August 2024: Rest of Summer

[jedimentat]

Pennsic
((almost none of my pics))





I got to go a few days early this year and help with the setup crew, and it was awesome. Met some new people, chilled "early-in", and built a dance floor. So glad I went.









We had a fantastic time during "Peace Week," and it was the first time that we were all there at once, for the most part. Music, dancing, shopping, classes, and hanging with friends, it all went way too fast. Major FOMO about the second week, even though there was epic amounts of rain this year.
















































Lovely hike with Deb and Paul, whom we haven't seen in the meatspace in ages.















Maine

Quick getaway with the kids; hiking, and lots of river. Lovely chat and hang with Robin and also the kids went to the river and swam by themselves and also built a fire by themselves. Did some cleaning and de-cluttering at the cabin.






































































































The hike with the kids really solidified for me the need to take action about my hip. I've been limping intermittantly for two years and although I've tried different diets and strenghtening exercises and Advil and rest and wishful thinking, the issue has become more and more debilitating, not less. When I got back from Maine I went to an orthopedist, and he said it was RA/collagen degradation and scheduled my first cortisone shot. He said that I was on the road to hip replacement. Yay? All I know is that at this time last year, I was coaching soccer and running around a field, and that is literally unthinkable right now. ((Joint pain in general is not only in my hip(s); a conversation I had at Pennsic convinced me to prioritize working on this issue and trying the AutoImmune Protocol to see if I can severely decrease inflammation from autoimmune issues through diet. I'm going to try, because my activity has decreased so much and it's been terrible. Pain makes me really tired and taciturn and nonfunctional as well. I feel like a fraction of myself.

NYC
Annual RRP checkup. Also did dentist. Getting all the things done before the schoolyear.













Kirk's Birthday



My baby turned double digits! Party in the backyard, with epic bounce house.































They made their own peach pies, and gave one to our painter









Liberty





Haircut, 8 inches off, and bangs!











Kirk















Dogs









Russ gave a big presentation in the city





Me









August was reno-month! All the projects that were postponed during the schoolyear or due to be worked on...





Exterior Paint Touchups by a Ukrainian painter Mykhailyo, who is the sweetest. He came here with his young family when the war began.



Back in May or so, we had a leak start coming through our dining room ceiling from the overhead bathroom tub (!) never great! it took a while to find someone to work on it and we were down to one bathroom for showers. The leak got fixed in August, ceiling patched, and the ceiling in living room had some plaster coming from the lathe so that also got sheetrocked.





After the living room ceiling got fixed, it had to be painted, but the wallpaper had to be stripped first, which took longer than I thought but got it done.









Enjoyed the last bits of summer







August Kale, carrots, kaboucha











My brother got divorced, it's been extremely contentious. More on that in locked post.

Soccer has started, cross country is starting soon, along with homeschool next week.

Other














Media: the kids watched T2, Matrix, Starship Troopers, the Avengers movies, Last of the Mohicans, this summer. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Furiosa, lots of comedy.