Tell me anything. Just TALK to me. Tell me about your job. Tell me about where you live, and obscure science facts. Tell me about your plants. Tell me about this cool thing you discovered about how trees talk to each other through forest fungi. Tell me how Tardigrades can survive in space. Discuss with me the intricate and inseparable link between language and culture (to really make my brain explode with happy chemicals.) Because goddess knows I dump all sorts of random nerdy bits all over my students. And I LOVE IT.
I love to learn. I love life. Tell me about your new pet fish. Tell me about what's been bothering you, even.
So talk to me. I am always up for making new friends now. I am back to the old me who really enjoys making new connections---or even reconnecting with dear old friends my brain has convinced me were probably tired of how much I talk and cling and talk negatively and bitch, and they gave up on me.
The good (or bad) news, depending on your perspective, is that I feel really good most of the time and I talk even more now, I have shitloads of energy I don't know what to do with, but the good news is that it's not depressing or irritable, irrational shit that I am plagued with anymore! (Amazing what happens when your neurons are firing correctly.)
Feeling self conscious after saying absolutely anything is hard. And feeling like you don't have a friend in the world is hell. I know. No one ever has to feel self conscious about it with me. I am also a very good person to talk to about your experiences with mental health, I know the system quite intimately.
Life is about connection, don't be afraid to talk about the things you love, because that is what connects you to others. If you need a friend to talk to, my DMs are always open or I'm MelusineN7 on Discord.
Did you know Phantom and Rook was inspired by a real life treasure hunt called The Secret?
The Game is based on a hunt that has been ongoing in North America since 1982, called The Secret.
Byron Preiss hid twelve treasure boxes and the clues to finding them were provided in a book written by Preiss, also called The Secret. In this book are paintings which holds clues, along with written clues. These boxes were placed across the United States and Canada in places that represent events and people that played significant roles in North American history.
Those who discover one of the treasure boxes are entitled to exchange it with Preiss for a precious gem. After he died in 2005, his estate assumed the responsibility of honoring the terms of the treasure hunt.
The painter, John Jude Palencar, has also honored Preiss' wishes and claims he has no knowledge of the actual locations of the treasure boxes, and even if he did, he wouldn't tell anyone.
As far as I know, only three boxes have been found. I first learned about this on the show Expedition Unknown and have always loved the idea of people exploring and engaging in their community all for the sake of discovery.