10 days can really fly by. Most days I have some form of the thought, "I should really write some of this down. I'll never be able to capture the spirit of the whole thing if I don't do it soon."
Presented here for your consideration, the spirit-less facts.
My knee developed a nasty infection, and now I'm on antibiotics. I never trusted Australia. I think it's clearing up now though, I ripped the scab off the other day so I could clean it properly, and I think it's healing properly now. Gonna be a big scar. This past weekend Liz and I took a Wilderness First Aid class, and I used my knee as an example of what happens when you don't treat common abrasions well.
The class was all day both Saturday and Sunday. It was organized by Inner City Outings, a group of volunteers that take inner city kids out on camping and hiking trips and do other things that they would never be exposed to in the city. We went to an orientation meeting a couple of months ago, but have yet to go on a trip. There were several incredibly annoying adults in the class, but I enjoyed hanging out with the kids. It reminded me of my time at Kanner House, and how satisfying even the smallest interactions with kids and teenagers can be in the right context. It's easy to paint them all with the same brush when you don't spend any actual time with them, but providing a different kind of environment and example for them then they're used to makes a difference. I realized again how maleable kids are and how much they really want to be taught. The training was good too, we learned a good deal about what to do if someone gets hurt far from help. Invaluable skills. You need an improvised traction splint, you give me a call.
Backing up, on Tuesday we played our last Urban League volleyball match. We lost all 3 games, but I think we played better than we ever have before. Everyone played well, we fought hard, and the other team was just better. It doesn't feel bad to lose that way, and it makes me realize that almost all of other losses have not been that way. Usually we're very disappointed with ourselves, and with good reason. This time, though, we could be satisfied.
Wednesday night a big group of us went to see The Fab Faux. As expected, it was an amazing show. I'm never really quite prepared though, no matter how good it was the last time, for how good it is the next. It's a similar feeling I've had with Phish over the years. I can remember in my head that I had a great time and was moved the last time, but there's no way to really capture or recall the feeling, until I experience it again. The Fab Faux are an interesting thing, because you're half feeling that they're a great and, but then you realize that the great band behind the whole thing is The Beatles. These guys are very talented mimics, and of course great musicians in every way, but what really floors me is the songs. As Will Lee said, if I could write one song in my whole life that someone said, "Yeah, that's okay...", I'd be happy. I have to agree with them, that it's the best songwriting, some of the best music, period, in the last 100 years. It's hard to argue.
Thursday was the big .5 and we went out for a nice evening. Dinner, the Empire State Building, and a movie. As we were going into the Empire State Building, I realized I still had my pocket knife, not to mention a Swiss Army knife and a Leatherman in my backpack. They've stepped up security considerably, and there was a sign taht no sharp object of any kind are permitted. I figured I'd give it a shot, the worst they could do is turn us away. I dropped my bag on the x-ray belt, and sure enough, the guy asks me to come over, saying, "What's this?". I went over to the monitor, and it turns out he's pointing to my volleyball pump, a small hand bulb with a hose and needle. It kind of looks like some kind of sex toy. I laughed and explained what it was, but he insisted anyway taht it had a needle and should be turned over to the guy on the other side. I tried to explain that it's not a needle in the traditional sense, but he was a bit confused, so I just showed it to the other guy. He waved me on. The funny part of this story is also the disturbing part: I had no less than 3 knives of varying sizes and shapes in my backpack, and they didn't see any of them. Oh well, good thing I'm a good guy.
After a quick tourist dodge around the observation deck, we headed over to 34th Street to see a movie. A group of people about 8 rows behind us talked through the whole movie, ignoring all manner of hints, subtle and not, to shut the hell up. Towards the climax of the movie, they were not only chattering and laughing (also laughing during an execution scene, very tasteful), but one person, amazingly someone not in the same group, was talking on a cell phone. At one point here was even an usher in the theater, but he was too busy watching Halle Barry's ass to bother to do his job. I couldn't take it anymore and we walked out. Sometimes my temper gets the better of me. But really, this was ridiculous. I've said it before and I won't launch into this now, but I think it's terribly sad that people consider this acceptable. Ignorance, bad upbringing, or just simple jerkiness, it's a damn shame. Liz and I discussed at some length what the best way to handle it is, and I maintain that it's deportation.
Tech note:
Slapnose is now running on SuperBetty, an Athlon XP 1800+ with 512MB of RAM on a Soyo Dragon+ motherboard. Screamin'. I'm having some issues with the power supply, but I'll sort that out one of these days, when I have a minute. Oh, and I solved the mail server problem, it was a firewall issue, and now everything's fine. I have yet to do anything interesting with it, but one of these days, when I have a minute... Finished the photo album redesign as well, much better.
I'm writing a song, but it's slow going. One of these days, when I have a minute, I'll finish it.
