That last political post was somewhat in response to my bro's blog (see link to P. Cambio political blog on the sidebar). Those are thoughts that have been rummaging around in my head lately, anyway.
I'm in movie-watching mode in preparation for my job this fall. The other night watched The Business of Fancy Dancing, which is based on the poetry of writer/director Sherman Alexie. Beautiful work reflecting Native American life and issues of love and identity. Also check out Smoke Signals, based on his work and directed by Chris Eyre.
I'm also in reading-mode, since I've finished all the tasks I had scheduled for myself before I go back to work next Wed. I'm reading All The Fishes Come Home to Roost which is a funny and poignant memoir by a woman raised on an ashram in India. The daughter of hippie parents, Rachel Manija Brown tells her story of being a global nomad (although she doesn't use the term, she falls into the description) in India and the U.S. Check it out.
Friday, July 28, 2006
My thoughts on the crisis between Israel and Lebanon
On one hand, I recognize Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorist attacks on its people and land, but on the other hand, I question their methods. Innocent Lebanese people are being killed because Israel wants to eradicate Hezbollah. Hezbollah is not the Lebanese government, nor the majority of its people, from what I understand. The international community should be supporting Israel by demanding that the Lebanese government work in tandem with Israel and other Mid-East states toward routing these terrorists/violent militia members, followed up with the threat of economic sanctions and military sanctions if necessary. This is more or less what the U.S. has tried to do with varying success in Pakistan and other countries in the “War on Terror.” By making it hard for terrorists to have a home, the international community would take a step toward eradicating the terrorists’ power base.
Obviously, a lot of work would have to be done on the international stage to get Arab/Muslim countries like Lebanon to buy into the idea and work together, but pounding the shit out of another Arab state isn’t going to solve anything, either. All it’s done is kill more innocent people and piss off Al Qaida into making a further demand for more killing to wipe out everyone else on the planet. In the meantime the pro-West Arab governments are feeling the pressure and being forced to make difficult choices. Can we stand to lose their support, too? Al Qaida terrorists are the only ones who stand to benefit from this situation.
At the same time, the U.S. has gone hunting for terrorists in other people’s countries by bombing the shit out of them, so why shouldn’t Israel? The U.S. has to back up Israel’s actions now, because not doing so would be the pot calling the kettle black, and even G.W. wouldn’t have the balls to do that in the face of the international community. And let’s face it, the U.S. stands to lose a lot if we do anything that can be construed as turning our backs on Israel.
And what is with this “fake peace” that the President goes on about? What the hell is that? Is there such a thing as “fake war?” Only feels like death and destruction, but it’s really only a police action. Only looks like peace, but really it’s war? Peace has to start somewhere. People and nations have to stop clobbering each other before they can start talks for a lasting peace. Isn’t that just common sense? Isn’t that what you’d tell your kid if he were beating up the kid who vandalized his locker at school? They wouldn’t have to be best friends, but they should learn to tolerate each other. If the kids don’t handle it themselves, you get the authorities involved. Right? Change the behavior, then work on changing the attitude. The attitude will never change if the kid is allowed to act out unchecked.
Enough of the analogy. The Administration keeps talking about needing a lasting peace in the Middle East. Well of course, DUH! But I have yet to hear how they propose doing that without first getting a ceasefire in place. I have a sneaking suspicion that the “lasting peace” Bush speaks of can only be achieved by the complete eradication of all terrorists. How does he plan to do that – just keep bombing the countries where we know the terrorists are hiding and plotting and scheming, regardless of the innocent civilians and infrastructures that are destroyed? What then? Who will our allies be? Perhaps the Middle East will be so broken that the U.S. and Britain will have to swoop in and take control of all that oil. I know, I know, that’s conspiracy fringe-thinking. But the actions of those two men really make me wonder what they’re about.
