OLYMPICS PARIS 2024

**Blogger won't let me upload pictures ..... don't know why**

As I sit here watching the closing ceremonies of the 2024 Paris Olympics …. I admit ……. I’m exhausted. Getting up at 3 every morning … sometimes 4 to catch events as they happened was both necessary cause I need to see stuff live but also made for very long days at work. As with Tokyo …. I got a little insane during these 17 days (July 26^th – Aug. 11^th) and if I wasn’t watching the games live, or repeats of events at night, I was looking at athlete social media and thinking about what I’d be watching next.

I found a fantastic app that allowed me to add games to my calendar…. I didn’t realize it was adding it to my work calendar but I wasn’t mad at that either. That ap has now been flipped over to the Paralympic games which are as inspiring and special to me as these games. The drama the stories, the athletes, watching them do the impossible and make it look so simple is just an extension of these games.

Thank goodness for Peacock. I really hope they keep the momentum going for the Paralympic games cause their coverage was fantastic. Being able to click live events as they were happening or search by a specific day or search by a specific sport in order to plan your day.  I also loved that the times on Peacock were for my specific time zone which was instrumental in my planning process.

So what did I watch ……

Gymnastics, all kinds … Artistic, Rhythmic, Trampoline …. I love the drama of it. The athleticism and how there is very little to no room for error, you go up, do your routine and there is no do over. The Women blew me away as I expected them to and the Men had a rough start but a strong finish and finally got back to the podium.  Volleyball is my other love and to watch it on an Olympic stage is just the best. While Beach Volleyball ended up breaking my heart it was a fun ride while it lasted and the rally’s these teams played on the beach in the sand that was burning their feet, in the heat, and sometimes at night with the Eiffel Tower glittering in the background was just a spectacle to be seen. Well played Paris .. well played. Diving …. From all heights … the US struggled hard but it was still fun to watch… another sport that is one and done … like one bad dive and it’s kind of over cause at that point you are counting on another to have a bad dive. These are the best in the world and bad days rarely happen at that level. Artistic Swimming – AKA Synchronized Swimming – which finally got some TV love this year due to the US having a team that made it to the podium. Indoor Volleyball ended up being satisfying after watching all the other Volleyball teams fall early. The power and speed that this sport is played at gives me chills. Literal chills. 3X3 Basketball – it feels like backyard ball and I’m here for it every single time. Archery – it’s sooooooo dramatic for very little reason …. Like that dramatic pause I guess to steady themselves before letting it rip is important but is it really ? Asking for a friend .. who is me. Now this sport with the Paralympians … that deserves all the drama but they just let it rip. Badminton – I mean …. Who hasn’t played this sport with family in the backyard or at a BBQ and thought they could do this until they watch and are like wait did the shuttlecock even move before the point ends? Basketball – I watched this one more cause of my nephew he loves this sport and it gives us something to talk about plus it was fun to see the new version of the “dream team” take the court and play as a unit. They almost fumbled hard but they pulled it off. The women however never lost control of it and just sailed to that Gold medal.  Breaking - I still have no idea what was going on or how it was scored and yall I tried. I’ve read more about this “sport” that I’ve ever read about any other sport and I just can’t figure it out…. I don’t know if it will stay in the Olympics or not but it was interesting it just wasn’t explained very well for those of us that had not participated in a competition before. The announcers were …. Well I’m gonna be nice but I think they were making that shit up as they went along. Cycling … BMX … Track …. All fascinate me too cause the speed that they move and the closeness of each of the participants makes you think they are gonna die. I liken it to Snowboarding during the Winter Games it’s fun to watch but like Breaking I don’t quite know what’s going on but can at least tell a good run vs a not so good run. In breaking I couldn’t even attempt it. Routines that I thought were good and entertaining got no points … routines I thought were lousy got all the points. Like what the hell … but I digress. Equestrian …. I watched more of these events than I’ve likely watched in previous years…but I can’t really tell you why. Football … aka … Soccer … mostly cause my boss is obsessed with it and it gives us something to talk about. Rugby – this sport fascinates me but the Paralympic version of it, known as Murder Ball makes it look tame. Swimming ….. I mean how do you not watch it’s on for like 6 days straight and they have like 5,203,476,304,967 events each night. Table Tennis – see previous note about Badminton.  Tennis – I mean … we said goodbye to Nadal who left it all on the court, got to see Djokovic not shock anyone by taking the tournament by storm. The real championship was between Nadal and Djokovic, after that it was all downhill from there. I’m gonna give the ladies a break cause well that was kind of painful to watch. Water Polo - which fascinates me, cause like how do they jump like that without touching the bottom of the pool? Weightlifting - cause I wanna be watching when they throw down those weights and destroy the floor..it’s gonna happen …. You just wait.  I even got into some of the Track and Field events which I usually watch but with like one eyeball while I look for something else to watch.

