March 10th, 2018

Our conversation tonight was dominated by today's news. The town of Smithwick, South Dakota has disappeared. And I don't mean the town's population, oddly the population didn't disappear. But the town itself, the physical location, is gone. And noone seems to be able to explain how this could have happened.

Our maps haven't changed, even the GPS type maps that track where your going, they still show the town being where it should be. But people have been testing that all day. They'll use GPS navigators to guide them to Smithwick, or directions that would take them through the town of Smithwick. For about three miles around the town the GPS will jump location. Two people holding GPS systems can be standing right next to each other, and the GPS locators will say they're standing three miles apart. They've circled a particular location in South Dakota where this is happening, corresponding with about a three mile diameter around the town.

But as I said, the population didn't disappear with the town and the people can't explain how that is. They just know that they took a step at some point and found themselves at this central point. As often as not that step being getting out of bed. One lady was embarrassed to find herself having just stepped out of her shower. And this didn't all happen at the same time, it seemed to happen as each person took a step whenever it was they did. It sounds like this started about three am as that was when the first person reported finding themselves at this central point in the middle of working their morning shift.

There's a lot of speculation from all sorts of people. Everything from UFO's bending space/time, to one or another deity's magical or miraculous intervention. The only people who seem to be willing to admit they don't know are the scientists, and this is only encouraging everyone else to announce they know what the scientists don't.

At least no one has gone missing this time, but how does an entire physical location disappear? A three mile radius of land, and buildings, an entire small town? Yet the people don't? Even animals, family pets are showing up in the same way the people did. It's fascinating, and chilling, and makes everyone question their sanity.

So we spent most of our conspiracy dinner talking about that. I was hoping it'd distract Hal from telling everyone about what's happening at the museum, I didn't want him telling them he wanted to sneak in after hours. But I couldn't stop him when he did.

Max was all on board with the idea of sneaking into the museum after hours to try and spy Nephmesu. Sam seemed to be the only one talking sense and warning us that it was a very bad idea. And I know he's the one to be cautious about everything, but in this case caution is what we need.

Hal's wishful thinking sounds more like he's wishing we'd be supportive of his plan, rather than wishing his plan was something we could do. And Max isn't helping with her "I know, but what if?"

If there were any other topics to discuss, they were forgotten after those two particular issues. By the time I thought to look at a clock to figure out the time, I should have already been home and getting ready for bed. With as late as it is, I'm wondering if I even want to go to the gym in the morning. I could make it up and hit the gym on the way home. Hal'll be off training with Brigida anyway.

I could make it, but I'm kinda thinking I want to get some rest tonight. This morning I woke up to a couple of doves cooing outside my window this morning. When I opened my window, I could have sworn that one of the doves was actually a little hispanic boy who'd wrapped himself up in a leaf. But I startled them by opening the window and they were flying away before I could look a second time.

I'll mark it down as a hallucination, but that could have just been my eye's playing tricks on me.

I should mention that work was very stressful today. They doubled up security and it felt like they were watching us like hawks. Every time I was reaching into my drawer I was making doubly sure I didn't accidentally grab the wrong bill or anything. And I know, things going missing is a really big deal, but they're watching us during the day. Whatever's been taken was taken over night.

And I get to do it all over again tomorrow.

March 9th, 2018

What a day! Yesterday the museum opened up to find that some fossilized egg fragments were missing out of the Prehistoric Journey's Schlessman Family Lab. Egg fragments are notoriously rare, and that makes them valuable. Unfortunately this meant the lab was closed down for investigation today, and all the volunteers that were scheduled to come in had to be sent home after being questioned. Guests were not told why the lab was closed, and up front we had to deal with some irate visitors who were not expecting the windows to have been covered over and locked shut.

