2016.04.12 Remiss

Some brief notes to partially atone for my failings...

LEGOLAND!

The main point of the trip to San Diego, aside from Simon and Violet getting to see Granny and Papa, was for Simon to get his wish to see LEGOLAND.

It's mind-blowing for 6-year-olds. It was pretty great even for aged LEGOmaniacs such as myself, though the allure wore out faster for me - such is the price for being old and jaded. Violet too managed to have a delightfully squealsome time. The vast array of minature displays were my favourite part, but I think the kids preferred the sculptures and rides.

No, that's not quite true - the kids favourite part was the LEGOLAND Hotel itself. The LEGO-themed room was pretty fun, and the hilarious kid-oriented elevator was a hit, but the scavenger hunt that let them earn their very own sets of LEGOs was probably the happiest they can reasonably be.

I personally preferred the resort adjacent to LEGOLAND that we spent most nights at - better food, and an amazing saltwater pool were more my style.

San Diego Safari Park

We also drove inland to see a bunch of charismatic megafauna.

Dang but baby tigers, baby cheeetahs, baby gorillas, and baby giraffes are adorable. The adult tigers and lions were quite impressive. Extra impressive was getting to see a cheetah sprint. The silverback gorilla was a profound presence, and I felt sort of like he was family.

Tesla Model ㆔

I have my reservation. There's a lot more to talk about my feelings about this, but perhaps I'll save that for another time. And there's certainly going to be lots of time before I get to do anything more than have whimsical feelings about it.

Crucial Conversations

This was a course on interpersonal skills I took at work, and I found it very... poignant.

Much of it was common sense, and I already conceptualized virtually everything in the course. But I found it extremely difficult nonetheless. Because one of the things the course requires is for people to let down their guard, and I had to struggle to do so in the practice sessions. I even had nightmares about practicing these skills.

Lots to think about there.

Sandy Ridge season opener

Good lord it sucks getting old. That ride embarrassed me up and down the hill - I was sooooo slow. And I hurt for a long time afterward.

The next week I tried again, and did a teeeeeeny tiny bit better. And hurt for a long time afterward.

I'm going riding again tomorrow.

Python

I fell off the course-wagon. Again. Shit.

Ballet class

3-year-olds in ballet regalia practicing dancing is one of the cutest fucking things ever. Period.