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       Stardate: 20240904.1444 
       Location: Local cafe
       Input Device: Steam Deck with folding BT keyboard
       Audio: Cafe Muzak
       Visual: FMD + CRT + nano + transparent background of meatspace
       Emotional: sweaty, the longing...
       
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       It is September now and Labor Day weekend just came to pass.  Happy 
       belated Labor Day to all of you laborers out there!   
       
       Typically, Labor Day is marked as the last of summer, but it doesn't 
       feel like it.  I think we are in triple digits (American) today and 
       it is supposed to get hotter throughout the week.  Summer is still 
       fighting strong, but at least it cools off quite a bit in the 
       evenings.
       
       I moved out to the SoCal some time ago and I still get messed up by 
       how the seasons are over here.  I have to be mindful of the calendar 
       or I would think that summer just kept going on and on and when will 
       it stop.  The change of the seasons here is not so obvious.  I'm 
       originally from the Rust Belt and there is a m0ar distinct seperation 
       between the seasons.  For the transition from summer to fall, there 
       is the changing colors of the leaves on the trees, the briskness of 
       the temperature in the air, a change in the smell outside, etc.  
       The start of the "*berrrr" months.  Many indicators that tell me 
       things are a changin'.
       
       Out here it just seems to all blend together and it just feels like 
       nothing special and I go on with my everyday life with the mundane 
       California sunshine.  Yeah, I know, oh, waaaa...poor me with 
       California sunshine.  I'm actually one of those that don't really 
       like it all the time, but I've learned to get used to it.
       
       Perhaps this is just a longing for the autumn of my understanding and 
       wishing for my favorite season to be as I remembered it, as well 
       as the events that occur during this time of year.  The apple picking 
       and all the varieties of apples out in the Rust Belt!  Hot apple 
       cider and apple butter!  Activities around Halloween!  Pumpkin 
       picking!  Bobbing for apples!  Candy corn!  Hay rides!  Raking up a 
       big pile of leaves and jumping in it!  Hometown football games!  Clam 
       bakes!  OMG, I miss the net of a dozen clams, the broth, half 
       chicken, and all of the fixins!  Much of this stuff I have not found 
       an adequate substitute in SoCal, but that's ok.  I'm thinking I might 
       have to pay a visit sometime in the near future.
       
       Wishing you all in gopherspace a bountiful harvest and wonderful 
       autumn equinox! 
       
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