valis2: Stone lion face (Default)
valis2 ([personal profile] valis2) wrote2009-02-24 01:39 pm
Entry tags:

Okay. Long version.

36 days. Y'know, after a month of being away, it really starts to seem like I'm never coming home, in a way, and my mind and body adjust--and then I come back home. So I'm just trying to figure out what this house is, what this life is, what I should be doing now now now. I'm in a spacy kind of daze.

The trip was quite fun, as it can be, and we had lots of adventures. Chiefly the Five Hundred Miles of Ice Death Defying Drive. We drove through scary stuff on our way to AZ. There were cars in the ditches everywhere and jackknifed semis and it was really frightening.

I wish I could remember the fun things and the amusing little exchanges. There were so many funny moments. But I didn't write anything down, and now it's all a big mess in my head.

The one thing that stands out about this is that I think it was my last trip to AZ. 95% certain. This is the twelfth year that I've gone there, and I think it's my last. This makes me really sad in some ways, and not as sad in others. But it's probably for the best.

I meant to write while I was there. Instead, I read. And took down notes for the Original Fantasy Novel That Might Get Written Eventually. And I came up with an idea for a Riptide story (okay, fine, I wrote about thirty of them in my head, but this one might actually get written) after compulsively reading The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. I went through this brief 'Nam period several years ago, and now that I've been reading Riptide fanfic and thinking about their backgrounds, I find that I'm once again fascinated with 'Nam. I've read a couple of the stories in tTTC before, but this was years ago, and it was a revelation to read them again. I really think I need to write this story.

My Google Reader for blogs is backed up by 945 entries, lol. I don't even want to think about how far back LJ is for me at this point. So for the next couple days I'll be catching up. I regret to inform you all that I will be speed reading and might not catch every single facet of your entries. :(

Missed you all. Missed the internet like a physical thing. Could not stop thinking about S&H h/c stories and wanting to read them. Grah. Still, so glad to be home.

[identity profile] catsintheattic.livejournal.com 2009-02-24 07:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Welcome back, dear! *hugs*

Glad to have you around again. &hearts

[identity profile] valis2.livejournal.com 2009-02-24 07:31 pm (UTC)(link)
*giant hugs* I missed your cats! And your attic! LOL! ;) I'm so glad to be home.
ext_3176: (Default)

[identity profile] ldybastet.livejournal.com 2009-02-24 07:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Welcome back!!! I have missed your posts! :) *hugs*

[identity profile] valis2.livejournal.com 2009-02-24 07:32 pm (UTC)(link)
*giant hugs* I missed you too! It's lovely to see your familiar icon. ;) I'll be spamming everyone again so very soon...hee!
seraphina_snape: Parker from the TV show Leverage. She is wearing a white shirt and is smiling. (Riptide_ Murray (smile))

[personal profile] seraphina_snape 2009-02-24 07:55 pm (UTC)(link)
*waves* Welcome back! I hope you had a good trip.

~ sera

[identity profile] valis2.livejournal.com 2009-02-24 08:02 pm (UTC)(link)
*waves in return* Yay! It's so good to see you. I did have a good time. Lots of hard work, lots of hours, but in the end it was worth it.

And now I'm home and can indulge in the delicious new Riptide fics...hee!

[identity profile] catyah.livejournal.com 2009-02-24 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
:: bounce ::

SO glad to see you posting, and I'm so excited about the idea of original fic AND Riptide fic! I'll watch for you online this evening.

[identity profile] valis2.livejournal.com 2009-02-24 09:21 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm online--just ping me whenever! *giant hugs*

I have this little short Riptide story that is BURNING in my brain and needs to get out. I have a good feeling about it--I think I will be writing it this week. eee!

[identity profile] cactus-wren.livejournal.com 2009-02-24 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Welcome home! I missed you!