It made for a long day, and with everything going on I was late to lunch and missed Hal. He did catch up with me after work though, and I told him what was going on while we made dinner. Hal is doubling down on his insistence that I need to try and catch Dr. Karlson. I'm still not sure how exactly I'm going to go about doing that. Bumping into him at work is unlikely, and I don't know enough about him to run into him outside of work. And even if I did, what am I going to do? Just ask "Hey, did you notice anything weird during Nephmesu's tour? Do you know who broke into all those buildings? Do you know who's taking things at the museum? Are you doing any of this?" If he was, he's certainly not going to just tell me.

Besides, all the break ins we noticed didn't involve theft. So how is this similar? I tried asking Hal this, and he's just insisting he knows they're linked. Personally I think he wants them to be linked.

As I was trying to explain my concerns, he came to an insane conclusion. All these things are happening over night, so we need to get our hands on the security tapes for those nights so we can see what security is seeing. Or we need to find a way to sneak in after hours so we can be there to witness this stuff for ourselves.

I told him it was a crazy idea, and he didn't argue with me on that point. He simply insisted that it's the only way for us to figure out what's going on.

At least he agrees with me about it being crazy. He worked at the museum, he knows how difficult it'd be to do this. And even more so how hard it'd be to do it without getting caught. He finally backed down saying it was just wishful thinking.

I have a feeling that he's not going to let this go.

I did confirm with everyone for dinner tomorrow. Sam said he's got a break in his commission, so he'll make dinner for us before hand.

Hal brought me home to find I'd received a letter from Efe. He was pleased to have received the pictures I sent and is asking for more. He even sent a few back of him and his buddies, all taken inside buildings and vehicles. It all looks like he's having fun, and he explained who he was getting his pictures taken with. He was concerned about what's happened with my tumor and wanted to know how I was doing. I'll have to write up that whole adventure when I get a chance. For now though, I need to get to bed.

March 8th, 2018

Today was really nice. Since Candace and I had taken care of things yesterday we were able to head straight back to her place after Hal left us at the gym. It was still cool in the morning so we took a look at her rooms. I do agree with the first room being turned into a spare bedroom, after all we have stayed there before. But when we stayed, we all stayed and we ended up using both rooms. So when it comes to the other room, I still lean on turning it into a spare bedroom too.

But Candace doesn't want all the rooms to be the same, which is understandable. My other suggestion was to turn it into an office. But since Sam takes care of most of her stuff, she really doesn't have need of an office. And turning into an office for Sam's use doesn't seem right. Of course, I still don't feel it's right for him to be taking care of all her stuff. So we're kinda stumped on what to do with it.

Candace kept wanting to say she had an idea, but whatever it was seemed to be just out of her reach. It got to be fairly frustrating for her, so I suggested we take a break and get her thinking about something else. While we were working on the rooms, I was keeping notes on what we'd need for the rooms. So now Candace has a shopping list of things we'd need. We did go looking through the place hoping Eli might have some sheets or anything. We found the pads we had used the last time we'd stayed, and they came with some basic sheets. But if we're going to get a bed, we're going to need bed sheets and comforters and stuff.

I had also suggested painting the rooms since they're empty right now. They don't look bad, but a change of color, or even just a fresh coat might be nice. Candace liked that idea, so I've got it wrote down on her list and we'll have to stop by a home improvement place and check out what we can get our hands on.

We moved on to the back yard, and started cleaning up around there. There were a few early shoots, which I was excited to see. But Candace is worried about late season frosts that might kill them. So we rummaged around and made sure to pile more leaves on them. Hal had stopped by for lunch about that time, so he got to see her garden. While we were eating I made sure to confirm that we were playing his solitaire game right, which we were.

After he left, we worked a bit more on Candace's garden. She called Jane up and asked if she wanted to join us for dinner. Then she called Sam and suggested he bring Max. She also asked him to bring multiple decks of cards.

