Annoyed

 I am annoyed with office stuff today. I don't talk much about my job. It is safer that way. People amaze me, though. Some do not want to make any effort of their own. They want to be told what to do rather than think themselves. Others take advantage of the bosses being away to leave themselves. I am not the hardest worker, but I get the job done. 

Anyway, I have about two weeks of disassembling and sorting Lego. I have agreed to participate in the small show in July. At this point, the plan is only to bring three creations: something new and two from the Novi show. I bought a revolving lighted disc. The latest piece will sit on that.

I would like a quick March. The temperatures have been pleasant lately, and I look forward to Spring. I am hoping Gia will still come back next month. We still text, but I have been pressing her about her return plans.

BrickFestLive Display

It took 3 hours to set up Friday. Below are pictures from my display. The event coordinators were very friendly and accommodating to changes that I requested to my table layout. They allowed me to pull the Gladiator into the hall for easier unloading.

Star Wars Scene

Viking House

Winter Fort

Overall View

Forestman's Treehouse

Dragon Seige

 Saturday was very busy. I was on my feet for the whole eight hours. I answered the same questions over and over. "How long did that take you?" "Is anything glued together?" 

There were only two other local private displays, so I had a captive audience. No one from the local MICHLUG group participated except me. The rest of the show was about kid activities and a Lego store. BrickFestLive did an excellent job of organizing those. If they had the support of local talent, it would make for a great show.

Before the Sunday started, I moved all the tables away from the red protective railings. Too many kids were touching the displays the day before. Still, I had a good time, which motivates me to keep building bigger and better. I was invited to a small show in Highland, Michigan, occurring in July. The woman was attractive and about my age, so I will display something there. :)

I plan to take everything down except the Treehouse, the Winter Tower, and the French-style building (not shown). People cannot believe me when I tell them the large display is coming down. I have a lot of Lego, but I cannot afford to keep that many pieces assembled. I estimated I had about $4,000 worth of Lego on display. Adjusting for replacement costs. The Star Wars Vehicle alone is worth $400. 

At one point, a little girl asked if I would build a mini-figure set she just purchased with her. I had to try explaining that I was not a Lego Master from the TV show and that there were two in the far corner. 

BrickFestLive

 Tomorrow, I must lug my Lego models to the Novi Suburban Show Place for BrickFest Live. This is the same place I previously displayed, but a different show. They are only giving people 5 hours on Friday to set up displays. That is short. Getting everything packed in the Gladiator in one trip will be a challenge.

This show isn't paying for parking for those displaying. That is disappointing. I am still determining what to expect at this show. I feel like there will not be as many independent Lego enthusiasts displaying. I aim to display what I have currently so I can take it all about, except the Forestman Treehouse; I want to keep that up for a while. 

Pictures to come.

Firefly Update

 For those of you keeping up Firefly is now pregnant with her second child. I haven't spoken to her lately, so I do not know if this was planned. The baby is due in August, which is the same time as the first. They don't seem to be struggling. They just returned from a trip to Florida and have added a second used car to the family. I believe there is a lot of family help going on there.

She went from nearly dead to having a baby, marriage, and now a second child. Divorce and single parenting will be next if things go according to the law of averages. Just kidding. Let's hope not.

I finished my taxes. What a pain in the ass. I am going to look into having someone do it next year. I doubt it would cost me much more.

The World Is Going To Hell

Sam texted me Friday asking if I wanted to get dinner. I agreed, and we planned to meet at 6:00. I hung around the office after work instead of heading home and waiting for 6:00. I arrived at the Green Lantern before Sam and got us a table. I opened the door to enter. A family with a young daughter was living. The daughter had her face glued to a giant iPad and had to be guided out the door.

I was seated by the windows. I ordered us drinks and waited for Sam to arrive. I was playing a game on my fun when I received a text from Gia. We were bantering back and forth when Sam arrived. Sam asked who I was texting. When I told her it was Gia, Sam's face turned to one of disapproval. Sam thinks I should not waste time on Gia. While I agree there is no future in it. I still like Gia; she doesn't distract me from anyone else. Her return is something to look forward to.

I finished up my text conversation with Gia.

Bathwater: Have a good night + (a gif with a digital cat shaking its tail).

Gai: Hahaha, you too. Miss you. (heart)

That alone makes my day. Who doesn't like positive attention from someone you are into. 

Sam and I ordered individual pizzas. Behind Sam, two women sit at a table. One had a daughter around ten with them. The daughter had an iPad. The daughter was standing in the space between the tables. She drew my attention as she placed the iPad on the window sill and started making TikTok videos, dancing right behind Sam. 

I was appalled. Not only was it inappropriate for the girl to infringe on our meal that way, but a child that age should not be on TikTok. This went on for several minutes. The mother and other woman were oblivious to her.

I felt like saying something loud enough for them to hear. Thankfully, they left soon after, and we enjoyed our meal. The world is going to hell. People are raising screen-addicted, attention-seeking drones who will not be able to function in the world. 

Nuggets

Last Friday, I went to see the psychic. It could have been a better reading. She did come up with a few good nuggets, though. She did see me seeing Gia again. She described Gia perfectly. The Psychic said Gia liked to be in control, she was focused on money, and I would show her she could still have fun. When I ask the psychic about different people, I never give her any of my opinions, only the names. She always comes back with wildly different descriptions that only match that person. For example, what she said about Billie or Ava would never apply to Gia.

She didn't see anything developing with Gia. Just more of the same. I am okay with that. The Psychic did describe someone else being around me. Someone I currently know, but I still need to take the time to figure it out. She said this year will not be my year with a travel partner. She sees that in 2025. Oh well.

Thursday night, I received a message through TikTok from a different dancer I often talk to from the club. I did not plan on returning to the club until Gia returned in April, but since this girl reached out, I made the trip on Saturday. 

A lot of girls were working, but none really interested me. The one I went to see was there. She is fun to talk with. I planned to take her to the back and spend some time with her, but she disappeared. Not with a customer in the back. I think she just left. Either way, the night was disappointing, and I don't plan to return anytime soon. 

This week is Chinese New Year, the year of the dragon. My colleagues in China are all on vacation, so work has slowed down for the week. 

The highlight of my days is my brief text exchanges with Gia. I reach out a few times a week, and we usually banter back and forth a bit when she replies. Distance is a hard thing to overcome, though. 

Update

 I have been trying to keep up with the blog this year. This weather makes me feel like staying put. When I am at home, I don't feel like leaving. Even at work, I dread getting into the car for the ride home.

I have been dealing with one condo association issue. We are trying to change the bylaws. We sent out a package to all the residents for approval. At this time, we are a few votes shy of the two-thirds majority we need. I will go door-to-door this weekend to explain the changes to six or seven residents to get the quorum. I don't trust the President to go on her own. She tends to rub people the wrong way.

I continue to text with Gia. She thinks April, when the weather breaks, would be a good time to return to Michigan to work. She indicated the NFL draft is in Detroit at the end of April. That girl is always doing her research. Hopefully, it works out. 

I finished my edits on Dave's next book. It was an engaging read. One of his best. I have to start my taxes over the next couple of weeks. Over a week ago, when I started this post, the weather was very cold. It has been mild since then.

I have been slowly working on a new castle. My progress has been impeded by a lack of parts. Most of my tan is tied up in models built for the show coming up.