I do admit there were sports that I didn’t get to watch … not as a boycott but more cause I just didn’t get to it or there just weren’t enough hours in the day …. Canoe Sprint (which I usually watch but didn’t this year for some reason), Fencing, Golf, Handball, Field Hockey (that blue field just was too much), Judo, Marathon Swimming, Modern Pentathlon (tho I did watch some of the events that make it up just not enough to say I watched it), Rowing, Sailing, Shooting (I mean honestly who came up with that?), Skateboarding, Sport Climbing (cause why really … what is the point ?), Surfing (again I saw pieces of it but not enough to say I watched it), Taekwondo, and wrestling.

Yall at one point my phone gave me a middle finger and said no more please …. It shut down and I was like oh goodness I guess we are done for the day. Like I couldn’t get it to come back on…. Couldn’t get it to charge… I really thought I was going to need a new phone but I guess it overheated or something cause she seems good now. Which is good cause like is said there is a rest then the Paralympic games get going. I will be watching but I will also be at Dragon Con so I’m gonna have to divide my two loves and catch what I can when I can. So Phone you are going to have to get it together and cause it’s going to be a long week again.

As I watch the Closing Ceremonies I’m struck by how colorful and exciting the Opening Ceremonies was vs this darker less celebratory version of a send off to these games. 

 Medal Count ... cause that's all anyone cares about (which is sad) ends with US on top of the pike for MOST MEDALS at 126 .... GOLD   40   SILVER 44    BRONZE 42 .... so we had a good O    Olympics for sure. China was behind us with 91 total (also 40 Gold), Japan with 45 total, Australia with 53 adn France rounding out the top 5 with 64 total medals as they hosted the biggest sporting party of all time. In 4 years we get to do this again on US soil once again. I’ve really given a lot of thought to Los Angels … but I know me I’ll talk myself out of it. However …. It’s always a possibility … I have 4 years to make up my mind after all.

Marcy @beaslma

Olympics are over ….. almost

I’m not going to lie…… I’m exhausted it was a long arse week that included about a day of Overtime and a day out of town delivering some conference items to another office that greatly cut into my Olympic watching time. I still managed a very impressive watch list for those days but the Olympic exhaustion due to the time zone change hit me hard yesterday. While in a meeting with my boss I could feel myself sinking and at one point he said “Marcy are you ok?” I immediately perked up and said yeah why. His response “I think your battery just ran out. Go home!” So I did. I then fell asleep on the couch for about 2 hours. Woke up feeling just awful, as I typically do after a nap – I suck at nap taking apparently. However it was a recharge I guess I needed to watch the Platform Diving semis, and some indoor volleyball, the end of a marathon, and some track and field during the night time coverage of the events.

The best thing about this Olympics being postponed, yes I found something positive about waiting a year …. Is that now the next Olympic games in Paris, France are even closer. . Right now the games are scheduled for July 26 – August 11 in 2024.3 years to prepare instead of 4 …. So yeah that’s a good thing, well for me not the athletes.

Random closing thoughts on this Olympic Cycle:

1.       Americans are spoiled – a medal is a medal. Sure no one grows up waiting a bronze medal but damn a Bronze is still pretty freaking fantastic. It’s time we stop that if it’s not a Gold it doesn’t matter mentality. Top 3 in the world is still awesome, top 2 is good and the top of the heap with that Gold is Amazing when you think about what all it took to get to these milestones, even without a global Pandemic, is what should be celebrated. Americans please do better.

2.       Mental Health – Don’t get me wrong … I’m glad that athlete’s are able to express themselves and are able to have their voices be heard when it matters and I hope that one day they won’t even be required to make a statement after something happens or they feel the need to pull out of an event. I do wonder if the “stars” of these sports weren’t the ones doing it would it be hitting in the same manner. If say the girl who was say 15^th in the world vs #1 was having the same conversation would we be listening. Sadly I think the answer is no. So let’s keep working on this guys.  

