moar cute puppy pictures
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
My very own...
LOL kitteh:
moar funny pictures
Bizarro says it's stupid but I think it's cute. We'll see if the LOL Cat voters get it and vote it up.
moar funny pictures
Bizarro says it's stupid but I think it's cute. We'll see if the LOL Cat voters get it and vote it up.
6S
Hey kids, I just got the word that a lil' piece of mine will be published on Six Sentences, on my birthday, March 3. Ain't it grand?
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
My Apologies
To anyone who has tried to access my blarg in the last 12 hours and couldn't get in. I clicked when I should have clacked. It's all better now, there, there. Dry those tears and post me a comment, okay?
Here's something to make up for my transgression:
50 Years of Lego
Here's something to make up for my transgression:
50 Years of Lego
Monday, January 28, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Hukilau!
Hukilau 2008 -- where I'd love to spend my vaca this year.
I am planning a trip to Atlanta in late May to visit my good friend from film school, Rrrrrrache. Maybe I'll schedule things so I can pop over to Ft. Lauderdale and hit the Hukilau.
I am planning a trip to Atlanta in late May to visit my good friend from film school, Rrrrrrache. Maybe I'll schedule things so I can pop over to Ft. Lauderdale and hit the Hukilau.
Friday, January 25, 2008
3 lbs of glory!
Yesterday I weighed in and to my great surprise and delight, I've lost 3 lbs since the beginning of the month. Granted, it's not a lot, but it's a start and it sure as hell beats weighing 3 lbs MORE or even no change at all. The best part is that I know I lost those fat pounds just by eating less and better. I haven't done much in the way of exercise earlier this month. This means that now that I am exercising again, plus watching my intake, I should be able to continue the trend.
I went to T'ai Chi Wednesday night and it was good. Mostly. My teacher is still running the class so that we only have a precious few minutes to run through the form. I'm not learning anything, really. The stretching and conditioning is good for me, and it beats nothing at all, but as a T'ai Chi class, I don't feel like I'm able to progress in my practice of the form itself. So the search continues...
Mom had her venogram on Wednesday, and they discovered that her fistula hasn't matured because of all the tiny veins running off, essentially lowering the flow of blood through the area they want to access. So there will have to be yet ANOTHER procedure for that. Poor woman. I feel so badly for all the shit she's having to deal with. Anyway, Bizarro and I are going to see her tomorrow. I'm going to make dinner and get my ass wupped in Scrabble.
The new job at the church continues to go well. It's nice to have something that is not stressful and yet not boring. Also, my first day of class was Wed. and it was fine. You know the first class is always the boring "here's the syllabus, now write an esasy so I can get to know you" kind of thing. Easy peasy. Next week the real work begins.
But now it's Friday and I'm going to relax a bit.
I went to T'ai Chi Wednesday night and it was good. Mostly. My teacher is still running the class so that we only have a precious few minutes to run through the form. I'm not learning anything, really. The stretching and conditioning is good for me, and it beats nothing at all, but as a T'ai Chi class, I don't feel like I'm able to progress in my practice of the form itself. So the search continues...
Mom had her venogram on Wednesday, and they discovered that her fistula hasn't matured because of all the tiny veins running off, essentially lowering the flow of blood through the area they want to access. So there will have to be yet ANOTHER procedure for that. Poor woman. I feel so badly for all the shit she's having to deal with. Anyway, Bizarro and I are going to see her tomorrow. I'm going to make dinner and get my ass wupped in Scrabble.
The new job at the church continues to go well. It's nice to have something that is not stressful and yet not boring. Also, my first day of class was Wed. and it was fine. You know the first class is always the boring "here's the syllabus, now write an esasy so I can get to know you" kind of thing. Easy peasy. Next week the real work begins.
But now it's Friday and I'm going to relax a bit.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Quickie
I love quickies, don't you?
My class starts tomorrow and I'm stoked. I am so excited to fill their lil' heads with k-now-ledge and help them learn how to right.
This semester I'm using a theme near and dear to my hart -- "Cross Cultural Perspectives." I'm using this text book: Ourselves Among Others: Readings from Home and Abroad. Unfortunately, I only have an old edition here at home, which is substantially different from the 4th edition, so I'm waiting for my new desk copy to arrive.
I'm hoping to get my butt back to Korea later this year for a conference - we'll see how it goes. I'll update here if and when I know anything.
Time to go out into the world and buy groceries and learn Korean!
My class starts tomorrow and I'm stoked. I am so excited to fill their lil' heads with k-now-ledge and help them learn how to right.
