I've never really thought of Colorado Springs as a big city before, but after this past week, I may have to change my opinion on that matter. Every day the news media glorifies in reporting that employment and crime rates are at record highs. Bankruptcy and homelessness are rampant, and I don't believe any of those statistics are mutually exclusive. Traffic, pollution, domestic violence... you name it, the 'Springs has it in abundance. More so than a city this size should have. I spent a healthy portion of my college years in Los Angeles, and subsequently Chicago, and to tell you the truth, none of this is anything I ever thought I'd see around here. And just last night, one of Ari's classmates was found dead beneath her bedroom window, half-buried in newly fallen snow. A five year-old. The authorities claim they don't have any reason to suspect foul play, but I guess that along with the fact that Maine just shot down a bill that would have allowed same-sex marriage, you could say it's the final straw, and we're just the proverbial pack of paraplegic dromedaries.

So... we're headed to Greece for a while, for some much-needed R&R. You know how to find us if you need to. Hope things are looking better for the rest of you, wherever you are.

I wish I had more to say about recent events around here, but I'm tired, stressed, and extremely worried at the moment. Therefore, don't expect me to exposit too much this time around. Although... I probably wouldn't mind it if someone started up a mindless meme or two at some point. I figure we could all benefit from the distraction. And Abby... before I forget, I'd just like to thank you for your kind words. They made me smile when I read them, and smiles are something that have been far too few as of late.

Tony, I'm very sorry to hear of the loss of your director. I'm afraid I don't have any idea how close the two of you may have been, but I am aware of the fact (and have been for a long, long time) that you view your co-workers as family, and this sudden 'change of circumstances' can't be easy on any of you. If you need to (or are able to, I should say) talk, I'm around. Either way, it would be nice to hear from you, if you get the chance.

Having said that, and at a loss for the means or inclination to properly convey details, the only personal update I'm going to give is that Mulder has taken a turn for the worse over the weekend, and I don't know how available I might be until this mess gets sorted out. Or if it even can be. Not my usual optimistic outlook, I know, but pragmatism offers its own rewards. I suppose.

Happy birthday, Jack!

I know I said this last year (and the year before that, and the year before that, and so on...), but you are really really old.

Hope you make the most of it (while you still can).

[Private Entry]

Okay, so... ( wherein Daniel follows instructions, and takes a minute out of his busy schedule to be uncharacteristically emo )

Um. I'm just here to second everything Will already said today, because I was passed out on the sofa, and he got to it first. Baking is horribly exhausting.

And so that no one will mistakenly assume I'm celebrating while various catastrophes are afoot, please refrain from clicking any LJ cut that does not have your name on it, until the aforementioned catastrophe(s) have safely passed. Thank you.

( For Fox: )


( For Tony: )

Heading home to Colorado tomorrow, at long last. Assuming any of this is actually real, I'd just like to say thanks to everyone who helped or offered to help in the search. Abby, Rodney, Tony, Gibbs, Sam & Dean, Benton & Ray, and... especially Fox.

It's good to be back, I think.

Looks like your friendly neighborhood archaeologist has caught the travel bug again. I'll be in DC this Friday-Sunday, if anyone's interested in hanging out. Feel like grabbing a drink or two, Tony? Work permitting, of course. And by that I mean your work, because I won't be in town for business, this time. At least not technically. We could make it a group activity if you like. You can even drag Gibbs and the rest of 'your team' along, as I have yet to meet the infamous Abby Sciuto in person...

Hi. I played baseball last night, for the first-- well, technically the second time ever, and I didn't suck at it too badly. It was fun, actually. Will's all signed up for Little League again (the autumn session), work is pretty tame (aside from some hilarious technical difficulties that an unnamed, distant outpost seems to be suffering), and life is good. Just thought I'd share.

SOMEONE BETTER SEND ME A PICTURE OF THE PRETTY FLOWERS.

...and of the teddy bear remains, s'il vous plait.

Also, who in their right mind (minds, actually, because it'd take at least a dozen people) would kidnap Ronon? Something tells me they're going to regret their actions, and quite soon.

Also also, I REALLY FUCKING HATE FISHING.

It's a very good thing that I love to travel, because it hardly seems like I've been home for more than ten minutes at a time lately. And now I'm heading out once again, which is rather unfortunate, as a very old and dear friend of mine has just moved back to Colorado Springs, and I'd really love to be able to spend some time with her. Still, I'm only going to be absent for a little over a week, so we'll eventually find a way to catch up. I hope.

Also, I took a break from packing to do memes. I might be procrastinating. Maybe.

( WrongwrongWRONG -- on all counts )

[Filtered to Leroy Jethro Gibbs]

Agent Gibbs, would you happen to have some updated 'information' for me? I think I'm finally ready to make use of it.

Buy-one-get-one-free tattoos are the best idea ever. I don't know why I've never realized this before...

You guys, Vegas is amazing. You can pay to do anything here, it's so surreal. We're having a blast, although I won't go into details about Elvis-A-Rama, and how Fox had a complete fanboy breakdown, and I was forced to drag him out of there before someone called the cops. I mean, those velvet ropes are there for a reason, you know?

Oh, and I won 1700 dollars from a slot machine at the Luxor casino, like, five minutes after we got here! It was amazing. Which I may have already mentioned.

Can't stay and chat right now (or play with memes, which could be fun, I suppose, if I wasn't having the time of my life in Sin City), because there's an amazing buffet downstairs waiting for us to descend upon it like a pack of starving (hungover) wolves.

