Ugh, Winter

I'm sorry, but winter is just horribly depressing after the Christmas season has passed. There's nothing to look forward to, nothing more to celebrate (unless you're someone who loves Valentines Day) and it's just. So. COLD. I really hate it.

It rained a whole bunch yesterday and now the outdoor arenas back at the barn are just about flooded and iced over. I went out and helped the stable hands move a bunch of the horses out of the pasture and into spare stalls and larger blankets. We had some trouble with several of them who were spooking at the blankets and enjoy pasture life more than a stall, but, thankfully they all got inside without anyone being injured--human or horse.

Last night was a slow crime night in Gotham. Bruce and I wandered around the upper areas for a little while and split up once or twice. Not much was going on. A few simple robberies, we stopped a drug deal and caught an Arkham escapee before he could get very far. At one point I broke away and took the cycle to Steel City, since it's not incredibly far from Gotham, and checked in on Karen and her team. Things seem to be going...alright over there, but, you could almost feel yourself breaking some sort of tension the moment you stepped through the door. It was like walking into really, really thick fog.

I got there and Garth was the first person I ran into. He was trying to fix one of the tables in the kitchen area. We talked for a bit, about going ons in Steel City and Gotham City and other 'business' related stuff about that. I didn't really ask how his Christmas went since he doesn't celebrate it and typically tends to disappear back to Atlantis during this part of the year anyway (he seems to avoid talking about it). I did learn that things have been a bit ...rough as far as their team chemistry is going. Roy and Karen have been at each other's throats and Roy's just been evasive in general from interaction. His attitude just seems to be getting worse with the days.

Much as I wanted to pry for more information (Gar accused me of 'wanting more dirt'), I let it go and headed back to Gotham. It was kind of surprising getting home to Fina, Lune and Tiff in the kitchen. Fina announced they were having a girl's slumber party TONIGHT. Of course.

So, they've been here since late last night (or early this morning, whichever phrasing you prefer) and I can tell Bruce is desperate for Fina to leave. She's been acting pretty testy, too, but part of that is just her genetics...though it's still inexcusable on some levels. Tiff got us to do some 'arts and crafts' earlier and Gar and Lune have been playing on Super Smash Bros: Brawl for the past two hours. I'm sitting here on the couch writing this and it looks like Fina's passed out in one of the chairs and Tiff is playing cheerleader for Lune. Gar's not happy about that.

Anyway. I'm still alive and kicking for the most part. Things are just...slow, dull and there's still a looming sense of depression haunting the household. Maybe it'll back off when spring comes around. I'm praying so.

Cheers

So this isn't a late entry at all. Happy New Years, everyone! Hope yours was fun and eventful.

Mine was actually rather laid back for once. The Waynes didn't host a party this year because one of Bruce's "friends" was already on it. Bruce went to the party, but, I thankfully got held back because Gar demanded so. We mostly spent the night watching movies and eating a lot of junk food. Kori and Victor dropped by for all of a few minutes to wish us a Happy New Year and steal some of our food (well, Vic stole it...Kori tried giving us some and Alfred worked his magic with politely refusing it). Gar called Karen and we wished her family a Happy New Year and she promised to pass on the word to Garth, Roy and the twins when she got the chance.

As for things we watched, Gar and I watched a bunch of the classic Sherlock Holmes mysteries from the 1950s and even tried out that new TV series called "Sherlock" that's out, about if Holmes lived in the 21st century. You can now call me more or less a massive fan of the series and considering where they left off, I have to admit I am more than irked that they would force us to wait until fall for that conclusion. ...seriously, guys.

Along with that, we also watched Toy Story 3 and Wicked Scary 4 (HOW many of those are they going to make?!) and by then the New Year had rang in, so, Alfred poured us some sparkling grape juice and we had some cake. Gar clocked out faster than I had wanted him to, so, I was stuck fully awake with the manor basically to myself. So, I read until I fell asleep.

As for the days up until now, things have been uneventful. A few minor crimes both here in Gotham and in Stone City, nothing serious or entirely life threatening to us or civilians. I'm just waiting for the calm before the storm to subside...I know it's coming. And when it does, it'll hit us like a wrecking ball.

Anyway, I'm going to go continue enjoying the peace and quiet and finish off Earlene Fowler's "Arkansas Traveler". Ten bucks says that right as I get to the conclusion, some alarm in the Batcave will sound.