December 16th, 2017

Hal wanted to make sure we had time after the movie to get dinner, so we aimed for the first showing after work that we could make. It meant that I couldn't count my till down fast enough and we were rushing to get to the theater on time, meeting Max and her boyfriend there. Fortunately we had already bought tickets, so we didn't have to wait in line. That said, we were getting into the theater after the trailers had already started and had troubles finding four adjacent seats. Hal and I ended up sitting behind Max and her boyfriend, who we were finally introduced to. His name is Robert, and he is a looker. It's no wonder Max went for him.

The movie was amazing! There's just nothing like the feeling I get as the music starts and the star field scrolling text starts for a movie I've never seen before. It was a little long, one critic said they hadn't noticed how long it was, but I felt it. They did a good job keeping things moving, but after a while it's like what now? And the what now didn't disappoint, any time, but after so many the next one is fatigued. I don't know if that makes sense. It was hard to predict things, and not because they used b role film for the trailers. I'm still not happy they had done that with Rogue One. They mixed things up enough from the standard epic journey that being able to guess the next step wasn't easy. It's refreshing to have a story be different. At the same time, there's a reason the standard story works. There was just a lot for them to keep track of, and it made the movie feel like it could have been done over two movies if not for it all happening at the same time.

I am disappointed in their lack of travel time. I don't know how else they could do things, but it feels very unrealistic for so much travel to take place in so little time. That was something that bugged me in Rogue One too, particularly their ability to monitor something happening "parsecs" away in real time. There should be a delay between when it happens, and when the base finds out what happens. That tends to break my immersion.

All that being said, Rey was marvelous, Luke was a humanized legend, Poe was agonizingly familiar, and Finn was selfless and selfish at all the wrong times and just so lovely for it. I think I most identified with Rose out of them all, as much as I'd want to be Rey I think I'd be Rose. Carrie Fisher will be missed, but the next generation is finally ready to step out on their own. I can't wait for the next movie. For the Han Solo movie too, I am so curious as to what they plan to do with him.

Afterward we did go get dinner. Seems like I've been eating out a lot lately. I know Hal and I, and Max now too, have been getting dinner out once a week. But going out with Sam and Candace the other day, and getting lunch out with Candace before that, and before. This has gotten out of hand. It's been fun going out all the time, but I'm feeling the pinch. I don't think Hal has noticed considering his new "job" and Sam has never seemed to care about how much money he spends. Hal has been happy to cover our bills since we started officially dating, and that's been easier on me. But I can't help but feel a little bit like a freeloader. On the other hand, knowing he's getting paid by this secret society, I'm kinda happy to let him spend it. It is a lot of money to be spending though, and it's making me uncomfortable even if it's not my money. I think I'm going to have to start insisting on packing lunches and having dinner at home. Hell, if Hal is getting paid so well, maybe I can get him in the habit of cooking better. That might be a fun project, especially after next week with his finals.

Anyway, I'm going on about that, and not getting to our dinner conversation. Max and Robert told us about their adventures on Wednesday, which to be honest didn't seem like much. They drove up into the foothills and stopped at a rest stop. While there, whatever was making the noise must've come their way because they said they started hearing it. It got loud enough that they retreated into his car. It kept getting louder and caused his window to break and his windshield to crack. They had to cover their ears it was so painfully loud. Then just as fast as it came it moved on.

I think the most interesting thing though was that while it did sound like rushing wind, they both said there wasn't any wind. At least, nothing out of the ordinary, nothing that would make that sound. They didn't see anything, though while they were huddled in Robert's car they weren't able to see much.

I was watching Robert the whole time, and while he seemed mildly interested in the event itself, he seemed confused as to why we were all so interested in it. Obviously Max hadn't filled him in on the larger context. And as Max loves to explain things, he just watched. Hal was asking questions and Max answered them as best she could, but Robert stayed quiet.

When Max and Hal finally allowed, I took the chance to ask Robert what he thought about the tree in LODO. Robert didn't hesitate to say that the city should hire some pest control to get rid of the crows and then cut the damn thing down. He was really hostile towards it, and I never did get a good answer as to why. He didn't seem like an overly religious person, but I did notice a little cross around his neck. I don't want to lump all Christians together on this, 'cause I know they fall on all sides of the spectrum. But it's hard not to when the only Christians who are vocal about it are so adamant that the tree should be destroyed.

I asked him why he felt the tree should be cut down, he mumbled some flimsy excuse about it being in the way of traffic and causing problems. So I asked him why we couldn't just put a roundabout around it. It's too much effort, or would cost too much money, and that's tax dollars out of our pockets. Even if it would create jobs building the roundabout, and hiring someone to make sure the tree was watered and cared for. I asked him if he was even curious about where it came from, how it got there. He just shrugged and said "no."

As hostile as he was toward the tree when the subject came up, he didn't have the same passion toward his reasons for cutting it down. I get the feeling he wasn't being honest with us about his motivations. But as I asked more questions, he just started getting hostile toward me. I don't think Hal noticed, guys don't seem to catch on to that stuff as easily, but Max noticed and changed the subject quickly asking about his next game. He plays soccer for the university.

We avoided the subject for the rest of the night, and once Robert was able to talk about his own interests he calmed down and got the familiar jock cockiness about him. I lost interest after that and just let the rest of the night happen. We eventually finished up and headed out. Max texted me later saying she probably wouldn't be bringing him to any of our dinners again.

Not the greatest ending to a great night. And I have work in the morning.

December 9th, 2017

Today started out with a dizzy spell while I was waiting at the bus stop. Fortunately I could sit down and hold on and no one would notice. It didn't last very long, to be honest it's the most normal attack I think I've had since August. Not they're ever normal, but especially with that last one being so bad, it was nice to just be dizzy for a moment and be done with it.

