The Quiet After

Yesterday began with early waking and cat struggles over routine disruption, moved through hanging out with kids before their departure, then settled into domestic restoration—picking up, IT systems work cleaning Mac backups and reorganizing photo storage, fixing the toilet, doing laundry. Worked on a Mika photo set, walked to Suds for a beer with Tim, Brian, and Jack, Brian providing ride home. Evening brought Minecraft and usual TV including Greatest Controversies asking whether the Jews killed Jesus—the conclusion was no they did not. Just a typical day, the kind that follows big gatherings, house slowly returning to its normal rhythms.

Restoration and Routine

October 14, 2025

Woke early and struggled with the cat a bit. Trouble was unhappy about routine disruption and not getting the attention from me that she thought she needed. She expressed her displeasure inappropriately. Yes, it did compromise my desire for more sleep. Morning negotiations with feline demands for proper attention, trying to manage her complaints about disrupted routines while hoping for a few more hours of rest that weren't forthcoming.

Hung out with the kids before they left. That particular quality of time when departure is imminent but hasn't happened yet, making the present moment more precious because you know it's ending soon. Final conversations, last hugs, watching them load up and drive away, the house suddenly quieter.

Picked up around the house—the aftermath of extended family occupation. Not dramatic mess, just the accumulated evidence of multiple people living in a space designed for one. Dishes, towels, random objects migrated to unexpected locations. The work of restoration, returning everything to its designated place.

Worked on IT systems a bit before tackling the toilet. Mac backups are now cleaned up. I'm currently relying solely on Backblaze for the photo backups. Cleared some space on my Synology for a master photo repository and ordered a new cache disk for my Mac Studio. I'm optimistic that when it settles it'll be better and perform well. The kind of infrastructure work that's tedious but necessary, creating systems that will serve for months or years if configured properly now.

Fixed the toilet. The flapper that self-destructed during the gathering finally received attention. Simple repair, just replacing a worn component, but necessary to restore full bathroom functionality. Toilets don't care about your social schedule; they demand repair regardless of what else is happening.

Did laundry. Sheets and towels from guest rooms, the accumulated fabric evidence of hosting. The washing machine cycled through loads while I attended to other tasks, that satisfying background hum of domestic machinery handling necessary work.

Worked on a Mika photo set, returning to creative work after days focused on hosting and family. The images waiting patiently for attention, the processing demanding focus that hosting doesn't allow. Good to get back to that solitary concentration, that particular state of mind that photo editing requires.

Walked to Suds for beer with Tim, Brian, and Jack. The usual crew, the familiar routine reasserting itself after weekend disruption. Conversation flowing easily, no particular agenda, just the comfortable rhythm of regular social connection. Brian gave me a ride home afterward, saving the return walk.

Played a little Minecraft before television claimed the evening. The warehouse project continuing its gradual expansion, virtual construction providing its reliable satisfaction.

The usual TV shows followed. The Greatest Controversies explored the question "Did the Jews kill Jesus?"—historically fraught territory requiring careful navigation between religious tradition and historical evidence. The conclusion: No, but some of them certainly played a role in it. Complex events rarely have simple single causes; responsibility distributes across multiple actors with different motivations and varying degrees of agency. The question itself reveals more about subsequent theological disputes than about what actually happened in first-century Jerusalem.

Hogan's Heroes provided lighter entertainment afterward, the familiar comfort of sitcom plotting and character dynamics.

Just a typical day. The kind that follows major gatherings, where the work is restoration rather than creation, returning to normal patterns rather than maintaining exceptional ones. The house slowly settles back into its usual rhythms, the quiet after the fullness, the solitary routine after extended social intensity.

There's value in both modes—the gathering and the quiet after. But after days of hosting, typical days feel like gifts rather than obligations. Time to attend to neglected tasks, to return to creative work, to let the house breathe without constant occupation. The family weekend was wonderful. The return to normalcy is equally welcome.

More scenery from our Jackson-Frasier walk