Home again, which means memes, obviously. It's been a long time since I've had a chance to just be... lazy. I should take shameless advantage of the opportunity. I have a feeling that Fox is planning to spend the next few days rolling around with the kids (and eating his own body weight in junk food), so I'm simply going to relax, enjoy the company of my family, and refuse to make any important decisions and/or take responsibility for anything more significant than personal hygiene.

I suppose that means I can spend lots of time on the internet.

And before I forget, or happen across something shiny to distract me, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone out there who offered a kind word, or some form of encouragement/well-wishing, when I needed it most. I know I wasn't always responsive, or optimistic, or even in my right mind on occasion, but a lot of your comments and the overall positive attitude displayed around here helped keep me going, especially when the situation looked bleak. Not that I'm wishing any misfortune on you guys, but I hope I'm able to return the favor, somehow.

Now. On to the inane time-wasters:

Your Kissing Purity Score: 9% Pure

For you, it's all kiss and no talk. You're in a permanent lip lock.

Ridiculous. Utterly. For one thing, kissing on roller coasters seems inadvisable. Especially if teeth are involved.

Your Kissing Grade: C-

Your kisses are downright average... and a little boring. No one is going to hate kissing you, but no one is going to call you a fantastic kisser. Slow down, experiment a little, and remember that less is often more when it comes to kissing!

...I've never gotten a C minus in my entire life. Clearly, the test itself is skewed.

Communication out here's been somewhat spotty (obviously), and a number of unforeseen complications gave us a few moments of sheer panic, but all in all, everyone's just fine.

Better than fine, actually.

Fox is awake. And back to his old self, quite literally.

I apologize for the brevity of this post, but I'm sure most of you understand that online is the absolute last place I want to be right now.

Those of you who are acquainted with me on a personal level already know that I'm not the praying type.

Tonight, however, I'm modifying my behavior to some degree, and I'm even going so far as to ask the rest of you do to the same, if you're willing.

Fox is currently in a coma, which was to be expected, given the... delicate nature of the procedure itself, so we still won't know the outcome for a few more days. It's possible he could wake from it good as new, or exactly the same, or even with the few memories he's made these past several weeks wiped out all over again. He might not even wake up, period. Those are just the facts.

I don't believe in all-powerful, omnipotent gods (Christian or otherwise), various forms of the afterlife, or any of the other spiritual refuges that humanity turns to for comfort and solace in times of crisis. I understand them, and the need for them; I know a lot about the history, origins, and evolution of practically every creationist/apocalyptic mythos that has ever existed on this planet, and then some. I could lecture for literally days on end as to how and why such concepts have become so important to us as individuals, and to the human race as a whole.

But none of that means I truly have faith in a higher power (or powers). I'm not saying there's no one out there watching over us from a distance, observing our actions, our triumphs and failures, and simply choosing to turn a blind eye to it all. The universe is infinite, and I have my own experiences to draw upon, that tell me the exact opposite is true. Someone may be watching (probably are right now, in fact), but no matter how powerful or omniscient they may be, they're fallible beings, just like the rest of us. Doesn't matter what name they choose to go by at any given time or place, there's still no such thing as magic.

No one's going to ride to the rescue, or wave a magic wand, or descend from on high and make everything okay. I know this, and I accept it. Again, that's just the way things are.

...but I'm going to go ahead and pray, anyway. I'd like to encourage the rest of you do the same, if you're so inclined.

[Filtered to Tony]

Tony, the brass is sending me your way tomorrow morning, to get me out from under their feet to meet with your boss and try to smooth things over a bit. If you're free, feel like getting together for a drink while I'm in DC? I think we could both use it.

I haven't been online much (at all) recently, and I don't know what time it is back home, but I haven't slept for days on end, and I'm technically still out of contact with just about everybody except for Will, but... they tell me there's been an incident. In DC. Fox has been hurt, they flew him back to Colorado Springs, and people at the base keep assuring me he's stable, but Will and I are both worried sick, and I'm still three days out from heading back, unless a miracle occurs (doesn't seem likely at this point), and... I wish I could tell you more, but I don't know anything. Ari's fine, just upset, because she saw the whole thing, but I can't talk to her either. Just... anybody? Tony? Sam? Have either of you spoken with Fox recently? I've been a little lax about keeping in touch, and I can't just sit here being useless. I have to find out something.


[Filtered to SGC/Atlantis Personnel, Sam]

No one knows exactly what happened in DC, just that there was a shooting at the hotel; that's all Jack will tell me, and that he's busy trying to clean up the mess before the press gets wind of it. Oh, and probable Trust involvement. That got my attention real quick. The Odyssey's not ready to head back yet, they haven't even managed to round up the last of the crew who are still down on the planet, and I refuse to wait this out quietly. I don't even know what I'm supposed to tell Will. The Xilchoz managed to get their hands (tentacles) on an unused Stargate and DHD, and have promised that it will be up and running soon. They're working in double shifts, and continue to be optimistic about getting it online ahead of schedule, but that's still not good enough.

And I'm sick of Carolyn's vague updates, and Jack's avoidance, and the IOA's patronizing attitude. I need to get home now. I'm thinking about sending an email to General Landry, see if he'd be willing to pull Sam off of whatever project she's working on, and maybe help the Xilchoz speed their 'Gate-construction process along a little bit. Anything's worth a try at this point.

I... don't have much of anything to say, really. Couldn't sleep. Wanted to play along. That's about it.

Well... also, I'm insatiably curious about everything. And everyone.

...and I just happen to have my Nano along on this trip.

( Sam's music meme )