3.       Lots of first-time winners – Usually first time Olympians are there for the experience. They often get overwhelmed by the pressure and the just overall feeling of the moment they are in and yet this year there have been a lot more first-time winners than we have seen in past Olympics. So kids are either being better trained or are just getting lucky or they are just cocky and thus the moment isn’t as overwhelming. I personally think the pressure isn’t as high cause I mean most people do two maybe 3 rounds of Olympic games (depending on the sport) and so these “younger kids” know this will not be their only opportunity to medal and stay more relaxed.

4.       GOAT – The term “G.O.A.T” is way overused. There are athletes that deserve that recognition and I’d argue that even getting to the Olympics means you are the best of the best for your Country but not every athlete can be the “greatest of all time” cause if they are then they cancel one another out. They can be the greatest of their sport … maybe.. greatest for that moment in time, but years ago people would have said say Shannon Miller gets that distinction or Usain Bolt but their records are being shattered left and right. I just feel like we need to calm down with that distinction just a little bit and enjoy the athletes for what they are bringing to their individual sports without adding that moniker to their shoulders. Just saying.

5.       Sports I missed – I have watched more Soccer this year than in years past …. Not really sure why other than it seemed for a while that every time I turned on my various devices it was on my TV. That being said there are sports that I LOVE that I missed this year. Take Rhythmic Gymnastics and Trampoline Gymnastics, two really awesome sports to follow and watch but that never made it to my eyeballs this year and that makes me sad. I also didn’t get to watch the new Surfing competition but I’m not too chuffed about that. Sport Climbing I caught a glimpse of while they did a news around the games update but didn’t really watch the competition. Sailing, Golf, and Athletics were the same way but again I wasn’t too sad about missing these. Overall tho I saw more than I missed so I’m happy with my 2020/2021 Olympic experience.

 Time to catch up on my sleep. . Next up Dragon Con … then the Paralympic games which are often more compelling than the actual games to me. Then next year the Winter Games are right around the corner (Feb 2022) and Invictus will be back !

 

Marcy

Olympics Halftime - I NEED Sleep!

The first week of the two-week Olympic party is now in the books and what a week it has been. It’s been a thrilling week of surprises and things we saw coming and others that came from out of nowhere, I mean Great Britain 3^rd in Women’s Gymnastics ? I mean who had that on their bingo card. No one. Then again no one had Simone bails completely either. Now before you jump my arse I’m not saying she bailed, I know she was hurt. I saw the Vault that freaked her out and it freaked me out too. I’m just saying that before this Olympic games started no one saw her not being in the thick of it coming. USA Softball was another surprised. I fully saw them taking the Gold especially after being Japan in the qualification rounds. They were undefeated until the Gold Medal match and the bats just weren’t there. Hey I’m not one of those USA fans where Gold is the only color I care about … those two silvers are awesome and I’ll never turn my nose up even at a Bronze. I mean you are still top 3 in the world. Nothing to scoff at but those are two that I felt were pretty much ours to lose and boy did we. That being said even with a fully healthy Simone I’m not use the US would have caught “not Russia” they just had the best meet of their careers and if you are going to do it .. the Olympics is the meet most of them would choose for it to happen.

However … there are a few things getting in the way of my Olympic Dreams!!!!!

 Work

My job has been really cool about my watching the Olympics at my desk but I admit fully that my productivity this week hasn’t been at the highest level. I mean I’m getting things done, attending meetings etc., but I could have done more and I know it. I did watch the Woman’s All Around in Gymnastics the other day and didn’t even apologize for fully being invested in my screen. I also fully watched the Woman’s Football (AKA Soccer) match between the USA and Netherlands that went into overtime which was pretty amazing to watch live. It also didn’t hurt that this particular week many in my office left for a conference in Orlando so there were less people in the office than normal from Wed forward. Truth is they likely do too, but we all understand that this is a temporary drop in productivity and I will rise again.

