Friday, September 30, 2005
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Lash's Birthday Swim Party Pics
This has Lash opening his prize birthday gift: his PS2. Aeia and Chrissy are pictured as well.
This one has Lash opening a gift, and has Aeia in the background with their cousin Dailynn.
Fun With picture
Been a while since I posted any pictures.
This one is of Rael in his Legion of Superheroes onesie (a gift from our friends Scott and Caroline--very cool people and groovy gift).
The kid is getting big...
Take Me to TV Land
Ugh, I missed the entire season of Rescue Me due to satellite difficulties.
As much as I love Lost, was I the only one who found the season opener a tad too predictable? I haven't yet watched last night's episode.
Since Drew mentioned How I Met Your Mother in my comments earlier, I thought I could chime in about that show as well. I (obviously to those who know me) started watching it because it has Alyson Hannigan as a cast member. I've read critics calling this show the next Friends. I wouldn't go that far. I find the concept a bit contrived and disappointing (and desperately hope we eventually learn that the person we're being told is the "mother" will someday end up not being the mother. It's not perfect. It's not even great. But it does have Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie!) playing Laser Tag.
I haven't been able to make myself watch Kitchen Confidential for Nicholas Brendan yet, though. Viewer thoughts?
I really want to watch My Name is Earl, but we can only watch and record two channels at once, and Tuesday nights at nine are already dominated by House and another of Denise's shows or Supernatural, I forget. I suppose I can wait for re-run season though.
e.r. was very hum-drum. This week's Prisonbreak was the best so far for a show that until now has been fairly hum-drum as well.
All this TV aside... Serenity opens tomorrow! Woo-hoo!
As much as I love Lost, was I the only one who found the season opener a tad too predictable? I haven't yet watched last night's episode.
Since Drew mentioned How I Met Your Mother in my comments earlier, I thought I could chime in about that show as well. I (obviously to those who know me) started watching it because it has Alyson Hannigan as a cast member. I've read critics calling this show the next Friends. I wouldn't go that far. I find the concept a bit contrived and disappointing (and desperately hope we eventually learn that the person we're being told is the "mother" will someday end up not being the mother. It's not perfect. It's not even great. But it does have Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie!) playing Laser Tag.
I haven't been able to make myself watch Kitchen Confidential for Nicholas Brendan yet, though. Viewer thoughts?
I really want to watch My Name is Earl, but we can only watch and record two channels at once, and Tuesday nights at nine are already dominated by House and another of Denise's shows or Supernatural, I forget. I suppose I can wait for re-run season though.
e.r. was very hum-drum. This week's Prisonbreak was the best so far for a show that until now has been fairly hum-drum as well.
All this TV aside... Serenity opens tomorrow! Woo-hoo!
"Can Not Stomach Breaking Bread..."
Poet Sharon Olds wrote a fabulous letter to Laura Bush which has been printed in the Nation. I won't reproduce it here, but you can find it on their website or by googling "sharon olds bush letter."
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Recent Activity
Been receiving increased inquiry into how we're doing, what our plans are, etc.
Denise, kids and I are all doing quite well. We're adjusting to the move quite nicely and are generally a lot happier than we were four weeks or so ago. I love that we're closer to all of our schools, that our new landlords are a lot better at upkeeping the landscaping, etc. and are closer to many of our local friends. There are drawbacks (our parking spaces are a tad too small; condensing 6 bedrooms into 4 is a bit taxing on the creativity at times) but nothing worth complaining about. The goods really shine.
I feel a lot healthier here. My side's started hurting a little again where the rib was removed, which I think is from overworking it a little throughout this move, but at least it also feels well enough now that I can sleep on it. Some might remember me complaining that I'm most comfortable sleeping on my left side and that I couldn't do that post-op because of the pain. No longer a problem.
The "f" word... well, we're actually still fairly jaded about that. Are we still doing it? Yes. Are we planning to keep doing it? Denise and I are still figuring it out. As I said, we're still feeling fairly raw about it all. There's a lot of pain (not all of it ours) and so we're still trying to figure out whether this is something we can keep going in our hearts.