It wasn't as busy at work as it was yesterday, but one could hardly tell. People are excited about the new exhibit, and that's great. Makes me sad that I missed it on Thursday when they walked the employee's through. Makes me look forward to seeing it next Thursday with Candace that much more.

Speaking of Candace, she's been trying out texting. I can't tell though if she's already picked up the internet lingo that quickly, or if she's just a really bad speller. I can make a guess, considering her seeming inability to use technology, but I don't want to be unfair to her. She does want to get out again and has asked to go back to the gym. But she's still a little nervous about using Public Transportation and wants me to be there with her. Which is fine, take her a few more times to get comfortable with it, and then I'll start to insist that she meet me at the gym.

Anyway, after work I met up with Hal and while he drove I made contact with Max so we could make it all to the same restaurant. Max was hoping for pizza, so we hit up Hops & Pie. Hal was more interested in trying some of their beers, but Max and I found some of their offered toppings to be a source of curiosity. Mashed potatoes on pizza? We ended up trying and it was actually pretty good.

First order of business though was to compare notes. Unfortunately since both Max and Hal were working on final projects and studying for finals, they hadn't had time to really pay attention to anything else. Even The Illuminati was giving Hal space to study, but then his schooling was now kinda his job. That left me to fill them in on what I'd found, which wasn't much. I told about the research I'd done on Melia the other day, and about looking into DIA. Hal said Tim was so concerned with the tree that he wasn't sure Tim even remembered the airport.

With so little else to mention, I just moved on to asking Max if she wanted to see Star Wars next week. She was thrilled, even said she'd met a cute guy recently and it'd be perfect to do a double date. That made Hal and I feel better. I at least know what it's like to be the fifth wheel, so I was worried Max wouldn't want to come.

So conversation devolved into talking about Max's new friend, and taking Candace to the gym the other day. Both Max and Hal had to laugh at Candace's crack about Sam lifting a bus, but we all had to agree, he just about looks like he could. I also mentioned bringing Candace to see the new exhibit on Thursday and asked if Max had some free time during the day to join us. She was certainly interested, but she wasn't sure she could swing it. Hal will be there, but he'll also be working. I was hoping if we went mid day Hal might be able to swing lunch with us and Max'd have a lunch break she could use. Hal we can catch, but probably not Max, not with finals going on.

Max had to cut things short, said something about trying to get some studying in with her new friend. With her taking off, it gave Hal and I a chance to chat. So I asked him about seeing the Botanic Gardens sometime in the next month or so. It didn't take much convincing, he's never been anyway, but I did remind him that Melia worked there. Maybe we can bump into her.

December 8th, 2017

Hal kissed me today.

It was really just a quick peck on the cheek, but... he kissed me today.

We've been spending a lot of time together, and having a lot of fun. But we haven't been exploring that side of the relationship. I think we've both been a bit scared of it, worried how it might change things. At least, I have. I don't know about Hal, so I can't speak for him. It was just such a spur of the moment thing, almost thoughtless. Maybe that's why he did it, not thinking, just acting. It's definitely a good thing, and if it was so thoughtless it shows a comfort he feels towards me. That's a good thing, right?

I suppose context helps.

Today was crazy busy. Of course it was the Grand Opening of the full Egypt exhibit, complete with Nephmesu. The staff had had a chance to go through it yesterday after the soft opening with the museum donors. Sadly I missed that, I had thought they might allow us to go through this morning before opening the doors. But there was a line of people outside that looked like it might go all the way around the park. So we had to be ready with everything, all the way down to extra ticket paper and ink pads.

I don't think I've taken so many guests is such a short time. It didn't end either, the managers started realizing that they wouldn't be able to spare any of us for lunch, so they had to step in and let us out one by one.

It meant that a few of us got lunch early, but most of us got lunch late. Including me. And Hal was super busy as well, I think he had aimed his lunch for when I normally go. It meant that when I sat down for lunch, it was alone. Well, almost, the cafeteria was so full I had to ask a family if I could sit with them. A couple and their kid, who was just so cute. He left to use the bathroom with his dad for a bit there, which gave me a chance to talk to the mother. She was thrilled to be there, very excited to see the Mummy. She had wanted to go the last time we'd had Tutankhamen but got sick and missed it. So this was a treat for her as much as anything.

Anyway, when the father and son came back, the father had wrapped his kid up in toilet paper so the kid could be a mummy, just like "Neff Me Soup." He was adorable.

So while I was enjoying lunch, Hal showed up quickly and bent over my shoulder to say sorry that he'd missed me. He was super busy and wouldn't be able to stay, but he was hoping we could met up after work. I accepted, and then he gave me a peck on the cheek before leaving.

After work we made our way to Annie's just to be able to sit and talk. Hal was looking forward to the The Last Jedi since it'll be released next week and was wondering if I wanted to see it. Stupid question, of course I do! His thought was to go on Saturday when normally we'd have dinner, like we had last time. Which is fine by me, but I reminded him that Max was probably looking forward to our usual dinner conversation. He was happy to extend an invite for her to join us, even with my offered "are you sure?"  So we'll talk to her tomorrow when we do get together.

The awkward silence crept up on us though, and I think we were both thinking the same thing. Hal finally asked if he'd made things weird. I said no, it was just unexpected. He wanted to make sure I was okay with it, which I was, I am. So he asks if it'd be okay if he did it again? I said not without a proper kiss to establish that we are now kissing. He responded saying he'll try to surprise me at the appropriate time. And I thanked him.