NBC/Streaming

I’ve seen a lot of posts about the Streaming of these Games. I have also seen a lot of people complaining about the streaming options. I will say … I have fully enjoyed watching the Games on my cell phone. I have found that frankly the coverage is better. I do feel like the nighttime coverage of the Games is more a “hand picked” look at what NBC thinks I want to see. Stop doing that NBC. I mean guys I have been flipping back and forth between NBC, USA, NBCSN, CNBC, the Olympic Channel .... it's been a girls dream! That being said I’d say 90% of what I have watched has been through the Xfinity Stream Ap or the NBC Sports Ap. I used NBC Sports during the morning time when live events are happening but NBC is still showing me what they showed yesterday (AKA replays). I have been using Xfinity during the weird time of the day when there’s nothing new going on and yet the nighttime coverage hasn’t begun yet either. I do admit that I have missed the stories. The conversations about the athletes, how they got here, their stories of heart ache and triumph.

Timezones

Timezones are so fraking confusing. I added Tokyo to my “world clock” on my phone. Plus I found a great Olympic Scheduling ap that shows me the times in Tokyo but it’s still be hard. Like right now it’s 7:19pm on a Saturday as I’m writing this and it’s 9:20am on Sunday in Tokyo. I’ve dealth with that before but it’s been on a new level this year with so many following the games, social media reporting results like they will die if they aren’t the first to give any information and even NBC knows we know the results and are like the USA fought hard in this gold medal match that just didn’t go their way … let’s take a look… Like um you just told me we lost so I’m going to watch something else. It’s been tough staying up and then getting up early but totally worth it to watch these events as they are happening. Heck I’ve been watching a live even on my TV and streaming another on my phone while watching results coming in on my PC. I tell you Olympic Feaver is strong with me.

 Sleep

I an not like Golden, I’m not a member of Team No Sleep. I like sleep. My relationship with sleep is very important to me. However I’ve been neglecting it hard lately. But I know that like with work this is a temporary thing and sleep just needs to understand that. It is not uncommon for me to watch the games until about 11, go to bed and watch via my phone or PC until about 2 or 3 from my bed, roll over and rest for a few hours before I’m back up with my alarm going off at 5 so I can watch some before driving to work. I try not to watch while driving …. “try.” However it’s also fully catching up with me. I can barely keep my eyes open at the moment and last night I conked out and never even turned on my phone. I missed so many events last night/this morning since I slept until about 9:30. Opps. Most of what I missed was Track and Field, and while I try…. I just can’t get into Track and Field but I try lord knows I try.

It’s been a long week, we are half way to the finish line ….. as they usually say in sports … FINISH STRONG!!!!

PS - I have thoughts btw on the USA Women’s Gymnastics Team, and those thoughts are coming but I need more time to continue to gather my thoughts. If you follow me on twitter you have seen some of it already.

 

Marcy

 

OLYMPIC FEVER

I have a fever …. and the only cure is well more TV screens possibly another pair of eyeballs. I am writing this as I watch the opening ceremonies … again. See I half watched them this morning while I was getting ready for work and while I was well … at work. It was cool tho cause well where I work is pretty awesome. As long as I get the project done and don’t disturb anyone it’s cool. One of the interns in our office caught Covid while at a baseball tournament last week …. Part of me wishes I had interacted with him so I could have an excuse to be home to watch all the sporting lovely.

I was devastated when the Olympics were postponed and I’m so glad they are back, I love the athleticism, the stories, the underdogs coming out on top, the dinosaurs looking and getting one last taste of glory, the drama of a 4^th place finish by only a tenth of a tenth of a second.

A few things I’m not looking forward to ……. Sigh ….. the announcers …. the “hosts”…. the “breaking news that isn’t news” …. the endless supply of stupid questions….the time zone so that most of the events take place while I’m in my bed sleeping. Speaking of sleeping … how in the hell are any of the Olympic committees allowing these athletes who are not only representing their various counties but who are considered the BEST in their fields that we all have to offer to SLEEP ON CARDBORD BEDS?! Have you seen video of these beds? This is not ok at all.

The thing that fascinates me the most about an event like this that they don’t really talk about enough is the LOGISTICS OF IT ALL … like the Rowing teams .. did they ship their boats to Tokyo? How long did that take ? Are they using boats already in Tokyo … what did they train in while their boats were in transit ? Where the heck do you pick up your boat that you ship to Tokyo? What about the other equipment … the basketballs or volleyballs the Bicycles for cycling … archery equipment ? Does someone travel with all this stuff to make sure they aren’t messed with ? How the hell do I get that job?! Wait no I don’t want that job it sounds stupid stressful. This sounds like something Fed Ex or UPS need to get involved in. 