Sometime in November, a dear friend from my childhood is going to be moving in with us. He's become blind and is in need of someone who can help him with the everyday sort of things most of us all take for granted. His current caregiver isn't performing well in this position and he, Denise and I all feel that this change will really be a boon to him. How this is going to effect us and the "f" word I also don't know (I know how it effects things like new paperwork to file, etc. but what I'm saying we don't know about is whether this will effect our desire to go on with things). All I know for sure is I have a good friend who needs help; I've roomed with him many years ago and know we get along well enough as residential cohabitants; and I'm happy to do anything I can to help a friend in need.
Denise, kids and I are all doing quite well. We're adjusting to the move quite nicely and are generally a lot happier than we were four weeks or so ago. I love that we're closer to all of our schools, that our new landlords are a lot better at upkeeping the landscaping, etc. and are closer to many of our local friends. There are drawbacks (our parking spaces are a tad too small; condensing 6 bedrooms into 4 is a bit taxing on the creativity at times) but nothing worth complaining about. The goods really shine.
I feel a lot healthier here. My side's started hurting a little again where the rib was removed, which I think is from overworking it a little throughout this move, but at least it also feels well enough now that I can sleep on it. Some might remember me complaining that I'm most comfortable sleeping on my left side and that I couldn't do that post-op because of the pain. No longer a problem.
The "f" word... well, we're actually still fairly jaded about that. Are we still doing it? Yes. Are we planning to keep doing it? Denise and I are still figuring it out. As I said, we're still feeling fairly raw about it all. There's a lot of pain (not all of it ours) and so we're still trying to figure out whether this is something we can keep going in our hearts.
Sometime in November, a dear friend from my childhood is going to be moving in with us. He's become blind and is in need of someone who can help him with the everyday sort of things most of us all take for granted. His current caregiver isn't performing well in this position and he, Denise and I all feel that this change will really be a boon to him. How this is going to effect us and the "f" word I also don't know (I know how it effects things like new paperwork to file, etc. but what I'm saying we don't know about is whether this will effect our desire to go on with things). All I know for sure is I have a good friend who needs help; I've roomed with him many years ago and know we get along well enough as residential cohabitants; and I'm happy to do anything I can to help a friend in need.
Recent Visits
Checking my site stats this week--we've had 34 page hits from a user who arrived here via the following two google searches: "lash aeia denise" and "killer bunnies drinking game"
Suppositions about identity aside, they're clearly someone who knows what they're looking for. If they'd say hi, maybe I could help them find it.
Suppositions about identity aside, they're clearly someone who knows what they're looking for. If they'd say hi, maybe I could help them find it.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Green Acres
Finally got around to redyeing my hair today. My temporary stay in blue town and back in natural brownville is over. Now it's all green again, yippee (pictures later).
Sometimes a week is very filled with interesting information and it just seems really boring because I can't talk about it. This was one of those weeks. A lot went on that you won't be knowing about. Sorry.
Sometimes a week is very filled with interesting information and it just seems really boring because I can't talk about it. This was one of those weeks. A lot went on that you won't be knowing about. Sorry.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Busy Beaver
Lots to do today. Aside from the regular chauffering of children, today we get the cats to their new home, I have a HeroClix marquee to run/judge (which Lash will be playing in), a softball game to go to and then a friend to visit.
Then tomorrow of course is nerdgames and maybe a show if Paul's band is playing.
Then tomorrow of course is nerdgames and maybe a show if Paul's band is playing.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Whoopdy
Finally, we got our mailkey (the previous tenants didn't turn theirs in and we had to have it changed and a new key ordered. It seemed to take forever. I've a lovely stack of Entertainment Weekly (I know, I know), Rolling Stone and Advocates awaiting me. And both our new checks and our bills. I also got a letter today, and while it was addressed to me, I don;t think I was supposed to get it. But it made me feel really very good. Ah life.
So, while I was in the hospital, I started watching Rockstar: INXS. From my very first episode, I was saying Mig Ayesa, Marty Casey and JD Fortune would end up in the top three, and that JD Fortune would end up winning (all accurate predictions, btw). Of course, I wanted Marty Casey to win, but you can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you get a burned cd of his songs to listen to at home and while you drive. Heh.
