New Life

Me in the Mississippi. I miss vacation. I was meant for a life of leisure. I just know it.

A few words on yesterday's post. No - I am not interested in learning a "game." I am however, interested in learning how other people play. Mostly so I recognize it for what it is. Also - in being able to look at casual social interaction as fun. Not everyone that approaches me is a serial killer. And not everyone has bad intentions. I have to remember that. It really is just about me learning to be a bit more free with my smiles and being more comfortable with myself around people I don't know. And for me? That takes practice. Living in your closet for a year doesn't do much for your social skills.

In lighter and more interesting news, the South Dakota Public Health Bulletin came yesterday! And we all know what glee that strikes in my heart. Guess what went DOWN this month? The Clap! It's down by 1 percent. But Gonorrhea and Syphilis are up by 28 and 50 percent respectively. And I KNOW that rabies is not in the same category as sexually transmitted diseases, but it's up by 22 percent. The vector borne diseases are interesting to me. Someone died from Hantavirus last year in South Dakota. And that doesn't happen very often around here.

I found a link to THIS THING yesterday and read about it for hours and hours. What is this burning man? I must know! I think I'm going to have to go. It definitely knocked the Grand Canyon down a notch on my list of things to do while I'm busy living.

But in the meantime, I'm hopping in the car for a quick and dirty trip to Des Moines. I GET TO SEE THE BABY! My brother is manipulating me into going to Yoga in the Park again. Why the rest of my family likes to exercise, I do not know. That imperative gene sequence apparently missed me. But then I'm going to hold my nephew for as long as possible and cuddle him and kiss him and whisper sweet nothings into his ear.