Give it up for day 4

On Monday, a big thunderstorm/tornado tore through this area. Everyone I know is fine, unharmed, etc, but many of the streets and businesses nearby are still without power.

Crucially, for me, this includes the infrastructure for my local Xfinity connection.

I know that it is deeply privileged to complain about having no internet for several days in a world that is literally crumbling at every conceivable structural seam, but also I'm a chronically ill unemployed person for whom a solid 80% of human interaction takes place through a computer screen--so it's felt pretty acutely. My partner sometimes works from home over the course of the week, but obviously needs internet to do that, so right now we're sitting in a cafe drinking bad beverages so that we can access the information superhighway.

I'm not awake or thoughtful enough to wax poetic about the widening economic gap or the fact that internet is all but a necessity in the modern world and yet isn't treated as one; it's still often seen as a luxury even though very basic communication requires it on nearly every level of society. I'm just awake and grumpy enough to say it sucks and I hate it.

This week is also Gencon, a convention that I love dearly and haven't been to since the before times. I miss getting to see people I never see. I miss having to set aside several hundred dollars of con budget so I can but a bunch of nonsense I don't need because it's HERE and it's PRETTY. I miss sitting down and trying random games I would never get a chance to try at home.

The ENnies are tomorrow, and I am in the running to be a judge for the next submission year. If the internet isn't back up and running tomorrow so I can follow the ceremony and figure out what happens, I'm gonna be extra grumpy.

I think I probably won't end up being a judge this year, and that's fine. There were a lot of incredible humans on that ballot and if I'm outvoted by POCs and more visibly queer humans to create a diverse judging panel, I will be insanely happy. That said, it would be pretty cool to get to see all the submissions for 26-27, and drink in an entire year of creativity in my favorite hobby.

Today I am introducing my trans son to his junior high principal, and I'm both excited and terribly nervous. I met with the principal a couple weeks ago to broach the whole "Hey you have a trans student who has been bullied nonstop for the past two years" situation, and he seemed very kind. He expressed a desire to work with my son and make sure he feels seen and appreciated and safe, and that's honestly about as much as anyone can ask for from a public school in America in 2026. I just want my kid to not hate school anymore.

I hope that people with cons to attend, internet to navigate, and humans to talk to have a wonderful week. Looking forward to joining you soon.