Now that life is settling down again, I need to take a breather and relax. I also need to re-dye my hair.
Lash tells me that he's gotten a big imaginary eraser and erased his imaginary enemy so that now all he has is the imaginary friends. Groovy.
More tv:
New Shows:
Surface sucked.
Supernatural (benefit? number two of ditching satellite: we have WB again), Threshold and How I Met Your Mother all have potential.
Medium started off pretty well.
So, while I was in the hospital, I started watching Rockstar: INXS. From my very first episode, I was saying Mig Ayesa, Marty Casey and JD Fortune would end up in the top three, and that JD Fortune would end up winning (all accurate predictions, btw). Of course, I wanted Marty Casey to win, but you can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you get a burned cd of his songs to listen to at home and while you drive. Heh.
Now that life is settling down again, I need to take a breather and relax. I also need to re-dye my hair.
Lash tells me that he's gotten a big imaginary eraser and erased his imaginary enemy so that now all he has is the imaginary friends. Groovy.
More tv:
New Shows:
Surface sucked.
Supernatural (benefit? number two of ditching satellite: we have WB again), Threshold and How I Met Your Mother all have potential.
Medium started off pretty well.
Monday, September 19, 2005
My Addiction
Now that we've moved, we're much much closer to my favorite restaurant--a little dirty Japanese fast food joint called Teriyaki House. They have this teriyaki chicken bowl (with rice and veggies) that I absolutely adore. I could easily eat there every day. Before, I would contain myself and eat there but once a week--Sundays at Ian's, as he is also nearby the place. Now that I'm so close, it almost calls to me.
I love me my teriyaki chicken bowl.
Oh goodness, I almost forgot--we've got the best Chinese run donut place right around the corner now too.
And the best sandwich place.
And the best Chinese in town.
And Burger Hut.
I'm in for a bit of trouble with all this.
I love me my teriyaki chicken bowl.
Oh goodness, I almost forgot--we've got the best Chinese run donut place right around the corner now too.
And the best sandwich place.
And the best Chinese in town.
And Burger Hut.
I'm in for a bit of trouble with all this.
Ah Life
While there's plenty of new things I'd like to say about certain things, I continue to maintain the avoidance of total free speech. Suffice it to say that it has been quite a week.
On other fronts, I was supposed to meet up with an old friend Saturday evening, but he ended up not making it--which worked out well for me as my friend Paul's band, Fingers of Passion, were playing a show at Fulcrum Records and I was able to attend that as well. I wish we had a place with better acoustics in town for all the local bands. And I wish FOP would stop playing that cruddy cover of EMF's Unbelievable.
After the show, when I returned home, Denise had already been off to bed and had forgotten me--and had placed the chain on the door. No amount of pounding on the door would rouse her (and yet, if I watched the telly after she went to bed, with the volume almost completely off, she will typically complain about the noise) and so I had to go to Ian's and wake him so that I could phone and wake her. Ah, what fun.
Lash and Aeia had a sleepover with the wonderful children of the Chrisses this Saturday as well. This was Aeia's first non-blood-familial sleepover and she did very well. Both are looking forward to future sleepovers.
I need to remember to arrange some hang out time with the Chrisses too. I should bring Undead by next Saturday and watch it with them.
Sunday, due to a concussion received by Dusty, Ian cancelled our weekly Deadlands game. Ah life.
On other fronts, I was supposed to meet up with an old friend Saturday evening, but he ended up not making it--which worked out well for me as my friend Paul's band, Fingers of Passion, were playing a show at Fulcrum Records and I was able to attend that as well. I wish we had a place with better acoustics in town for all the local bands. And I wish FOP would stop playing that cruddy cover of EMF's Unbelievable.
After the show, when I returned home, Denise had already been off to bed and had forgotten me--and had placed the chain on the door. No amount of pounding on the door would rouse her (and yet, if I watched the telly after she went to bed, with the volume almost completely off, she will typically complain about the noise) and so I had to go to Ian's and wake him so that I could phone and wake her. Ah, what fun.
