days start shortening by about 4 minutes each day.

.. If you're feline you've got to hate that idea.

Buy her a "MLP" themed Monopoly game, with Flutter Shy, Rarity, Apple Jack, Twilight, Pinky Pie, and Dash, as the main game pieces!

Even better, hear your bother (her dad) volunteer to play..., and be assigned the Pinky Pie, game piece!


LOL.. classic!

Happy Father's Day to my dad.

Happy Father's Day to my younger brother (has 2 kids).

Best wishes to those about to become fathers!

Boy I had some fun last night, into early this morning.

Went out with my astronomy buddies, set up my scope, and tinkered around with some photography.

Since the sun didn't set till 8:30 pm, the actual photography didn't start until about an hour later.

Had a good time, and before I knew it, it was 2:30 am (Sunday morning). Finally got home at 4 am.

At 54 (yes.. I'm a gray muzzle) that kind of all night session seems to take a bit more out of me now. But, like hanging out and drawing with members & friends in the fandom, it's just too much fun to pass up.

Photo's to be posted later.

Will you be attending?
> Yes! First time to Florida too!

Where will you be staying?
> Megaplex convention hotel.

How will you be traveling?
> Flying -- Most likely Southwest.

Will you be sharing a room?
> Nope! I prefer to have hotel rooms to myself (light sleeper and all that).

Will you be selling items?
> Nope.. but you might catch me doodling or perhaps a watercolor (I'll be bringing my paints).

Can I give you a hug?
> mmm.. Maybe. But, if you've come down with "Con Crud" keep it to yourself.

Can I buy you a drink?
> mmm.. Maybe.

What will you be doing at Megaplex?
> Dealer's Den; panels of interest; may even take a side trip to Kennedy Space Center and Universal.

What day do you plan to arrive/depart?
> Arriving (I hope) on Friday and staying to Tuesday (may extend to Wednesday).

Can I take your picture?
> Mmmm.. probably not.. probably.

FYI - I'm going to be on a long road trip, starting tomorrow, at round 5:30am.

It's work related.... Great for the $$ needed to pay the house loan, but it's a 4 day excursion. It's also an 8 hour drive one-way.

Today I pack the car, get last minute laundry done for the trip, make sure the materials I need to bring are printed, stowed and accounted for.

YIKES!!!

So, I most likely WON'T be visiting FA, or even a Facebook account. In regard to the latter, apologies to those on FB, who'd been wondering if Judge DOOMS famous DIP was used on me. Nope.. I'm alive, but always too busy to log back on frequently.

I also likely won't be checking my FA emails. In fact, the coverage is so poor (least last year it was) I probably won't have sufficient CELL coverage where I'll be.

Be on/off line today, then gone tomorrow. Back on Monday.

******

Thank a VET! They deserve it!

The house next door, which was just sold, gets to become a TENT for a few days.

Joy!

Well that explains the garden roach's I've been killing lately... and the rats and mice in the yard.

They see the end is near.., they're trying to escape!

ICK!

Haven't been as art-active or as stream-active, as I'd like lately.

My folks are planning a move, so emptying the house, cleaning it for staging (and preparing to care for their cat in the next week or two) has been one activity occupying my time.

The second is work. It's odd how we suddenly got so busy, it's had me working 12 hours for the last 10 days (M-F). Love the $$ but, I'm also a bit beat! It's finally back to a normal schedule this week though (whew!).

The last is just .. Junk! George Carlin was right, when he did a comedy bit about "Stuff."

OMFG.. I never expected to find so much of my own stuff to just toss! That, plus the yard needing some TLC has kept my weekends jumping. I've even borrowed my younger bro's trailer to take material to the dump.. it's full already!


So, if you're wondering why I haven't been posting art of my own, or sitting in as a guest in  genesisw or  foxenawolf or  peterandcompany, or a variety of other fine streams with artists I adore, well....


It should be getting a bit better though, as we approach summer time. Still planning to attend a huge astronomy get together in July, AND to visit Megaplex for the first time this year too (very excited.. I've never been to Florida before).