I am thinking about the IRA in N. Ireland and how so many ceasefires were broken, until finally, one stuck long enough for progress to be made. They were terrorists and although they had some legitimate claims, they used hatred and violence to express themselves. They needed to see that there were other ways of dealing with their situation, and they finally did see this. It was a long process, yet it worked. Has Tony Blair completely forgotten this era of English/Irish negotiations and mutual counter-terrorism work in his desperate support for G.W.? The British people certainly haven’t.
I realize that the situation in the Middle East is far more complex than most people have any clue about, even the arm-chair folks who read up on the stuff. I’m not any kind of a scholar in that area, but I do have common sense. Common sense dictates that human life is more precious than money, oil, saving face, or any other consideration. Common sense says that soldiers know what they’re getting into when they become soldiers. Civilians are innocent. Jihadists don’t recognize the distinction of the sanctity of human life in their twisted version of Islam. How do you get these people to the table? Maybe you don’t. But common sense reminds us that killing innocent civilians in an attack on a sovereign state that is not governed by the terrorists isn’t the answer, either. Peace cannot be achieved through that kind of wanton destruction.
The real road to peace is going to take courage on all sides, and a determination to preserve life. Otherwise, the killing of innocents decries the humanity of the jihadists and defenders, alike. Someone once said “two wrongs don’t make a right.” Here, here.
Obviously, a lot of work would have to be done on the international stage to get Arab/Muslim countries like Lebanon to buy into the idea and work together, but pounding the shit out of another Arab state isn’t going to solve anything, either. All it’s done is kill more innocent people and piss off Al Qaida into making a further demand for more killing to wipe out everyone else on the planet. In the meantime the pro-West Arab governments are feeling the pressure and being forced to make difficult choices. Can we stand to lose their support, too? Al Qaida terrorists are the only ones who stand to benefit from this situation.
At the same time, the U.S. has gone hunting for terrorists in other people’s countries by bombing the shit out of them, so why shouldn’t Israel? The U.S. has to back up Israel’s actions now, because not doing so would be the pot calling the kettle black, and even G.W. wouldn’t have the balls to do that in the face of the international community. And let’s face it, the U.S. stands to lose a lot if we do anything that can be construed as turning our backs on Israel.
And what is with this “fake peace” that the President goes on about? What the hell is that? Is there such a thing as “fake war?” Only feels like death and destruction, but it’s really only a police action. Only looks like peace, but really it’s war? Peace has to start somewhere. People and nations have to stop clobbering each other before they can start talks for a lasting peace. Isn’t that just common sense? Isn’t that what you’d tell your kid if he were beating up the kid who vandalized his locker at school? They wouldn’t have to be best friends, but they should learn to tolerate each other. If the kids don’t handle it themselves, you get the authorities involved. Right? Change the behavior, then work on changing the attitude. The attitude will never change if the kid is allowed to act out unchecked.
Enough of the analogy. The Administration keeps talking about needing a lasting peace in the Middle East. Well of course, DUH! But I have yet to hear how they propose doing that without first getting a ceasefire in place. I have a sneaking suspicion that the “lasting peace” Bush speaks of can only be achieved by the complete eradication of all terrorists. How does he plan to do that – just keep bombing the countries where we know the terrorists are hiding and plotting and scheming, regardless of the innocent civilians and infrastructures that are destroyed? What then? Who will our allies be? Perhaps the Middle East will be so broken that the U.S. and Britain will have to swoop in and take control of all that oil. I know, I know, that’s conspiracy fringe-thinking. But the actions of those two men really make me wonder what they’re about.
I am thinking about the IRA in N. Ireland and how so many ceasefires were broken, until finally, one stuck long enough for progress to be made. They were terrorists and although they had some legitimate claims, they used hatred and violence to express themselves. They needed to see that there were other ways of dealing with their situation, and they finally did see this. It was a long process, yet it worked. Has Tony Blair completely forgotten this era of English/Irish negotiations and mutual counter-terrorism work in his desperate support for G.W.? The British people certainly haven’t.