Lash and Aeia had a sleepover with the wonderful children of the Chrisses this Saturday as well. This was Aeia's first non-blood-familial sleepover and she did very well. Both are looking forward to future sleepovers.
I need to remember to arrange some hang out time with the Chrisses too. I should bring Undead by next Saturday and watch it with them.
Sunday, due to a concussion received by Dusty, Ian cancelled our weekly Deadlands game. Ah life.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Because I can, and Because the Irony of it All is Somewhat Inescapable
Sometime in the coming weeks I'll be baptising Lash. Thus far, no one but Ian really appreciates the irony of this, and though he isn't Lash's godfather, he wants to be the witness to the event. I'm rather giddy about the whole thing (more giddy even than I am about the Z-Day plan I've got brewing with the boys against the Friday night LARP nerds. Mmm, brains.).
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Tired
Well, we're mostly done with the moving of things to our new place. Still a few trips of boxes to haul in the van (mad props to Chrissy, Paul and KC for helping out with childcare and trucks for furniture hauling).
Healthwise #1: I've been exerting myself too much with the move: more than I should, but not as much as I could.
Healthwise #2: The oncologist's office called yesterday with the results of the chest CT. Everything looks good. So long as symptoms don't come back, I won't have to see him again for a year. Which is so freaking nice, because I've had my fill of cancer for the year.
Our new place is more or less great. It's a good deal smaller (not just two fewer rooms, but smaller rooms) and yet the perks far outshine the drawbacks (it's also noisier and we have to find a new home for the cats). The kids have a yard with grass to play in now, I have a prep island in the kitchen, biger and better bathrooms, more off the street, less expensive...
The kids are all adjusting well to the move.
I'm, obviously, finally back online. And with high speed cable connection now instead of DSL (yay, no more broken DSL modem to hassle with) and cable tv replacing the constantly signal-lossed Dish Network (and I'm totally in love with OnDemand, it'll save me from over-filling my DVR).
Still, there's plenty left to do before it'll be home, but right now I want to focus on taking a nice hot shower or bath and getting my schoolwork done since I skipped this week in order to facilitate the move.
Oh, oh.. and Suzie--thanks for the package! It came on Monday. I haven't listened to the cds yet, but the Australian candy is freaking excellent.
Healthwise #1: I've been exerting myself too much with the move: more than I should, but not as much as I could.
Healthwise #2: The oncologist's office called yesterday with the results of the chest CT. Everything looks good. So long as symptoms don't come back, I won't have to see him again for a year. Which is so freaking nice, because I've had my fill of cancer for the year.
Our new place is more or less great. It's a good deal smaller (not just two fewer rooms, but smaller rooms) and yet the perks far outshine the drawbacks (it's also noisier and we have to find a new home for the cats). The kids have a yard with grass to play in now, I have a prep island in the kitchen, biger and better bathrooms, more off the street, less expensive...
The kids are all adjusting well to the move.
I'm, obviously, finally back online. And with high speed cable connection now instead of DSL (yay, no more broken DSL modem to hassle with) and cable tv replacing the constantly signal-lossed Dish Network (and I'm totally in love with OnDemand, it'll save me from over-filling my DVR).
Still, there's plenty left to do before it'll be home, but right now I want to focus on taking a nice hot shower or bath and getting my schoolwork done since I skipped this week in order to facilitate the move.
Oh, oh.. and Suzie--thanks for the package! It came on Monday. I haven't listened to the cds yet, but the Australian candy is freaking excellent.
Monday, September 12, 2005
Busy Birthday Weekend
Saturday we celebrated Lash's birthday at the Chrisses' place. Thankfully the weather stayed warm enough that the swimming party got to go on. Lash had a great time.
After that, as it was also Chrissy's birthday, we stayed and shared a birthday dinner with them.
Then, as it was also my friend Paul's birthday, I went with him and the rest of the guys to celebrate his birthday--we went to an 80's dance party and boogied on down.
Sunday was spent with more boxing and the moving of said boxes.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Archived
Well, the archives are now completely replaced, heavily edited and in some cases missing photos that didn't need to be removed (pics of me and friends in hospital, Aeia and Lash etc.) but are because I couldn't find them on my image server anymore.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Boxing Day
Right now, every day is boxing day... and today we found out we got the new place. Groovy. I'm looking forward to not living in this duplex anymore, even if the landlord was ok and the place was ginormous.