This semester I'm using a theme near and dear to my hart -- "Cross Cultural Perspectives." I'm using this text book: Ourselves Among Others: Readings from Home and Abroad. Unfortunately, I only have an old edition here at home, which is substantially different from the 4th edition, so I'm waiting for my new desk copy to arrive.
I'm hoping to get my butt back to Korea later this year for a conference - we'll see how it goes. I'll update here if and when I know anything.
Time to go out into the world and buy groceries and learn Korean!
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Dolce
Those bums removed the vid from YouTube! The sound quality of this one isn't nearly as good, but it'll do:
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Murphy's Law or Mercury in Retrograde?
Today I was supposed to drive to my mom's after work and take care of her after her venogram this morning. Half way through the morning she called to tell me that they'd gotten her all prepped and ready, and the goddamn machine wasn't working! So they'd rescheduled it for tomorrow. I could still drive down tonight and then drive her to the hospital and dialysis tomorrow for all of that. Then around 4:00 she called back to say they'd rescheduled her AGAIN (for the THIRD TIME) for next Wed because the machine needed parts they wouldn't get in time to be able to do her tomorrow at 1:00. Of course Wed. I can't be with her because I'm teaching and then working the next day. I'll probably drive down in the evening and drive to work from her place the next morning.
It's all very frustrating for mom and I feel really bad for her. I will go visit her this weekend, anyway.
Speaking of work, yes, today was my first day at the Church. I think I'm really going to like it there. I even get to learn and use Publisher as part of the job, so if nothing else, I'll have a new skill by the time I leave someday. I love that I have a skylight right over my desk - and there are windows aplenty in the place so I won't feel like I'm in a cave. I decided that come spring I will get my old bike tuned up and will ride there on decent days.
It's snowing out now and maybe it's just as well I don't drive down to mom's tonight. I saw sanders out on the highway, so the roads might be slick this evening.
Now I have the evening to myself...whatever shall I do?
It's all very frustrating for mom and I feel really bad for her. I will go visit her this weekend, anyway.
Speaking of work, yes, today was my first day at the Church. I think I'm really going to like it there. I even get to learn and use Publisher as part of the job, so if nothing else, I'll have a new skill by the time I leave someday. I love that I have a skylight right over my desk - and there are windows aplenty in the place so I won't feel like I'm in a cave. I decided that come spring I will get my old bike tuned up and will ride there on decent days.
It's snowing out now and maybe it's just as well I don't drive down to mom's tonight. I saw sanders out on the highway, so the roads might be slick this evening.
Now I have the evening to myself...whatever shall I do?
Check This Out:
My friend Vix is in Chile for a few months working with refugees. She's started up a blog you can see here. I'll add her to my blog roll.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Andromeda
I know I've posted these before, but they're worth looking at and hearing again:
I LOVED that episode of Buck Rogers when I was a kid!
I LOVED that episode of Buck Rogers when I was a kid!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Monday, Monday, Can't Trust That Day...
I always did like the Mamas and the Papas.
It's a snowy rainy messy dingy day out there. The kind of day that makes you want to stay in. I have to go to the post office at some point to mail my grant application, though.
Aside from that I'm spending the day at the computer writing. Now, armed with my first cuppa joe of the day, I am ready to git 'er done. It's the last week of break, and I start my new job at the end of the week, so I have to make the most of the next 3 days.
A bit of news on my documentary - for some reason the transfer from miniDV to DVD didn't come out, so I will have them redone. This puts my editing schedule off but it can't be helped. C'est la guerre.
And now this:
I went to the liberry yesterday and got the DVD set of Captain Scarlett.
It's a snowy rainy messy dingy day out there. The kind of day that makes you want to stay in. I have to go to the post office at some point to mail my grant application, though.
Aside from that I'm spending the day at the computer writing. Now, armed with my first cuppa joe of the day, I am ready to git 'er done. It's the last week of break, and I start my new job at the end of the week, so I have to make the most of the next 3 days.
A bit of news on my documentary - for some reason the transfer from miniDV to DVD didn't come out, so I will have them redone. This puts my editing schedule off but it can't be helped. C'est la guerre.
And now this:
I went to the liberry yesterday and got the DVD set of Captain Scarlett.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Life Goes On
Yesterday was Uncle Bill's funeral. It was a tiring day: we drove to pick up mom and then drove another 30 minutes to the city where the funeral was. On a flat tire. When we parked, the parking attendant let me know I had a flat. Thankfully there was a Firestone next door and they fixed it (took 'em about 15 minutes and of course they charged for an hour of labor, those bastards).