I felt a bit guilty about playing Hal's game without Hal, but Candace assured me saying this way we get to practice and rise to his skill. Like I said, she's got a competitive streak. But we had a lot of fun, the others all showed up at various times. Jane was the first to arrive and she was happy to help in the garden. While we were talking she even mentioned meeting another lady named Shannon today. It sounds like Shannon said she works as an assistant and having heard of Jane's situation, she offered her services to help Jane get her feet under her. Helping to find a job, or get the appropriate legal forms, whatever. Jane was unsure if she should take advantage of that offer. I asked if Shannon was wanting to get paid for her services, but Jane said no. So I recommended she take it, just that she should make sure she knows each step Shannon has her take before she does.

Sam arrived with Max, and as usual he set himself up in the kitchen to cook. We offered to help him, but he said he'd get it tonight and handed us the decks of cards he'd bought. So we sat down at the table and showed Jane and Max how to play. Max was familiar with Solitaire, and playing that as a group is actually not all that different. But like Candace, Jane didn't know how to play Solitaire, so we had to teach her from scratch.

And that was our evening, Hal's got himself a really fun game to play. Sam's dinner was amazing as always. And we lost track of time, which is why I got home so late.

Tomorrow I'll be heading back to work. I'm wondering how I'll find things when I get back. And I need to remember to try and buddy up to Dr. Karlson. I just wish I knew how to do that.

March 7th, 2018

Hal just dropped me off after a long night of studying. It's been some time since I had to worry about tests and stuff in high school, I'd forgotten how stressful they can be. We turned the TV off and I made dinner to let Hal concentrate on what he was studying. He pulled out his study guides, and after taking a break to eat I quizzed him on as much as I could.

Today was good, I planned it out well. Before Hal picked me up I made sure to put a load of laundry in, and Mom was happy to put it in the dryer when it was done. I was finishing that up as Hal and Candace showed up to take me to the gym. After the gym I had a bunch of chores that I needed to get around to do. Candace was happy to join me, and it worked out because she had a few places she wanted to stop as well. That took up most of our morning though, and when Hal called about lunch we were still out. So he met up with us and we stopped by a burrito joint for lunch. He'd have been happy to take us home, but then he wouldn't get much time to eat.

While we were eating, something came on the TV's about a guy here in Denver that has created something of a mobile art piece. He's converted an old school bus into a steampunk vehicle that he plans on driving around the city just to show off. He was dressed up to the nines in Victorian era style trimmed with steampunk gadgets, goggles, and riding gloves. I think they said his name was Professor McCausland, though I think that was his character name. They asked him what he was a professor of and he mentioned etheric studies and cryptozoology.

It looked all sorts of interesting and he was inviting people to come out and join in. As converted as his bus is, it doesn't have the room for that many passengers, but he said he'd happily offer rides around the city. Since we were out I was tempted to try and catch him, but I was worried about time and Candace wasn't as interested.

Hal was talking about how he and his family have a way of playing solitaire as a group. Candace was confused by that, and at first he tried simply explaining how they'd play it together. Candace had to explain that she didn't understand what was so interesting about playing it with multiple people. That was when we figured out that she didn't know how to play solitaire at all.

So afterward he headed back to class and Candace and I took public transportation. We went back to my place first and Candace helped me put my laundry away and then I showed her how to play solitaire. Candace picked up the concept quickly enough, though she didn't care much for the solo game. I'd never tried to play it as a group, so once she had the game down I pulled out another deck. We got through one game before Hal showed up, enough to understand how to play it together. Even just that though, Candace is really competitive.

Hal gave Candace a ride home before he and I went to his place and he was excited to hear that we were interested in playing Solitaire his way.

Now that Candace has those rooms cleaned out, Candace has been entertaining ideas on what to do with those spare rooms. She'd definitely like to get one set up as a spare bedroom, but she wasn't sure what to do with the other. I suspect tomorrow we'll be doing a lot of brainstorming. But she also mentioned that spring is around the corner and she's looking forward to what our efforts have produced in the garden. I'm not sure what we'll be doing, but I suspect that I'll be kept busy tomorrow.