I realize that the situation in the Middle East is far more complex than most people have any clue about, even the arm-chair folks who read up on the stuff. I’m not any kind of a scholar in that area, but I do have common sense. Common sense dictates that human life is more precious than money, oil, saving face, or any other consideration. Common sense says that soldiers know what they’re getting into when they become soldiers. Civilians are innocent. Jihadists don’t recognize the distinction of the sanctity of human life in their twisted version of Islam. How do you get these people to the table? Maybe you don’t. But common sense reminds us that killing innocent civilians in an attack on a sovereign state that is not governed by the terrorists isn’t the answer, either. Peace cannot be achieved through that kind of wanton destruction.
The real road to peace is going to take courage on all sides, and a determination to preserve life. Otherwise, the killing of innocents decries the humanity of the jihadists and defenders, alike. Someone once said “two wrongs don’t make a right.” Here, here.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Merry-Go-Round
Yesterday turned out to be gloriously sunny and cool, so at the last minute I called up MZ and said, "Let's go to the Carousel this afternoon!" MZ and I had made plans to go on Saturday but it rained buckets and anyway, neither of us felt very well on Sat. So I drove down to Elmira with the cooler and my delicious 3-bean salad, and mom and I loaded up the cooler with other comestibles, then drove over to Eldridge Park (see last post for links).
We ate by the waterside, near the newly-restored carousel, and throroughly enjoyed ourselves. There were dragonflies on the water and the breeze was perfect. After eating we walked over to the carousel and bought our tickets! A dollar a ride. That carousel is a thing of beauty, and as soon as I can get photos up here, I will (damned camera). Everything is carved in wood, and the design is a replica of the old merry-go-round from generations past. The music was from the 40s and 50s, instrumental, of course.
MZ sat on the one bench the carousel has, and ended up sharing it with another woman in her 70s. I rode the horse in front of them, taking pictures and trying to remember the last time I was on a merry-go-round. I couldn't help grinning like an idiot. After that ride, MZ sat down on a bench to watch, and I went on again. This time I picked my horse from the map, Hope, which turned out to be a grey mare with roses on her bridle and saddle, and also seemed to be the only one with a real horse-hair tail. Hope was on the inside, so I got to have the full effect of the music blasting from four speakers as I went around them.
I thought about going on a third time, on the outside to catch the ring, but decided I was satiated. There are two kinds of people in life, I decided. Those who sit on the outside, where the horses don't go up and down, and who reach out for the brass ring every time (the go-getters, the folks who prefer Product). Then there are those who ride on the inside, the most beautiful horse that goes up and down, for the sheer enjoyment of the motion, sound, color and experience. I'm one of these, I suppose, who prefer the ride to the destination, the Process. Of course, you could do both, I suppose, ride a few times and experience all of it. But I think what's most telling is the first ride - where one chooses to sit on the Merry-Go-Round.
This was a fast merry-go-round, too. I had to work to keep my butt from sliding out of the saddle, and I was worried the little girl in front of me wasn't going to make it. She couldn't even reach the stirrrups. That's all part of the thrill. It's necessary to get pulled off center a bit, to make you have to pay attention and not just totally space out.
MZ said it was interesting to watch people on the carousel, epecially the older folks (there were all ages), everyone smiling as they went around. You can't help but to smile and grin like a ten year old! And that's exactly how I felt: like I was ten years old again. Everyone needs to be reminded of what it was like to be young, I think.
We ate by the waterside, near the newly-restored carousel, and throroughly enjoyed ourselves. There were dragonflies on the water and the breeze was perfect. After eating we walked over to the carousel and bought our tickets! A dollar a ride. That carousel is a thing of beauty, and as soon as I can get photos up here, I will (damned camera). Everything is carved in wood, and the design is a replica of the old merry-go-round from generations past. The music was from the 40s and 50s, instrumental, of course.
