# It's been a minute

*Entered: in emacs on Samsung Galaxy S21+* 
*Date: 20230724*

## Catchup

After my father passed away, my family and I went down to El
Paso to meet up with my sister and handle the details. In
the following weeks, I have been everywhere: all over the
USA and even Alberta near Banff.

Last week I took off for vacation. It was needed. I had some
long weeks lately. Even some near 100 hours (single
week). Being out of town, this doesn't really bother me. I
mean WTF am I going to do? My family isn't there and an
empty hotel room is not super exciting.

Books and music follow me where ever I happen to be as does
my notebook. I have become much less of a computer
person. The Internet has largely died and analog methods of
doing most tasks are more appealing to me (although I do
read the afore mentioned books on my Hisense Touch, which is
also my music/podcast player, due to conveinience. Paired
with a bluetooth tiktok remote, and a permanently attached
kickstand, it is nearly the perfect travel device).

I am headed out this morning for two weeks in the deep
American South -- Alabama and Louisiana. Not the best time
of year to be down there, but this summer is so very mild
compared to years past: in 1994 in El Paso, I worked outside
as we had over a hundred days over 100 degrees
fahrenheit. All the same, it is far from my favorite region.

I'll try not to be such a stranger on here...