Gearing up for Lash's big 8th birthday celebration (co-celebration with Chrissy's own birthday celebration). It's a strange year for me--the one where he wants to transition from toys to electronics.
Today I also saw the oncologist. He was probably the most friendly doctor I've had in all this--ditto his nurse. I'm wondering if oncology encourages you to be uber-positive in order to help the ailing feel better. For me, it felt very Twilight Zone-y. Anyway. He ordered a chest CT for me and said that given how the surgery went, unless I notice a return of symptoms, I should probably only come back and see him once a year or so.
Gearing up for Lash's big 8th birthday celebration (co-celebration with Chrissy's own birthday celebration). It's a strange year for me--the one where he wants to transition from toys to electronics.
Today I also saw the oncologist. He was probably the most friendly doctor I've had in all this--ditto his nurse. I'm wondering if oncology encourages you to be uber-positive in order to help the ailing feel better. For me, it felt very Twilight Zone-y. Anyway. He ordered a chest CT for me and said that given how the surgery went, unless I notice a return of symptoms, I should probably only come back and see him once a year or so.
Schooled
I'm coming to remember my least favorite thing about school (after tuition): homework. There are a number of things I would have prefered doing today (play more with kids, hang out with friend, recreational reading...) but instead had to pile myself into the homework and be a good student.
In Print
I've had a poem published this week in an online Literary Journal. Given that the poem deals with bisexuality, I won't be posting it, or a link to the journal, here as things are still more than a little tense. Eventually things will be less so and I'll feel freer to speak about some things. If anyone wants a link to the poem and/or lit. mag, e-mail me.
Monday, September 05, 2005
Checking In
Spent most of this week still dealing with stuff I shant be writing about here. Still, there were other highlights:
Sunday, we as a family went over to the Chrisses' again and shared the day together swimming and partaking of their very good garlicky chicken. Aeia and Lash, but Aeia especially, really started improving at their swimming as well, which rocked the hardest.
I'm on constant search for boxes and it's a wee bit annoying. We're searching for a slightly smaller abode (we have six rooms now, looking to downgrade to four) and packing in spurts as I locate receive boxes.
One of our cats, Isis, ran away last week but came back. Darn. I still don't much like the cats.
I still need to finish putting back up the archives for this blog. Probably some time this week. I regret losing all of the original comments to those posts from before they were removed. Que sera.
Sunday, we as a family went over to the Chrisses' again and shared the day together swimming and partaking of their very good garlicky chicken. Aeia and Lash, but Aeia especially, really started improving at their swimming as well, which rocked the hardest.
I'm on constant search for boxes and it's a wee bit annoying. We're searching for a slightly smaller abode (we have six rooms now, looking to downgrade to four) and packing in spurts as I locate receive boxes.
One of our cats, Isis, ran away last week but came back. Darn. I still don't much like the cats.
I still need to finish putting back up the archives for this blog. Probably some time this week. I regret losing all of the original comments to those posts from before they were removed. Que sera.
Saturday, September 03, 2005
Write Your Own Dang Title
I just got back from the Chrisses' where I finally got to unwind a bit and shared of their company and swimming pool and lent sympathetic ears to emotional venting. I really needed the relaxation and break--thanks guys.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
School Bits
Had my second session of classes yesterday (each of my classes only meet once weekly). Wednesday was the day that we were to annouce what our primary genre would be in the graduate writing course. I've been on the fence between poetry (my usual genre, a safe genre for me) and creative non-fiction (what you'd think would be my usual genre given my blogging, but it isn't--and writing in it with more structure would be me working much different mental muscles). Sought my professor for advice on the decision (she's a hard core poet and one of my advisors, and very very much a poet) and she encouraged me to stay with what's safe: that if I want to write about the cancer (which I do), that poetry might be the form best suited to me (in other words, she didn't like my story).
My new Ag class rocks too. It really has my nose working.
My new Ag class rocks too. It really has my nose working.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