March 6th, 2018

Today was a nice day at work. Things are still stressful after all the weird stuff, but Dr. Paulson was able to get her work space back into an order she was happy with. Even more importantly, she hasn't reported anything missing. Still no one has stepped up to take responsibility, and we all feel like we're being watched closely. But it went by without incident, and even the visitors were pleasant.

Since I had the afternoon to myself, I caught up with the news. I don't often write about things going on outside my own little world. But the disappearances and the #fairysign stuff are going from being just my own little world to being a part of the wider world. News media is really starting to catch on to this pattern, and I think people are realizing that whatever the effect is, it's spreading. So the questions that are starting to be asked is what the effect is, what caused it, and what can be done about it. Because we're talking about missing persons, they are focusing on social causes. They don't know about the ohveo or the Fomori, or that there might actually be some truth to the old mythologies. So they don't know what they should be asking or how to focus on these issues being something other than social.

And so my little world issues are starting to become part of the larger world. And now I'm wondering how things will be different after the ohveo is completely down. They're talking about hosting the Olympics here in Colorado. It's an exciting idea, but how will that work with fairies and Fomori? Or will we even have an Olympics? What if the fairies compete alongside us? Would that be fair, or would they be separated into their own competitions?

Then there's the school shootings, which are just heart breaking. I was in high school during the Sandy Hook shooting, and that was a scary time for us then. But they were still rare enough that we didn't consider it happening at our school. Now shootings are so common that school practice shooter drills the way we practiced fire drills. I read that some republican thinks thoughts and prayers are enough, but they've been offering thoughts and prayers every time there's a shooting. Not only are shootings still happening, they're coming more often. If thoughts and prayers are having any effect, they're making things worse.

We've got global warming making new records each year, not just in temperatures, but also in precipitation. For all that extra moisture, we don't seem to have a lot of snow on the ground. We just had a pretty intense storm the other week, and the snow was practically gone before the week was out. There used to be snow on the ground from November into March, and I've seen pictures of houses buried in snow around here. But people still deny this is even happening. Calling it climate change as though it's just some part of a bigger pattern.

But considering there are those who still profess a flat earth, maybe I shouldn't be surprised.

I can't help but feel that maybe we deserve what's coming. If Hal is to be believed and the Fomori are actually coming back.

It's a depressing thought, and I hope that's not the case.

Hal did mention at lunch today that next week is his midterms and after that will be spring break. Things are probably going to be a little crazy for him next week, but he's hoping to celebrate a bit afterward. He's already asked if we could do something on that Wednesday since I'll be off. And then maybe we can get the others together on Thursday since I'd be spending the day with Candace. I told him that sounded great, and have promptly started planning on how I might surprise him with a long overdue present.

Tomorrow I'll try and get my chores done early, and then in the afternoon Hal'll pick me up. Since the mid terms are coming I suspect we'll be studying for those.

March 5th, 2018

I was finally able to talk to Hal today about the weird stuff happening at the museum. And as of today it is weird stuff, not just missing items. Dr. Paulson's work space was completely rearranged this morning when she came in to work. At first it seemed like it might have been a prank or something, just toying with her. But with things going missing, they took it pretty seriously and questioned everyone they could think of that'd have access to her work area. No one has fessed up yet.

I'd told Hal all this this morning while we were at the gym. So he came early for lunch and stopped in to talk with his mentor before joining me. From what Hal learned, there's still no explanation as to where the remote control for his drone went. I hadn't realized that's what he was missing. But I'd also only heard about it through the grapevine. I guess the remote itself isn't all that expensive, but without it his drone is a paperweight. Hal wasn't really able to learn much else, though it sounds like the staff in that area are pretty unhappy that anyone's work space could be rearranged.  They all get everything the way they like it, and the idea of having to find everything can be pretty stressful.

