School again

School started again last week Thursday. (I know, who starts school on a Thursday?) I'm still only going to work one and a half days a week, Monday and half of Tuesday. 

Nobody is buying airplanes right now, but whatever.

Thursday, we walked the kids to school. My oldest is now in the middle school, which fortunately is right next door to the elementary school (they share a parking lot) and has a start time difference of only fifteen minutes. After dropping them off, the wife and I went on a date.

We went on a date. We explored a previously unvisited park, went out to lunch, then went home and just did nothing. We basked in the quiet. 

Friday, after dropping off the kids she went out with my sister in law (both women married into the same family, they can commiserate). I didn't have anything planned, so I found myself home alone, with nothing to do.

So I took a nap.

More and more camping

Last week we had our final camping trip of the summer, packing it in at Moreau Lake State Park. We picked it because we had never been there.

It wasn't that impressive. Nothing unique that would draw us back. It's fine, but.. meh.

Bringing the kids camping is an interesting experience. They understand that there are no video games. No Netflix. As much as they express themselves on the subject, they just roll with it. They just become different people when we're out on an adventure.

But of course, school starts this week. I suppose they haven't realized that life is an adventure.

Smelly camp

My son went to summer camp this past week. It was his first time and, as far as I can tell, it went pretty much as I expected it to. He came home smelling moderately bad, and was immediately shuffled into the shower.

The duffel bag smelled like it was possessed by demons.

Musty BO mixed with... I have no idea. A duffel bag shouldn't smell like old wet shoes, yet somehow he managed. Everything was washed, very thoroughly. While his laundry could be saved, his sneakers and the duffel remain tainted.

The shoes are getting thrown out. I soaked the bag in febreeze and we'll see what happens. Meanwhile, it's his. I'll get the wife a new one.

Dumb dreaming

I don't often remember my dreams, but when I do, they're wild.

I had a time machine, but I went to the past and it broke. So I found my grandfather, who helped me repair it so I could go home. Essentially, I Back to the Future'd myself.

Many other dreams recently, I have to keep to myself. I told them to my wife, but there's no way I'm putting a record of some of this stuff on the internet. Nope. Even though (probably) nobody reads this, I can't risk that.

Synesthesia

Ok, confession time. Prepare to not believe me. 

I can see sound. 

Not all the time. Only when I'm relaxed. Like when I'm lying down and my mind is drifting, and some sound would find my ear. 

A wooden door closing on a wood frame: it's a brief sound that doesn't persist, so the image wouldn't either. It's always a red and black checkerboard. That was the first one I can remember, and it's been consistent. 

Two sheets of paper sliding across each other: glistening sand falling, but only as long as I hear it. It's never very long. 

Those are the two most common. Many others have happened.

What usually happens is I see the colors, and get so excited that my brain is no longer "resting", and it's gone. It's bizarre, and it makes me wonder how my brain is wired. But, it's fun. I just wish it happened more often.

No more time

Saturday came, and I didn't realize the next day was Sunday. I actually have something scheduled on Sunday, but it didn't sink in until I was putting myself to bed. I work one day a week right now, and I've otherwise lost all semblance of a regimen. If this keeps up when school starts, I'll be just as unmoored, but without the kids at home. 

I used to like that, but I'm not looking forward to it any more.

Silver lining

Alas, my work has slowed even more. Truthfully, it should have slowed sooner, but we were being optimistic. Now we're only working one day a week. I tell myself things will improve (we're the only company in the world that makes the parts we do, there just aren't enough aircraft being built), but it's not improving fast enough.

Supply chain issues have clogged everything. There are millions of parts that go into building a single plane, and if one of their suppliers can't get their supplies to build with, then the whole thing gets slowed down. It's like a train, unless all the cars are moving, none of them are. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the smaller companies closed due to this, and replacing them is a bureaucratic nightmare. 

One day is still better than zero I suppose.