MZ sat on the one bench the carousel has, and ended up sharing it with another woman in her 70s. I rode the horse in front of them, taking pictures and trying to remember the last time I was on a merry-go-round. I couldn't help grinning like an idiot. After that ride, MZ sat down on a bench to watch, and I went on again. This time I picked my horse from the map, Hope, which turned out to be a grey mare with roses on her bridle and saddle, and also seemed to be the only one with a real horse-hair tail. Hope was on the inside, so I got to have the full effect of the music blasting from four speakers as I went around them.
I thought about going on a third time, on the outside to catch the ring, but decided I was satiated. There are two kinds of people in life, I decided. Those who sit on the outside, where the horses don't go up and down, and who reach out for the brass ring every time (the go-getters, the folks who prefer Product). Then there are those who ride on the inside, the most beautiful horse that goes up and down, for the sheer enjoyment of the motion, sound, color and experience. I'm one of these, I suppose, who prefer the ride to the destination, the Process. Of course, you could do both, I suppose, ride a few times and experience all of it. But I think what's most telling is the first ride - where one chooses to sit on the Merry-Go-Round.
This was a fast merry-go-round, too. I had to work to keep my butt from sliding out of the saddle, and I was worried the little girl in front of me wasn't going to make it. She couldn't even reach the stirrrups. That's all part of the thrill. It's necessary to get pulled off center a bit, to make you have to pay attention and not just totally space out.
MZ said it was interesting to watch people on the carousel, epecially the older folks (there were all ages), everyone smiling as they went around. You can't help but to smile and grin like a ten year old! And that's exactly how I felt: like I was ten years old again. Everyone needs to be reminded of what it was like to be young, I think.
Friday, July 21, 2006
This just in ... (DUH)
This kills me. The President acts as if he's doing the minorities of this country SUCH a huge favor. Why should this even be a question or something to renew? Why wasn't it just made into a constitutional amendment that would not ever have to be questioned or renewed or tampered with? The fact that it exists as a law/act that must voted on 25 years after its inception to extend the voting rights it provides minorities declares that really, someone is keeping a back door open somewhere. Maybe it's me, but it just doesn't seem as enlightened as it's purported to be. Or, maybe I just don't completely understand politics and the speicific workings of our governmental processes.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Word Up
Now that I'm not going to be doing the on-line tutoring, I am re-opening the file on free lance writing. I've spent the better part of the morning so far going back through my initial contact info list and updating/fleshing it out. While I was checking out a bunch of websites, I found this on-line dictionary/thesaurus published by a company in Ithaca called WordSmyth. I will be adding it to my links. It's very useful for writers, as evidenced by my own search just the other day for specific words relating to "one who decides." I found nothing of use in the databases I came across, but WordSmyth really rocks!
Interestingly enough, there is ANOTHER company in Ithaca called WordSmyth, and I went to their site first, by accident. You can tell from the site design that the company is a bit odd-ish. I remembered doing an interview, oh, say about 15 years ago, with the president of a small ad agency in Ithaca, which I'm 90% sure was this one. He was extremely bizarre and creepy. Somehow the subject of "paranormal" entered the interview and he told me about my "aura" and I remember thinking "ALRIGHTY THEN. Thanks, but no thanks." He wanted to hire me for something like $5.50 and hour and I don't remember the position, probably admin. Eww. I'm surprised he's still around, esp. since he didn't bother to put up any client list or sample work links on his website.
The heat's finally broken its hold on this area, but I am sad that so many parts of the U.S. are still under siege. I worry about mom in the heat after reading stories of these old people who die of heat exhaustion in their apartments without AC. Mom does have an air conditioner, but I think she used to avoid using it until it was so blasted hot that a cactus would wilt. But these days she's more free about using the AC. I'm hoping to visit her this weekend and take her to the refurbished Eldrige Park Carousel if the weather holds.
