Snow & Rain

I’ve spent the last two weekends in North Alabama (actually, about 15 miles apart).

Last weekend, I went to hang out with a few hundred hippies climbers; I attended Sloperfest as a spectator. I know, I don’t actually climb — but my sister and a lot of our mutual friends do, so a bunch of us drove up together. It was actually a very cool experience: there were literally dozens of world-class boulderers there, and even though I don’t actually stick to rocks myself I really enjoyed watching. The all-day concert ambiance made for an awesome vibe in general, plus I had fun photographing everything that moved. Really beautiful weekend, in more ways than one. It rained Friday night, though, and I’d planned to hammock all weekend, and didn’t pack a rainfly (d’oh). So that was interesting: I ended up hanging under a lean-to with three other guys. We had a better night than those in tents, I think.

As to this weekend, however: it snowed! A very little bit, that only stuck around for a few hours — but still. Snow! In Alabama. It made me happy. I love rain (except when hammocking), but snow is rain to the power of awesome. It was beautiful, made waking up at 6:30 all the more worthwhile. I spent the last two days with my mom at a church retreat. Not usually something I’d choose, but she specifically asked me to go with her. I enjoyed the retreat more than I expected, although the “sessions” (speakers heavy in ideology I take issue with) were, predictably, not actually a part of what I enjoyed. It was good to get away and have a stress-free weekend with my mom, though; while there it hit me, how much I really valued the time. Last night made that June departure date seem just a little bit more real.

I had to leave the room only once during all the retreat’s sessions — not because of anything negative, but because people were giving me looks. I don’t remember the context, but I remember the quote because I wrote it down.
Speaker: “…and what influence does a dead body have on its own resurrection?!”
My notepad: “Rez pls?”
People look at you funny when you give yourself the giggles.

…and that seems a fitting segue into linking the following comic. RIP Gygax.

Invisibility has its drawbacks

Three seemingly-unrelated things happened this week:

• The pastor of my parents’ church found out (from my parents) I’m leaving in June. When I ran into him this week, he said “Come by my office before you leave [Name of Church] for Ghana.”
• I got a bill from Auburn University. For $0.00.
• I got an email from my old work supervisor - a generic “timesheets are due” reminder.

I haven’t worked that job for almost three months. I graduated from Auburn in December. I haven’t attended my parents’ church in over three years. What the heck, people.