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The weekend spent camping with the family was nice. Nicer than I expected, to be sure. Knowing my family and my past 21-year history of interaction with them, I expected two solid days of bickering back and forth between me and them, them and us, or wherever the dividing lines and alliances were drawn this time round. This was only true for the last 15 or so minutes of the weekend, when my grandfather told me that I and all of ‘us’ (I suppose meaning anyone in my generation, because I’m sure his generation was innocent and therefore exempt) sporting tattoos were trashy. I decided, at that point, that skipping lunch and heading home an hour early was probably the best thing I could do, so I did so.

But anyway, I’m focusing on the negative, which was truly an emotional minority this weekend. I had a great time. There was an abundance of good food to munch on, since my grandma was there, and she’s a good cook no matter what her geographical locale. After food-munching, there was also a bunch of stuff to do to work off all the accumulating calories. I swam, played croquet, ping-pong, pool, volleyball, and lounged in the sun, which may not burn off a lot of calories, but I’m sure my melanin appreciated the workout. I’ve been the same shade of off-pasty for the last couple of years, and I currently have a decent tan (and a sunburnt nose) to enjoy for the next few days before both fade back to my melaninotic state of rest.

So it was a good time. Days were spent in the sun, nights were spent huddled around the campfire with those of my generation (the older generations headed to bed come nightfall), and the early morning hours between 3am and 8am were spent catching a few hours sleep. My only real regret of the weekend is that I got invited out both Friday and Saturday nights by different groups of friends, one group whom I’ve only seen twice so far this summer, and I had to miss out on what I’m sure would have been a good time back here in Ames. But camping trips only come so often, the weather during the summer in Iowa is rarely as perfect, and I had plenty of fun both nights right where I was.

Now if only the weekend had lasted a few more weeks. *grin* Instead, I’m back at work, sipping a cup of coffee, rebuilding a couple of computers, and writing this entry to stave off the monotony. I’m leaving work early (yet again) to prepare for yet another mini road trip, this time to northern Iowa to see Danielle for the first time in far too long a span. Rumor (and the last entry’s comments) has it that it should be a good time, with more good things to eat that I’ll later regret having eaten so much of than I could ever hope for. *g* All I gotta say is, Danielle better be packin’ the food away, too. :)

The rest of the week looks to be pretty dull. There’s a couple of bills to pay, a couple of things to buy (such as admission to Gnomedex), and an apartment which could always use a good disinfecting, but probably won’t get it. I’ll play this weekend by ear, and next weekend will be Gnomedex, so the rest of my July will probably be bland in comparison to the first half.

And then, it’s August and my birthday. Megan and I don’t have anything planned yet, though the idea of yet another camping trip did come up, so we’ll have to see. I wouldn’t mind heading back to Maquoketa, methinks, even though I told Megan the opposite when she suggested it a week or two ago. Ah well. That’s why she reads this thing. *g*

Of course, a camping trip on my birthday would require even more time off work, and I’m starting to feel bad for all the time I’m spending ~not~ working. I rationalize it all by telling myself that this is possibly the last summer I’ll spend as a college student, meaning it’s probably the last summer I’ll have with more freedom than obligations. I should take advantage of it while I’ve got it, I tell myself. And I think I halfway believe me. :)

Do you?