I didn't have anything more to report after work when Hal picked me up. We got to talking about it at his place. Hal thinks it might have something to do with the break ins that we had been following during Nephmesu's tour. It seems odd to me, most of the staff that had been a part of that road crew don't work at the museum. And Dr. Karlson, who'd accompanied the tour, shouldn't be stealing anything or rearranging anyone else's work space.

Hal is insisting that I try and cozy up with him at work though. He knows I don't have that much contact with the rest of the museum, my area is the front. I reminded Hal of this and he asked me to try anyway. He did say that he'd be trying to catch up with Dr. Karlson outside of work. But I think like me, Hal's just not in the position to make that casual. He's got school, and his training with The Order. Where's he going to catch Dr. Karlson without it seeming forced?

Speaking of The Order, Hal said his training with Brigida last night was much less stressful than it had been with Tim. In fact, Brigida was happy that Hal had been able to meet Melia as himself rather than through an assumed identity. She said that's how he should be doing things, as himself. Just when he finds anything interesting, report it to Tim or her. She even brought him back to that warehouse, and she didn't bother to blindfold him or anything. Hal now knows how to get to the warehouse on his own, which it turns out is just right outside of Morrison.

At the warehouse, she pulled out a bunch of books and they just studied. Hal said he'd been made aware of a couple of the books previously, in fact we'd gone looking for a copy of one of the books when we'd visited Westhouse Books. Brigida set him up with security clearance and told him he was welcome to visit anytime. In fact she'd like him to start studying those books and everything else they have. It's supposed to help him become familiar with the things they watch for. And then like she said, watch for them and report whatever he sees. The only thing is that he can't take anything out of the warehouse. And she warned him, their security in this matter should be taken deadly serious.

Hal had been less enthusiastic after his first encounter with Brigida, given that she didn't want him to be trained in spycraft. But now that he's has access to the warehouse, his excitement has returned full force. He's back to wanting to learn everything he can about who The Order is and what they do. In a strange way that makes me happy. I'm still concerned about their threats and secrecy, but I'm glad he's not going to be doing anything more than learning.

We spent so much time talking about those things that we didn't work on Hal's homework. Once we realized how much time had passed, I needed to get home.

I should mention I had one of my dizzy spells again today. It was shortly after I'd gotten back from lunch, and was pretty mild. It actually reminded me of the attack I'd had last week, while I was on the other medication. Which come to think of it, was exactly one week ago.

Work again tomorrow, and Hal will be in his lab so I'll have the afternoon to myself.

March 4th, 2018

Sundays have become difficult knowing Hal was out training with Tim, but now his instruction has been taken over by Brigida. From the sound of things that should be better, but I can't help worrying. Even for Hal's part, it's like our visit's to the gym are even more important, and him coming to lunch is even more important. And then I'm left the rest of the day to wonder. He's usually good about sending me a text message and just letting me know things are okay. And I don't always receive one by now, but again I worry.

As for work, today the missing items became a much more serious issue. A couple of sodalite crystals went missing out of the Gem and Minerals exhibit. They weren't currently on display, rather held in storage. There is a certain amount of traffic in storage, but little enough that security is unsure when the crystals might have gone missing.

By the time we were leaving, they were threatening to pat us down before we left. Make sure noone was carrying anything out. They did search our lockers though, and nothing was found. It was on the humiliating side, though they did take efforts to minimize that feeling. Each locker that was searched was searched in the presence of the person whose locker it was and no one else was allowed in except the HR rep. For those whose day off it was, they were asked to come in. If they refused the locker was still searched, so the invite was mostly out of courtesy.

This is all just getting strange, and with Hal out training I haven't been able to talk to him about it yet. I'm a little worried about going to work tomorrow, not because I feel like I'm in danger or anything. It's just many were disgruntled about the searches and I'm not sure everyone will come to their shift tomorrow.

I guess there's only one way to find out.