Labor Day Weekend

I am fast hitting burnout.  I don't know that Labor Day could have come at a better time for me.

It came right after a busy quarter end at work, a quarter end that was busier than we'd seen in a while since business is finally picking up post COVID again.  It was rough, and I was burned out.

Saturday, I had to get out of the condo, so I headed down to Santa Monica and the beach.  Yes, I just sat on the beach and read most of the time, but it was so nice to be able to do something like that outside the condo for a change.

Sunday was the usual - church and ultimate Frisbee.  We had a very small turn out for ultimate - only four of us.

Then came Monday.  My friend who hosted the BBQ for Memorial Day hosted another one for Labor Day, so I went over there and hung out with his friends again.  And I had another great time.  Again, it was nice to be out of the condo and just relax around other people.

As much as I do love working from home and have no desire to go back to the office again, I do find that I enjoy social contact more when I am out.  It makes sense in a way - you are around people you know and like and are choosing to be around.  Not to say that I haven't made friends with co-workers over the years.  But it isn't the same.

Parental Visit

My parents came down for a visit at the end of August.  They'd postponed the trip from earlier in the month, so it was great to finally have them come.  They stayed with me at the condo.

Because they hadn't driven enough on Friday when they were coming into town, we went further south on Saturday to visit some family friends.  It was the first time seeing some of their kids and a while since we'd seen the most recent.  They've grown.  Visit friends with kids is different from all being adults, but it is still so good to catch up with everyone.  Wouldn't have changed that visit for anything.

Sunday we stuck around town.  Went to church in the morning, then came back to the condo and played some games.  I even won my fair share, something that rarely seems to happen when we play games.  I was happy with that.

Monday, they left to drive home, and I got very busy at work since it was time for another quarter end.  (It's like those come around every three months or something.)

20 Years

Hard to believe it has been 20 years.  Memories of the day are still so vivid to me.

I had just flown home from the second Trixie Camp.  We were in Williamsburg that year, and I flew home on 9/9.  Some others had stayed in Williamsburg a few extra days and got stranded there.  Others had gone to New York City.  Yes, they were all safe, but it was still scary.

I was home that morning getting ready for work when I got a call from my friend asking me if I had the TV on.  When I said no, very confused, he said I should turn it on.  Being in So Cal, the second plane had already hit by the time I turned the TV on.  I watched the coverage for a few minutes in complete shock.

Yes, I still went into work.  Yes, I got a few things done while also searching the news for the latest.  And trying to make sure my friends who were supposed to be traveling that day were all safe.  That evening, I actually did go look at an apartment I would move into in about a month with the friend who had called me that morning.  Then I went home and watched as much news coverage as I could handle before putting in my DVD of Toy Story.  I needed something fun to take my mind off all of it.

I also think back to how united we were as the United States at the time.  And I look at how divided we are now.  It saddens me that there is so much hate, so many calls for those we disagree with to lose their jobs and be shunned in society.  I pray we can find common ground again without another horrific day like this to bring us together.