Another continuing medication education symposium, another hotel room. How is everyone this evening?

[Aristus]

Sipping some red wine, and waiting for a pizza delivery. Just relaxing with some music on the iPod Home and a brand new book.

[Suich]

1. Just watching Rachel...

Might finally turn the heat on.

Started reading "Missoula" earlier...not exactly light reading.

Where are you?

[Aristus]

2. Cle Elum.

The people are nice, but looking around at the locals, I can only assume that if you are male and don't sport a ball cap, a goatee, a beer belly, and drive a pickup truck, they run you out of town.

[Suich]

4. Can't disagree with you on that one!

[Aristus]

5. Also, there are a lot of insects.

Just walking across the street to the Safeway, I must have swallowed several dozen bugs.

They are much less thick in the air west of the mountains...

[Aristus]

3. Kick.

Anybody there?

[riderinthestorm]

6. I might be one of the rare few who enjoy traveling, new hotels

and even redneck locals.

It's fascinating for me.

I just got home and I'm sipping a glass of white wine before bed - my usual "fancy" white - Franzia Chardonnay out of box.

I've put down the serious books the last two weeks and am skimming a light murder mystery. Having trouble concentrating on the issues because youngest daughter's craziness is giving me a heart attack

What book are you reading?

[Aristus]

7. Oh, don't get me wrong. I like getting out of town every once in a while.

I get to eat all the pizza and drink all the alcohol I want.

But it can get lonely when the seminars are over and there's nothing but the hotel room. Which is why I love DU and DU-ers; you keep me company in lonely times.

I'm reading The History Of the Hobbit by John D. Rateliff. It's a thorough, not to say exhaustive, study of the process Tolkien went through in writing his masterpiece and prelude to The Lord Of the Rings. It includes the complete unpublished original manuscript version of the novel.

[riderinthestorm]

8. The book sounds excellent!

I'm reading the first murder mystery that came up on the library e-reader catalogue and it's obviously not holding my attention. Maybe I should pivot and find something more engrossing.

I've been mulling over answering a Facebook message from an old high school mate. She was a "mean girl, popular girl" back then who has morphed into a wealthy Republican matron a la Ann Romney. I'm kind of morbidly fascinated she's reached out to me and wants to talk, like exchange phone numbers and actually really talk. I've pretty much cut all of those folks out of my life except my mother and she's tough enough.

It's been 35 years since I last saw and I'm still deeply ambivalent. The only thing that's interesting to me is her husband is the founder and CEO of the online K12 school - another cog in the destruction of public education - even as their own kids went to fancy private academies. I'd love to have that convo with her since she's a product of the public school system, and how she squares her hypocrisy.

Whaddya think? Give her my number or simply ignore the request?

[Aristus]

10. Nah. Ignore the request. Unless you want your Facebook wall to be inundated with hundreds

of memes all shouting "SHARE IF YOU PROUDLY PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG 'UNDER GOD'!!!!

Life's too short...

[riderinthestorm]

13. Lol!!! Yeah, my gut says to ignore it...

What's funny is @ 5 years ago, I "re-discovered" Susan through a mutual friend. My friend is the head of the science department at the expensive private school and knows my old HS mate (Susan).

She's the one who gave me the low down on the present version of Susan.

So I googled Susan. Came up with a zillion (society) hits etc. even found her cell number but decided at the time to just stay away....

But now? I just tried googling her again and she's thoroughly scrubbed. Absolutely zero hits so I know she's been professionally erased.

And NOW she's giving me her contact info...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. My dear Aristus!

Ah, I'm sorry you're stuck in a lonely hotel!

My evening just took a huge turn for the better..........I got an email telling me that the six poems I'd submitted had ALL been accepted to The Stray Branch, a fine periodical out of Chicago!

I've never had all of them accepted before! They're all going into the Fall/Winter 2016 issue, and I don't even mind waiting a whole year!

Enjoy your book! And your wine!

[Aristus]

11. I saw that! I'm happy for you!

And proud of you!...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. That's right, you did...

You're a sweetheart.......thank you.

[riderinthestorm]

14. Congrats Peggy!! nt

[HeiressofBickworth]

15. Never thought of Cle Elum

as a gathering place for a scientific symposium. "Hotel" may be giving the place more class than deserved. I've been through there a few times, but on my way to camping spots by the river or a potty break if the next rest stop on I-90 is too far. If you drove over the pass, it would have been a lovely drive this time of year. Drive carefully on the way back West -- the sun sets dead ahead on the freeway. One time, it was so bad, I spent the night in Ellensburg to avoid it and driving after dark.

[Aristus]

16. The Suncadia resort is out here.

The classes are held in one of the conference rooms.

I'm in a room over at the Best Western in town. Tomorrow night, though, I've got a room at the resort. It's been comped! Cool!

[HeiressofBickworth]

17. I checked their website

What absolutely wonderful scenery!!! I never knew it was there. It's a huge development. I'm impressed.

[Aristus]

18. 'Northern Exposure' was filmed out here.

It doubles fairly well for Alaska. I only say that because I'm not that familiar with Alaska. I've only been there a couple of times...

[HeiressofBickworth]

20. Roslyn isn't far

The town sequences were filmed there. I used to go camping with relatives near Ronald which is north and west of Roslyn. Haven't been there in many years. I'm too old to meander around the woods at night looking for a private place to pee. So now, for me, roughing it means room service quits at midnight.

A long time ago when I was married and had some disposable income, husband and I considered buying a small weekend place in Roslyn. But divorce seemed to be a better investment after all. If you're driving, consider taking some time to take a side-trip to Roslyn, if you haven't been there before.

Hope you are enjoying good weather during your stay.

[fizzgig]

19. long time, no chat

i'm nursing a pint at my bar (local wheat, of course), preparing myself for the mountain of admin shit i have to do tomorrow in addition to running the day shift. it's been late nights all week and will be that way for the next month. at least i can get some ot.

yesterday marked four weeks of no cigs. it's been a challenging week on that front, but i'm hanging in there.

[Aristus]

21. Hey there, fizz!

Good for you on quitting. You're doing something very difficult, but will pay big dividends...