so much for the fragile peace
Life goes on pretty much as before. The weather has turned cool and rainy (for southern California -- this being the coastal desert, an inch or two of rain is cause for major freaking out around here). I actually felt cold for a change. That was cool ... so to speak. Now I'm kinda wishing I hadn't left my winter clothes back in Seattle, but oh well.
I really need to get a desk, because there's no place where my laptop can rest and holding it on my lap is not good for the skin. Also, I'm afraid that the more I pick it up and move it around, the faster it's going to break down. My old computer was falling apart for so long, I'd almost forgotten what it was like to have a computer that has all its pieces intact and works the way it's supposed to, but I'm not counting on this situation lasting for long.
Kids still going to school and various activities. My youngest cousin is starting band this year and has chosen to take up (get this) the snare drum. A very ... appropriate choice, for him. First practice is today, and they've managed to schedule it at the most impossible time of the afternoon, three hours after school (not his fault, but annoying nevertheless). I wonder whether he's going to practice with any regularity, and whether or not this would be a good thing. Either way, he's going to be bringing the instrument home to practice with here.
Drums are an ancient and powerful form of communication. They're also really loud. Actually all band instruments are loud, but at least with horns or woodwinds, you get actual tunes (once the horrible beginner squeals and splats are over with). Drums are just ... percussion. And it's noisy enough around here already.
I hate to sound whiny, but this is a problem I've observed before; between the Navy base, the traffic, and the general lack of trees or sound-absorbing features, there is scarcely a quiet spot in this entire goddamn county. And believe you me, it's a big county.
I've been making excuses to go hiking for just this reason, but even the nature reserves within driving distance are too civilized. That hike I went on last week was pleasant, but signs of management were everywhere, and helicopters and jets were cruising overhead. I wish I could sneak off to the mountains for three or five days and get some real, actual wilderness for a change. We did do one day hike on that roadtrip this summer, but most of the time was spent driving or hanging around Monterey (which was a lovely and pleasant little place, but I had my heart set on going to a National Park. I was outvoted.)
Another place that's fairly quiet is the synagogue. I've also been going there a lot more. It's one place where everything is consistent and I know the rules (as long as it's a Conservative synagogue, which it is). Ironically, it's also about the only place where I feel like no one is going to bother me with complaints or demands. The nominal Catholics I live with don't get this, but they don't need to, as long as they don't give me trouble over going there. (They make fun of my religion, especially the laws of kashrut, but officially they respect my choices. It'll do. I don't think it has really gotten through their heads that half their family is Jewish, because it's the half they never see. They think I'm practicing some kind of quirky, optional hobby.)
I really need to get a desk, because there's no place where my laptop can rest and holding it on my lap is not good for the skin. Also, I'm afraid that the more I pick it up and move it around, the faster it's going to break down. My old computer was falling apart for so long, I'd almost forgotten what it was like to have a computer that has all its pieces intact and works the way it's supposed to, but I'm not counting on this situation lasting for long.
Kids still going to school and various activities. My youngest cousin is starting band this year and has chosen to take up (get this) the snare drum. A very ... appropriate choice, for him. First practice is today, and they've managed to schedule it at the most impossible time of the afternoon, three hours after school (not his fault, but annoying nevertheless). I wonder whether he's going to practice with any regularity, and whether or not this would be a good thing. Either way, he's going to be bringing the instrument home to practice with here.
Drums are an ancient and powerful form of communication. They're also really loud. Actually all band instruments are loud, but at least with horns or woodwinds, you get actual tunes (once the horrible beginner squeals and splats are over with). Drums are just ... percussion. And it's noisy enough around here already.
I hate to sound whiny, but this is a problem I've observed before; between the Navy base, the traffic, and the general lack of trees or sound-absorbing features, there is scarcely a quiet spot in this entire goddamn county. And believe you me, it's a big county.
I've been making excuses to go hiking for just this reason, but even the nature reserves within driving distance are too civilized. That hike I went on last week was pleasant, but signs of management were everywhere, and helicopters and jets were cruising overhead. I wish I could sneak off to the mountains for three or five days and get some real, actual wilderness for a change. We did do one day hike on that roadtrip this summer, but most of the time was spent driving or hanging around Monterey (which was a lovely and pleasant little place, but I had my heart set on going to a National Park. I was outvoted.)
Another place that's fairly quiet is the synagogue. I've also been going there a lot more. It's one place where everything is consistent and I know the rules (as long as it's a Conservative synagogue, which it is). Ironically, it's also about the only place where I feel like no one is going to bother me with complaints or demands. The nominal Catholics I live with don't get this, but they don't need to, as long as they don't give me trouble over going there. (They make fun of my religion, especially the laws of kashrut, but officially they respect my choices. It'll do. I don't think it has really gotten through their heads that half their family is Jewish, because it's the half they never see. They think I'm practicing some kind of quirky, optional hobby.)