The Game

I find that with each passing day the time I spend online diminishes...I wonder if I will ever get to the point of not coming here anymore.

This online world I created for myself has really changed throughout the years.  I can recall the naivety of my youth as I navigated though it.  

I have learned a lot of hard lessons about myself and others in this place.  

I believe that you need to challenge yourself in life in order to grow and I know this online world can be very challenging at times...not the fundamentals just the emotional baggage that comes from the drama.

The online world is like a horror show, it makes your heart pound and your pulse quicken but no matter how scared your are...you still don't look away.

You learn that people guard their true selves behind self-created masks.  The masks tend to be extreme, depicting images too good or bad to be true...so you walk this world with skepticism or distrust.

I have been charmed by the best charlatans and I was reeled in hook, line and sinker.  I have never regretted my choice to venture here but I have noted the time I have lost wrapped up in this online world.

My life is just different now...not better or worse.  I came online originally to play a game of chess...and I discovered chatting between the chess moves until I disregarded the game and focused on the conversations instead...now I look around years later and I have to wonder...do you want to play a game?

The Rain

No matter how much time you spend planning, sometimes you just have to be flexible in life because you know things are not going to turn out as you expect.

I went camping last weekend and I was definitely had everything planned and packed for the occasion.  I think one of the things I love is problem solving solutions for various, unexpected problems and for some reason camping lends to a great need to problem solve.

The forecast was for rain so I had to alter my plan slightly to accommodate this change.  I purchased a few more tarps and even got a canopy to put over the picnic table so we could enjoy a dry place to eat.

Actually, the first night was flawless...well, that is to say... most of the night.  Apparently the tents started leaking due the heavy rains and we ended up with a lot of water in the tents.   Almost all the gear was soaked.  I was lucky enough to stay dry but the rest of my friends didn't fair too well. 

The ones that didn't have any dry clothes were relegated to picking from what I had, so either it didn't fit or it didn't match, so most of my friends ended up being scantily clad wrapped in dry blankets. 

I decided that we couldn't spend another night camping in the rain because they really needed dry clothes so we ended up packing up early and heading home.

I have learned that my friends are not really ready for experiencing the outdoors.  This is the second trip were we ended up going home early because they have not been prepared.  I guess I just need to pack and prepare for all of them or just go alone next time.   I guess I could also just pick days were there is not record cold temperatures or torrential rains.  

I am thinking we just toss a tent in the jeep and head out under the stars on a warm crisp night...maybe less planning is better...