Ask of the North Wind news.

[melannen]

Thank you to everyone. I'm back at school now. Maybe things will begin approaching normal-1. I have no idea how well I'm dealing with it, but I seem to be functioning normally so far. Worryingly so. We put stellar_dust on the plane this morning, so Mom's home alone, but she knows there are lots of people watching out for her.

Last night Mom, stellar_dust, reclusivewaffle, and I went to the high school musical, HONK! Before the show, the crew got on a god mike and dedicated the show to Dad, which was a lovely and fitting tribute, as he's had a lot of fun helping them since we were in high school. Immediately afterward, before they even got the house lights back up, they completely fried the lighting board, which was. ah. no comment.

The show was good, though, even considering the lighting effects were a bit choppy in places. *Ships Cat/Ugly and Lowbutt/Queenie* They have some really good singers and actors this year, especially the kid who played Ugly. Turns out Bri's little brother was the father duck. The last time I saw him he was about twelve. He's grown up. And up. Not a bad actor, either. His singing voice, well, fit the part. And, to run the risk of completely squicking Bri should she read this journal, he's really rather bishy.

Friday night there was a gathering at reclusivewaffle and dreamsquirrel's place; stellar_dust requested fun and young people before she went back to ND. It's a really nice apartment. There were about fourteen people there, an orangutan puppet, dreamsquirrel's delicious chili, cornbread, and unknown sodas. I lost repeatedly at flux and won repeatedly at set. Later I chose watching x-files dvds with sister over playing with speakerender's DDR. Too bad. I was hoping to do both. DDR can be fun, but they'd closed up the playstation before the x-files showing was over. X-files is, I think, a character story trying to be an event story, as none of the plots made a great deal of sense. But. Scully. And Mulder. Saw only the first three episodes, and they are *so* in a relationship. And I have checked the sci-fi channels listing for times of x-f reruns. *hisses at stellar_dust.* Also, there are no openings in my dorm room he could possibly squeeze in through! I checked!

Mom found our beautiful old children's classics illustrated copy of Treasure Island, and as I've always understood the value of escapist literature, I devoured it. I'd never read it before, and I wish I hadn't been spoiled about Long John, but the basic plot I had no idea about, and really enjoyed the book. Also. Background characters Trelawney, Black Dog, and Flint, on a ship called the Cassandra. Not to mention the old seaman Billy Bones, which is such an obvious pseudonym. I think the PotC/HP has become PotC/HP/TI now. stellar_dust arrrr'd at me all week.

Thursday night after the service, the wind had knocked our power out, so we went to aunt and uncle's and I helped stellar_dust demolish a sofa.

Five of Mom's brothers and one of her sisters came down from Ohio at the beginning of the week, and as much as I love my family, did I feel outnumbered. Usually when they're all together there are also several dozen cousins running about, diluting the effect. Also apparently they all assumed one of the others was calling ahead to say they were coming, so that was something of a surprise. Uncle Richard gave me a chip hammer to play with and, after Uncle John almost stole my staff, some medallions from his trip out west to put on it.

And school goes on. I need to decide whether I'm aiming for field camp this summer or the one after. And study for my midterm Tuesday, oh yeah.