Memorial tops Convivial

In a few hours, I'm off to Chicago for the Memorial Service of a cousin. I won't be in Chicago long enough to socialize; just the weekend, which will be taken up with family matters. A few notable points before the trip:

I'm taking the bus. It's faster than the train (!), and may be faster than flying given delays and waiting and traveling to and fro. I can just city bus downtown, walk a few blocks, and hop on the bus. Takes me to Union Station, seven blocks from my hotel. Today and Monday are traveling days where I can sit back, listen to music, read, enjoy the scenery and nap.

For the first time since 1979, I'm going to miss the MN-StF fallcon. I've transfered my membership to jolest on the condition that he buy me next year's membership. I'll miss the con, exchanging conviviality for seeing many second and third cousins to connect and reconnect to. The Memorial is for a second cousin (or thereabouts) who I only met once or twice, and the relatives of my generation should get to know each other. Kelly invented aspects of the frozen food industry (the crinkle tin, according to family lore) and named the company after his daughter, Sara Lee. He sold it long ago, and the frozen pastries aren't nearly as good, claim my relatives.

After two weeks on a new job, I get a paid vacation. This weekend (and Thanksgiving) were long planned for, and I'm using up holiday pay. It's been a long time since I've had a paid vacation. The job is working out fine, and I left them in good shape, but they're going to miss me...

Remember me at Convivial, in true time binding fashion. A wave and a nod to Chicago LJers, since I won't have time for an actual tete a tete.