I have my schedule mapped out over the next few weeks but I also know I won’t get to watch nearly as much as I want but I hope to watch more than I want during the weekends and as much as I can during my work week. My boss is ready he understands that this is something I get super excited about, as I said he’s cool as long as I get the work done…which I will. I always do. As watching the Opening Ceremonies this morning the guy across the hall walked in just as the US Team was introduced and I started clapping from my desk and he ran over … “did I miss it!” I said yeah but here … and he and I stood there for a few minutes in silence watching the next Olympic class take their place on the greatest athletic stage ever created.

My alma matter has 18 athletes at the games …. Some current students some recent grads but once a Tiger always a Tiger!

https://auburntigers.com/news/2021/7/22/general-auburn-boasts-18-representatives-at-tokyo-2020-olympics

I’m not going to lie Watching Sunisa Lee on  this journey has been great but I can’t wait to watch her in an Auburn Leo competing in the flesh! Auburn is well represented ….. Track and Field, Swimming, Softball, Gymnastics, Tennis, and Women’s Basketball.

WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!

https://olympics.com/en/sports/

Games I am excited to watch include:

• Artistic Swimming – better known as synchronized swimming – the beauty, artistry, the power of these athletes it’s all fantastic.
• Baseball is back!!!! The tournament aspect of it is interesting and should be fun to watch.
• Softball is also back!!!! See note above about Baseball.
• Beach Volleyball – have you tried to play volleyball in the sand … it’s hard people … respect it.
• Canoe/Kayak – man made springs for these events always make for a very interesting thing
• Cycling (around the track … not so much a fan of the going on a bike ride race deal)
• Diving – guys this sport is frustrating, awesome and confusing all at the same time
• Gymnastics – all of it … athletic, rhythmic, trampoline, just flip people … girls of course but also the boys. Every games I hope they will get their stuff together and they always let me down but the Girls … I pray we aren’t putting too much pressure on them.
• Handball – picture basketball and soccer AKA Football having a baby and deciding to date Field Hockey and they had a baby ... that would result in "handball" **UPDATED**
• Rugby – I don’t fully understand it but it fascinates me and I am trying to learn more about it.
• Soccer - I admit I’ve watched more Soccer this year than any other year
• Table Tennis – guys it’s ping pong and they play it like no other. The speed at which this sport is played is nothing like you have ever seen before.
• Indoor Volleyball – I love Volleyball ….. played it for 4 years in high school before a set of bleachers ended my career early in my senior year. these are the best of the best and the speed is incredible. The saves are even better and the power is second to none.
• Water Polo – it’s basically field hockey in a pool …. But they can’t touch the floor and they still rise up out of the water to score. It’s hard people…. Respect it.

Games that I could care less about but likely will watch if it’s on my tv …..

• Archery – once you have watched this sport in Invictus regular people shooting an arrow isn’t special anymore ha!
• Badminton – I mean .. honestly. 
• Basketball 3X3 ? wait what?! How is this a thing?
• Boxing – I’ve never understood the need to put two people in a ring and watch them beat the crap out of one another
• Equestrian – interesting but not really something I’m into and that is ok.
• Fencing – I don’t even pretend to understand what’s going on here and I’m not sure I care enough to change that
• Field Hockey – it fascinates me and I always watch but it’s one that if I miss it I’ll be ok too :D
• Golf – like yeah….
• Judo– I don’t even pretend to understand what’s going on here and I’m not sure I care enough to change that
• Karate - if it’s not the original Karate kid …. Then why bother.
• Modern Pentahlon – it fascinates me but yeah if I miss it I’m ok too
• Rowing – I’m fascinated by the synchro aspect of it but that’s about it
• Sailing – any sport that can be halted by not having wind is well not a sport
• Shooting – yeah hall have fun
• Skateboarding  - isn’t this more an x-games sport?
• Sport Climbing – not even sure I know what this one is
• Surfing – any sport that can be hampered if there isn’t a wave is an issue
• Swimming – I mean I watched when Phelps was all in but it was more cause I was waiting on Diving to come back on
• Taekwondo – I just can’t …
• Tennis – I love Tennis but it just doesn’t do much for me at the Olympics
• Track and Field – I love the variety of track and field but it takes soooo freaking long for such a short burst of activity.
• Weightlifting – again … watching this via Invicuts makes watching normal people do it seem less so.
• Wrestling – the most exciting part of this one is watching the big dude shove the other big dude out of the circle … wait that might be a different sport!