I remember riding that merry-go-round when I was a kid, and Eldrige park had other rides like the Whip, the Tea Cups, the Airplanes, Bumper Cars, and of course, a wooden roller coaster. Some of the buildings are still standing, boarded up and derelict, but many of them have been renovated into other spaces. For instance, I'm pretty sure what was the Fun House is now the bathrooms. I need to get some pictures of the aging Whip building. It still has that 1950s-type look to it, just in severe disrepair. Here are some older pictures from 1999 before most of the renovations began. Check out the Whip, the 2nd picture from left on the top row. You can see much older pictures from its heyday.
Interestingly enough, there is ANOTHER company in Ithaca called WordSmyth, and I went to their site first, by accident. You can tell from the site design that the company is a bit odd-ish. I remembered doing an interview, oh, say about 15 years ago, with the president of a small ad agency in Ithaca, which I'm 90% sure was this one. He was extremely bizarre and creepy. Somehow the subject of "paranormal" entered the interview and he told me about my "aura" and I remember thinking "ALRIGHTY THEN. Thanks, but no thanks." He wanted to hire me for something like $5.50 and hour and I don't remember the position, probably admin. Eww. I'm surprised he's still around, esp. since he didn't bother to put up any client list or sample work links on his website.
The heat's finally broken its hold on this area, but I am sad that so many parts of the U.S. are still under siege. I worry about mom in the heat after reading stories of these old people who die of heat exhaustion in their apartments without AC. Mom does have an air conditioner, but I think she used to avoid using it until it was so blasted hot that a cactus would wilt. But these days she's more free about using the AC. I'm hoping to visit her this weekend and take her to the refurbished Eldrige Park Carousel if the weather holds.
I remember riding that merry-go-round when I was a kid, and Eldrige park had other rides like the Whip, the Tea Cups, the Airplanes, Bumper Cars, and of course, a wooden roller coaster. Some of the buildings are still standing, boarded up and derelict, but many of them have been renovated into other spaces. For instance, I'm pretty sure what was the Fun House is now the bathrooms. I need to get some pictures of the aging Whip building. It still has that 1950s-type look to it, just in severe disrepair. Here are some older pictures from 1999 before most of the renovations began. Check out the Whip, the 2nd picture from left on the top row. You can see much older pictures from its heyday.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Misbelievin'
1. Get yer free Tarot reading online! or here you can get other kinds of readings, too.
2. Get yer Free Mind-Reading Crystal Ball experience.
3. Get yer YATTA! here.
2. Get yer Free Mind-Reading Crystal Ball experience.
3. Get yer YATTA! here.
Why doesn't time move backwards?
I can't believe I only have 2 more weeks before I need to go back to work. How did that happen?
I've decided not to work for Smarthinking right now. Too much new stuff. I'm still trying to finish reading the text for my screenwriting class and get the syllabus written.
Condolences to Mr. Club on the death of this grandfather.
I've decided not to work for Smarthinking right now. Too much new stuff. I'm still trying to finish reading the text for my screenwriting class and get the syllabus written.
Condolences to Mr. Club on the death of this grandfather.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
On Track
It's been a wild week so far. A lot of bumps and bruises. Yesterday I realized a rather large snafu in our bookkeeping, but thankfully nothing disasterous has resulted. The worst part of the entire thing was my over-the-top reaction. What can I say, I have money issues. "Poverty consciousness" is how my friend Lin put it.
Yesterday I began cracking the whip on my schedule. I managed quite well until the checkbook fiasco sucked me down and I experienced missing time while contending with that. But even so, I got a good 3 hours of writing in the morning, and I spend a couple hours in "training" for the Smarthinking on-line tutoring gig. I didn't get any reading done for Screenwriting, but I think I can make that up.
Today is my mom's birthday, so I'm going to get a couple of hours of writing in and then drive to Elmira with her prezzie and spend the afternoon with her.