[identity profile] valis2.livejournal.com 2009-02-24 09:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Aw, I missed you too!! *huggles* :) Happy to be home and online again amidst friends.
tinx_r: (nickcody-sara)

[personal profile] tinx_r 2009-02-24 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Missed you! *hugs*

[identity profile] valis2.livejournal.com 2009-02-24 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Missed you too!! Missed the whole Riptide crew. ;) Can't wait to get started on some new Riptide stuff...
ext_9278: Lake McDonald -- Glacier National Park (KR Turbo Boost)

[identity profile] sara-merry99.livejournal.com 2009-02-24 08:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Hey!! Welcome home! ::hugs::

It's good to have you back.

[identity profile] valis2.livejournal.com 2009-02-24 09:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Hi there!!! Happy to see you!

And LOL icon--that totally rocks. Go Turbo Boost! Go Super Pursuit Mode! squee!!

[identity profile] gina-r-snape.livejournal.com 2009-02-24 08:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Welcome back!

A month is a long time. That's why I don't like to take vacations over 2 weeks anymore. By the third week I am done relaxing and need a purpose.

[identity profile] valis2.livejournal.com 2009-02-24 09:35 pm (UTC)(link)
It's so good to be home!! Thank you so much for the sweet welcome.

It's hard to be gone for so long--at least I had a ton of work to keep me busy. I put in a lot of hours. And then there was six days spent just driving, though fortunately, I didn't have to drive in this case. I'm just so glad to be back home, and it's so nice to see so many familiar faces saying hello! :) *hugs*
todayiamadaisy: (Default)

[personal profile] todayiamadaisy 2009-02-24 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Welcome back! I was just thinking the other day that you'd been gone for ages.

I can tell you that you've missed absolutely nothing of import on my LJ. :-)

[identity profile] valis2.livejournal.com 2009-02-25 01:58 am (UTC)(link)
Ages and ages--yes, it feels like it!

And yours is one of my must-not-miss blogs--I'll be reading every entry. I love your entries, they're totally awesome!

[identity profile] florence-craye.livejournal.com 2009-02-24 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay, welcome back! you were missed. *hugs*

The important thing for me was I got into grad school, YAY! So other than that I don't think there's much to catch up on. :D

[identity profile] valis2.livejournal.com 2009-02-25 01:59 am (UTC)(link)
Grad school?!! YAY!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!

You rock! I'm so excited for you!

(I will be reading your every entry, as well. hee!)

*HUGS*

[identity profile] florence-craye.livejournal.com 2009-02-25 03:46 pm (UTC)(link)
THANK YOU! I am thrilled. :D

Now we have to get ready for the move and everything... Planning, yay!
cordeliadelayne: (pushing daisies)

[personal profile] cordeliadelayne 2009-02-25 02:59 am (UTC)(link)
Welcome back!!!

[identity profile] valis2.livejournal.com 2009-02-25 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
Hooray, thank you so much!!!

[identity profile] lindahoyland.livejournal.com 2009-02-25 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
Welcome back!

[identity profile] valis2.livejournal.com 2009-02-25 03:44 am (UTC)(link)
Aw, thanks! It's so nice to see you! *hugs*

[identity profile] platinum-malfoy.livejournal.com 2009-02-25 03:17 am (UTC)(link)
Welcome home from us at The Manor to you at yours.

[identity profile] valis2.livejournal.com 2009-02-25 03:45 am (UTC)(link)
Aw, how wonderful--a Malfoy welcome! I am truly honored. :) Thank you!!

[identity profile] tjwritter.livejournal.com 2009-02-25 05:06 am (UTC)(link)
YOUR BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!

I missed you!

Can't wait to read your Riptide fic! TRULY!!

[identity profile] valis2.livejournal.com 2009-02-25 11:20 am (UTC)(link)
I'm so happy to be back!! eeee!

I missed you too! *ginormous hugs*

You're going to read my Riptide fic?! omg omg!!! *hyperventilates* That rocks!!

[identity profile] tjwritter.livejournal.com 2009-02-25 06:13 pm (UTC)(link)
eAbsolutely! I love your style and want yours to be my firstest Riptide fic to read. Plus I sorta love tTTC and can't wait to see what you do!

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/nix___/ 2009-02-25 06:58 am (UTC)(link)
Welcome back! :D

[identity profile] valis2.livejournal.com 2009-02-25 11:22 am (UTC)(link)
*squeezes* Hi there!! Thanks for the welcome!!