As I said it’s going to be an exhausting few weeks and I can’t wait for it!!!!!

Olympic Coma here I come!

 

Marcy

I don’t know what to say …… so here's random thoughts to get us through

I’ve written several blogs of late, then shit happens and I think we’ll a stupid blog about the Olympics, the Tony’s, music, really anything seems very inappropriate right now, I’ll wait. Then I’ll write something else while I’m killing time get ready to post it and another serious thing happens, looking at you Dallas, looking at you Baton Rouge, looking at you police, looking at you the people police are supposed to protect, looking at you Orlando, looking at you France, looking at you Rio, looking at you politics … just so much going on in the world that seems to deserve these words that I just can’t string together so I don’t post. Then inspiration hits me and yet again something happens that just makes me sit back in my chair and think …. Damn.

I don’t doubt that I possess the power to talk about these events but what can I say that’s different than what anyone else has already said? If I just state the same thoughts that everyone else is saying what’s the point? Especially when they are all saying it so much better than I could. I think part of the problem is that there’s too many people out there giving their opinion on what people should do, could do, and how things could and should be different if things were different. There’s a lot of anxiety and passion on all sides of these stories and I’m not wanting to diminish any of that passion and I’ve already talked about my anxiety of exactly what these event breed and represent. So I won’t go there again, you can click the link and read that again.

So I’m sitting here tonight thinking that my stupid posts about the Olympics, music, and other randomness that might take people’s minds off of the world which is becoming really scary and really stupid and I don’t wanna be a part of it anymore.

So ….. here goes … my random thoughts from the last few months that really are for no other reason than because I wrote them and well here they are. . . .

Olympics

We are heading into the home stretch in the Road to Rio, the trials have wrapped, the teams are set, bags are packed, and plane tickets are in hand as the greatest athlete’s around the world head to Rio to sort out whose the best of the best. I love the Olympics. I love the stories behind it. I love the drive of the athletes who have worked their entire lives for a single moment to change their lives. My favorite events are of course Gymnastics, the Diving competitions, the cycling events, Volleyball, Tennis, and some track and field. I get excited watching an unknown rise above the rest on the world’s largest stage. I also get excited when a veteran has one last shot at glory before riding off into the sunset.  My boss has already been put on alert that my phone will be on and I will be watching during the day, I’ll be tired from watching through the night what all I missed, and it’s going to be rough for a while but I’ll get my job done. It’s what I do. He’s aware and he understands, tho I’m not sure he really gets it. Have I mentioned I LOVE the Olympics.

The Olympics can also be really heart breaking. Already it has claimed it’s first victim. I was so excited with John Orozco was training for the Olympics after working his tail off to make the team and tore his ACL. He’s out. He was on the team in London and frankly it didn’t go well. He’s had one heck of a time of late losing his mom, having some other injuries of late but he needed to go back. To say London didn’t go well is just the biggest understatement. See to understand how bad it went he was the Simone Biles of the Men’s Gymnastic team back in London. He choked. The entire team did. It was their worst two days of gymnastics likely for some in their entire lives. Going to Rio was his redemption, was his way of saying that’s not the gymnast that I wanted to show the world. He was fantastic at the trials, he’s been fantastic at his last few meets, and now he has to sit on the sideline and watch his fellow teammates get on the plane. I cry for Orozco, I know there’s a reason this has happened, I know there’s a bigger plan for him, I just … I just can’t see that path right now. The man who is so into social media finally posted today and I cried again for a man that I’ve watched for years try to realize the dream that he’s had since he learned how to tumble and today he wrote that his Olympic dream will never be realized. I can’t imagine I can’t imagine what he’s going through right now, or what he does next. That’s the thing about the Olympics, when you walk away like a Michael Phelps it’s ok, but when the choice is taken from you that has to be brutal.

John Orozco Instagram

So see the Olympics gives and takes away. The drama has already started from Rio not being ready, to the quality of the water the athletes have to swim in, and the athlete’s haven’t even arrived yet. This Olympics is going to rock! August can’t get here fast enough.