Tomorrow I am driving to good friends of mine for an overnight visit. While I'm up there, close to Rochester, I will be bringing my MacBook to the Apple store to fix the "R" key which has completely fallen off. I know you all scoff, but Mecury is in Retrograde again... and based on what I've seen this week, it makes sense.
Off to write!
Yesterday I began cracking the whip on my schedule. I managed quite well until the checkbook fiasco sucked me down and I experienced missing time while contending with that. But even so, I got a good 3 hours of writing in the morning, and I spend a couple hours in "training" for the Smarthinking on-line tutoring gig. I didn't get any reading done for Screenwriting, but I think I can make that up.
Today is my mom's birthday, so I'm going to get a couple of hours of writing in and then drive to Elmira with her prezzie and spend the afternoon with her.
Tomorrow I am driving to good friends of mine for an overnight visit. While I'm up there, close to Rochester, I will be bringing my MacBook to the Apple store to fix the "R" key which has completely fallen off. I know you all scoff, but Mecury is in Retrograde again... and based on what I've seen this week, it makes sense.
Off to write!
Monday, July 10, 2006
Back to Reality
What a weekend! As usual, the Live Adventure took me out of day-to-day life and plunked me in the realm of fantasy role-playing. I enjoyed my experience in-game, for the most part, although my body betrayed me and I had to quit before I was ready. My ankles were swollen like puffer fish and I ended up with heat exhaustion. We had a good trip home but I had to crash as soon as I showered and drank a gallon of water. I slept for about 5 hours, got up at 10:00 and ate a tuna sandwich, and went back to bed for eight hours. I didn't feel so hot for much of today but managed with a nappy nap.
Bizarro and I sat around after my tuna sandwhich and came up with a design idea for a game that is deliberately different from your average design template (find the missing pieces, do the appropriate spell, fight the demon avatar, and rid the land of evil). I think the idea can definitely hold water, but it would need to be fleshed out. We'd need a team, some land, and could possibly make it into a 2nd Game some year.
Today I just organized and sorted through Adventure crap, and then re-organized myself for the work I have to get done in the next three weeks, before the intensive ESL program starts up in August (my 2.5 week gig). My summer is rapidly coming to a close. *sigh* But there are still lots of good weekends and swimming opps left!
Bizarro and I sat around after my tuna sandwhich and came up with a design idea for a game that is deliberately different from your average design template (find the missing pieces, do the appropriate spell, fight the demon avatar, and rid the land of evil). I think the idea can definitely hold water, but it would need to be fleshed out. We'd need a team, some land, and could possibly make it into a 2nd Game some year.
Today I just organized and sorted through Adventure crap, and then re-organized myself for the work I have to get done in the next three weeks, before the intensive ESL program starts up in August (my 2.5 week gig). My summer is rapidly coming to a close. *sigh* But there are still lots of good weekends and swimming opps left!
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Consider this...
This is a new feature of Fred in the Can. Each week I'll chose some random topics that come my way and put up things for your perusal, consideration, adoration or total discreditation.
1. This company, Bohn had lots of sleek, futuristic renditions of the future, but somehow things just got crappier and crappier-looking. Ah, progress. Where the hell is my flying car ?
2. Hey, did anyone see Psychic Detectives on Court TV last night? If the story is to be believed (um, yeah) the psychic (Carol Pate) was able to lead them to the body and the killers. At least that show has resolution, unlike the show I've already blasted on this site, Haunting Evidence which leads you through three psychic wannabes picking up "clues" that law enforcement promises to follow up on (riiiight).
Damn, that's all I have energy for today. More next week.
1. This company, Bohn had lots of sleek, futuristic renditions of the future, but somehow things just got crappier and crappier-looking. Ah, progress. Where the hell is my flying car ?
2. Hey, did anyone see Psychic Detectives on Court TV last night? If the story is to be believed (um, yeah) the psychic (Carol Pate) was able to lead them to the body and the killers. At least that show has resolution, unlike the show I've already blasted on this site, Haunting Evidence which leads you through three psychic wannabes picking up "clues" that law enforcement promises to follow up on (riiiight).