[identity profile] jaelle-n-gilla.livejournal.com 2009-02-25 07:58 am (UTC)(link)
I was starting to wonder where you'd disappeared to and if we'd have to inform Interpol :) Glad you had fun and good to have you back. *hugs*

[identity profile] valis2.livejournal.com 2009-02-25 11:23 am (UTC)(link)
hee!! No need to have the hound dogs unleashed...I'm back, and so happy to be home. *huge hugs* :)

[identity profile] elddonnemar.livejournal.com 2009-02-26 04:58 am (UTC)(link)
Welcome back. I still owe you an entry about anime you've never heard of. I promise to make it interesting.

[identity profile] valis2.livejournal.com 2009-02-26 11:19 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, thank you so much for the welcome, and I don't even remember the anime entry, and I'll forget about it again, guaranteed, so when you do post it I'll be all pleasantly surprised all over again! hee!

[identity profile] verdenia.livejournal.com 2009-03-01 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
Wow, 36 days is a long time!!!!
I didn't have time to read my flist for over two weeks, myself, but I've been better about getting on the last two weeks, maybe.
And I wrote an entry on my birthday giving a pre-emptive thanks, since I know some of my flisters are people who write Happy Birthday entries. :D
(Hmm. I guess it's been 45 days since my birthday. I do seem to remember you being around then!)

My recent entries are more than two weeks old, so you won't get them by flist. ;p
Memes, frivolity in RL, a recipe for pizza bread pudding...
Two short fic links. ;p [>1k words]

Wow, AZ. I know a gal who has worked many years at the Tucson gem show; her parents are goldsmiths and jewelers. She went to college with my former roommate.

Yay home! A month is pretty long. Readjusting to standard rhythms can be odd!

I should really post a new entry. I had some thoughts in my head earlier... LOL. Those weeks I didn't get on LJ, most of my online time was spent getting to know my Married Sis' bloggy friends. Mostly parents, but some single and/or childless ones, too. I've made some good friendships. ;D

I really want to go to Chicago this summer, both to see more of it, but also because the convention, "BlogHer" is happening and to get cocktail party tickets for the weekend is only $50-. Heh. :D

I should really post recaps of my vacations, too. I think I have one written up for Toronto, lol. ;p

*HUGS*
♥!

[identity profile] valis2.livejournal.com 2009-03-01 04:06 am (UTC)(link)
Wow, 36 days is a long time!!!!
I didn't have time to read my flist for over two weeks, myself, but I've been better about getting on the last two weeks, maybe.


Y'know what? I just ended up doing the Big Skim. Because it's been so long, I just pulled up every single flister's LJ and read back to the date I left--but I have to admit that I skimmed waaaay more than I usually do. It's all a big mess in my head. *nodnod*

And I wrote an entry on my birthday giving a pre-emptive thanks, since I know some of my flisters are people who write Happy Birthday entries. :D
(Hmm. I guess it's been 45 days since my birthday. I do seem to remember you being around then!)


Yep, yep, I was there, I saw it all go down, officer. (http://valis2.livejournal.com/430335.html)

Yay home! A month is pretty long. Readjusting to standard rhythms can be odd!

OMG SO TRUE YES. It can be a nightmare. I'm just now starting to feel like I'm home. Just now. I have to figure out how to operate my scanner again and everything--despite the fact that it's my right-hand man here at my computer desk. Crazy!

I really want to go to Chicago this summer, both to see more of it, but also because the convention, "BlogHer" is happening and to get cocktail party tickets for the weekend is only $50-. Heh. :D

Chicago is fabulous! I love Chicago. It's one of those terrific cities where you can find lots of wonderful things to do. :)

I should really post recaps of my vacations, too. I think I have one written up for Toronto, lol. ;p

Ooooh, yes! Definitely!!

*giant hugs* Lovely to see you again, m'dear!!

[identity profile] verdenia.livejournal.com 2009-03-02 07:13 am (UTC)(link)
Dude, SO smart of you to open everyone's journal! Wowsa! :P
I shall have to remember this method. :D

****HUUUUUUGGGGSSSS*****
So lovely to see you!