When was the last time you…

1. …sent a handwritten letter?

Ugh. Maybe in high school… freshman year, tops.

No, wait… I think I sent one to someone after I got back from Europe in 89, so make that summer after my senior year.

It wasn’t email that made the practice irrelevant — I just hate writing letters.

2. …baked something from scratch or made something by hand?

I made a chicken and pasta thing when Jackie’s folks were in town for her graduation, and I also made pancakes. Call that about two months ago.

3. …camped in a tent?

1992. GenCon. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We decided to go out at the last minute and the only place to stay (plus the only place we could afford) was the non-powered slots in the back of a “Kampground”, so we checked a “four man tent” (more like a two-child tent) out of the student union at USD and hit the road.

Birds come in flocks. Cattle come in herds. Mosquitos come in “unholy unions”.

4. …volunteered your time to church, school, or community?

I was a volunteer referee for the Littleton kids soccer league until we moved to the new house. I always try to run a lot of events at BenCon (charity gaming convention), but I don’t know if that counts.

5. …helped a stranger?

In real life, it’s been a very long time. On the other hand, I give advice and remote tech support to any number of people who’ve written to me and asked for it, based off some perceived experience they think I might have with their problem. Normally, I wouldn’t count that, but since I sort of dislike doing it, and it’s time consuming, I think it makes the grade.

Charity: defined as “whatever I don’t like doing that helps other people”.

6. (bonus) …went to a Renfest?

I’ve never been to one, actually, but I’m going this weekend.

People are coming over tonight. On Saturday morning Lori, Dave, Randy, Justin, and I are going to the Renfest down in Larkspur (Jackie might show up later, depending on how long the stuff she has to do will take — she told use to go one without her), then the Cry Havoc folks are over that night. Sunday, I have no idea, but it seems like there’s something lawn-related we have to do. (We planted some new stuff last night and hung rose trellises.) There’s also some Consortium stuff I’d like to wrap up sometime soon, but I don’t know if this weekend will be the weekend. We’ll see.