Damn, that's all I have energy for today. More next week.
How did it get to be July?
The saying "time flies" is especially true when you don't want it to. There I was, trying to destress and defrag and enjoy my summer and all of a sudden, BLAMM-O! the 4th of July has come and gone.
Well I suppose it's time I get my nose back to the grindstone anyway. I do have a few things to do this month, including:
1. Finishing the present draft of my screenplay.
2. Read all the texts and write the syllabus for fall semester (since the first 2.5 weeks of August will be me working as a slave for Big Red)
3. Pre-production work for the Global Nomads video.
Those will all take a good amount of time to accomplish, so I can't dawdle any longer. Of course, it's still summer, and I still plan on relaxing a bit.
This weekend we are going to our yearly "Live Adventure" which is a geeky yet wonderful experience in live action role play with a group of fine folks, some of who I've been close friends with for 15 years. The weekend is a blast but there's always more prep and money needed to make it go than you think, and so as per usual, it's the day before and both Bizarro and I have a few things yet to do. I'm looking forward to the weekend's festivities, and the camping weather looks to be just grand.
Next week is Mom's birthday (the 13th) and then I'm going to visit some friends who live a couple hours from me. They are friends from the Adventure community who gave me a place to live not once but two times (once in my 20s, once in my early 30s). I owe them a lot, and it will be good to catch up with them and their two kids.
Speaking of Mom, though, yesterday was a trying day. I went to visit her, and the saga with her credit card debt continues. Mind you, this is debt from years ago and she's been retired with nothing more than social security and a tiny pension check every month. It's kind of a mess, but I'm trying to help her take care of things. It's a weird feeling to help your mom with a thing like this; I suppose this is to be expected as she gets older and less able to deal with crap like this.
Anyway, that's plenty on my plate right now.
Well I suppose it's time I get my nose back to the grindstone anyway. I do have a few things to do this month, including:
1. Finishing the present draft of my screenplay.
2. Read all the texts and write the syllabus for fall semester (since the first 2.5 weeks of August will be me working as a slave for Big Red)
3. Pre-production work for the Global Nomads video.
Those will all take a good amount of time to accomplish, so I can't dawdle any longer. Of course, it's still summer, and I still plan on relaxing a bit.
This weekend we are going to our yearly "Live Adventure" which is a geeky yet wonderful experience in live action role play with a group of fine folks, some of who I've been close friends with for 15 years. The weekend is a blast but there's always more prep and money needed to make it go than you think, and so as per usual, it's the day before and both Bizarro and I have a few things yet to do. I'm looking forward to the weekend's festivities, and the camping weather looks to be just grand.
Next week is Mom's birthday (the 13th) and then I'm going to visit some friends who live a couple hours from me. They are friends from the Adventure community who gave me a place to live not once but two times (once in my 20s, once in my early 30s). I owe them a lot, and it will be good to catch up with them and their two kids.
Speaking of Mom, though, yesterday was a trying day. I went to visit her, and the saga with her credit card debt continues. Mind you, this is debt from years ago and she's been retired with nothing more than social security and a tiny pension check every month. It's kind of a mess, but I'm trying to help her take care of things. It's a weird feeling to help your mom with a thing like this; I suppose this is to be expected as she gets older and less able to deal with crap like this.
Anyway, that's plenty on my plate right now.
Monday, July 03, 2006
Bizarro's Burfday
Today my Huzzbinnd is a year older, and wiser I'd say. We had a lovely dinner (I grilled in the rain) and in a bit we'll head to Border's for some "Ginormous Chocolate Abomination Cake 'o Death" and a cup of "Count Javacula."
So make sure you wish him a Happy Birthday, and take a look at this week's scary food.
So make sure you wish him a Happy Birthday, and take a look at this week's scary food.
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