DragonCon

It’s almost time for DragonCon, I received my progress report booklet last week and am very excited about the people on the list so far and look forward to more announcements as the 30^th year of DragonCon gets closer. Once again this is the time of the year where I think yeah ok I’ll start looking at or for a costume, then start seeing other Cons and the level of Cosplay out there and I know I can’t compete. For one if you aren’t in a host hotel, and we are not it’s a giant pain in the arse to get back and forth even on a shuttle bus. For another it’s Atlanta, in late August .. and frankly it’s hot enough out there in regular clothing much less all the paraphernalia that comes with cosplay. So I’m going to leave that up to Golden, I’ll just follow her around and make sure she doesn’t walk into traffic cause she can’t see out of her mask. Oh and this year we are staying at the hotel near the aquarium so I’m hoping a trip to the aquarium is in my future. Better yet I’m driving so yes… GOLDEN we are going to the aquarium. Get ready.

Travel

So this summer I had plans, I was going to take a few days off and do something fun with my nephews, I was going to go here…there…and yonder and really enjoy the summer. That hasn’t and didn’t happen. My nephews just got back from an amazing trip with my brother and his wife (basically his entire family went, not sure why I said it the way I did) to the grand canyon and back. It was a pretty epic road trip from the sounds of it, they made stops in Roswell, at the Alamo, hiked up and down the canyon (they arrived the day that lady fell off the ledge and died – turns out some hikers were passing her and she stepped back and just fell off the cliff. Can you imagine how that had to have felt. The earth is under you one second then not. I can’t even …. Shudder. They had a great time. I on the other hand have sat on my duff at work or at home and haven’t traveled…. I’ve had this desire to go to the beach and I’m not sure why. My body is soooo not beach ready, I’ve never really had a draw to have sand in all the areas but suddenly I’m feeling this need to hear the ocean and watch the waves. The sound of it, the look of it rolling … It relaxes me. I thought I had a trip planned to see a friend and do just that but we’ve postponed that to December. So once again the only travel I’ll do this summer is DragonCon. I guess I did take a few days last May for Golden’s Birthday but that feels like it was a million years ago. I used to travel a lot … what happened…. ? How do I get back to that? Where do I want to go? Who knows, I’m not even sure the destination is the goal at this point, but I’m also not sure what the point is if the destination doesn’t matter.

Missing Internet Friends

What do you do when an internet friend that you spend a ton of time talking to about your various interest and become such a part of your day or week that you get so used to them being there that when they suddenly are not it’s hard to handle? I had a friend that I talked to on the internet via twitter, we would DM and tell each other about our days, if I had a crappy day I’d talk to her about it, she’d give advice as an outside person who could be very objective or we’d have conversations about the entertainment industry and I would talk her through or try to explain the crazy that was going on in the United States.

She and I would have these amazing chats and debates and it would always teach me something and I MISS HER MORE THAN I SHOULD seeing as how I don’t really know her. For as much as she helped me I like to think I did the same with her, but who knows. She was a big fan of the Tour De France and seeing that it’s nearly over and not a single tweet about it has come from her account proves to me that she’s either left social media all together (tho I think she would have told me that, plus none of our mutual “friends” have heard from her either). So I can only assume the worst. I tried to look her up but haven’t found anything about her and it makes me super sad that she has just vanished. Her last post was last Dec. before that she and I both were at loose ends with work and life but would always touch base and say hi …. I’m afraid my friend is gone and I’m sad that I never got to say good bye and thank her for what she taught me and to tell her that her voice and our conversations of the last few months would have been welcoming and allowed me to process what’s going on around me better. She and I would have had a field day with the political environment taking over the US and the Brexit situation. Then again I’m also glad that she’s missing some of that cause I wish I could miss some of it, heck I wish I could miss ALL of it. I miss you so much @ireno9 and if you should ever see this, I hope that wherever you are you are finally at peace and resting well. I also hope someone is watching your two dogs.

So there you go, some random thoughts from Marcy that I felt the need to share they aren’t going to change the world, they might not even change your day but I posted and that’s something cause here of late I didn’t feel that I had anything worthy to say and getting past that was a big step for me. I have more to come, if only because I think we could all use a distraction in today’s crazy world.

Everyone stay safe out there,

HUGS

Marcy (@beaslma)