The funeral was at the Salvation Army citadel where my Uncle was active. The service was about 1 and 3/4 hours long, and I'd say about 20% of it was about my Uncle. The rest of it was about Jesus and the Bible, with the brass band and all. Not at all moving or cathartic for me or my mom. The only time I really felt anything was at the very end, when the U.S. Army guys came in and unfolded the flag, and Taps was played. That's where I broke down. Since the ground was too frozen for the interment, they did what they would have done at the graveside. This is why they came to the service. I wonder how the U.S. Army guys felt about the Salvation "Army" with their ranks and their uniforms and all that.
The only uplifting thing about the whole experience was seeing my cousins and my one remaining uncle again. We all vowed to be in better touch. My cousins aren't that much younger than I am and they only live an hour away. I hope we all follow through with our promise. I held up my end, anyway. I emailed them last night, so we'll see.
Mom held up pretty well. She told me that on Friday she had her first real cry - it finally felt real to her. I'm glad to know she is grieving and mourning and not trying to repress it.
I am doing pretty well, although I had a very odd experience last night as I was falling asleep. I was thinking over the day's images and impressions, and suddenly I was back at my father's wake. I remember (and this will sound gross to you, I'm sure) that I kept touching his face. I couldn't get it that this was him but it WASN'T. I knew that I would never see him again and so I didn't want to move away from the casket. Last night all of this long-forgotten detail came back to me: there was a soft pink spotlight shining down on his face (a trick of the funeral parlor to make the deceased look healthy), and his rosary beads were entwined in his folded hands. He wore a grey suit, and there was the flag from the U.S. Army folded up inside the casket lid. I remember thinking that he just looked asleep (which I guess is the point of the whole embalming thing). The little prayer cards that mom had printed up had The Lady of Fatima on them, to whom Dad was very devoted. I slipped one inside his jacket and said good-bye. Finally mom had to tell me to stop touching him because there was make-up and chemicals and stuff.
Pretty gruesome, huh? And I never had any counseling over this (I was 11 at the time)! Not until I took myself to see someone when I was in my early 30s. Pretty disturbing, huh?
I guess I'm still processing that loss. I know that it will never go away, that emptiness. But that is life and death, and that is Samsara, and that is just the way it is. I don't have to carry it as a burden. This I've learned, at least.
I promise my next post won't be so depressing.
The funeral was at the Salvation Army citadel where my Uncle was active. The service was about 1 and 3/4 hours long, and I'd say about 20% of it was about my Uncle. The rest of it was about Jesus and the Bible, with the brass band and all. Not at all moving or cathartic for me or my mom. The only time I really felt anything was at the very end, when the U.S. Army guys came in and unfolded the flag, and Taps was played. That's where I broke down. Since the ground was too frozen for the interment, they did what they would have done at the graveside. This is why they came to the service. I wonder how the U.S. Army guys felt about the Salvation "Army" with their ranks and their uniforms and all that.
The only uplifting thing about the whole experience was seeing my cousins and my one remaining uncle again. We all vowed to be in better touch. My cousins aren't that much younger than I am and they only live an hour away. I hope we all follow through with our promise. I held up my end, anyway. I emailed them last night, so we'll see.
Mom held up pretty well. She told me that on Friday she had her first real cry - it finally felt real to her. I'm glad to know she is grieving and mourning and not trying to repress it.
I am doing pretty well, although I had a very odd experience last night as I was falling asleep. I was thinking over the day's images and impressions, and suddenly I was back at my father's wake. I remember (and this will sound gross to you, I'm sure) that I kept touching his face. I couldn't get it that this was him but it WASN'T. I knew that I would never see him again and so I didn't want to move away from the casket. Last night all of this long-forgotten detail came back to me: there was a soft pink spotlight shining down on his face (a trick of the funeral parlor to make the deceased look healthy), and his rosary beads were entwined in his folded hands. He wore a grey suit, and there was the flag from the U.S. Army folded up inside the casket lid. I remember thinking that he just looked asleep (which I guess is the point of the whole embalming thing). The little prayer cards that mom had printed up had The Lady of Fatima on them, to whom Dad was very devoted. I slipped one inside his jacket and said good-bye. Finally mom had to tell me to stop touching him because there was make-up and chemicals and stuff.
Pretty gruesome, huh? And I never had any counseling over this (I was 11 at the time)! Not until I took myself to see someone when I was in my early 30s. Pretty disturbing, huh?
I guess I'm still processing that loss. I know that it will never go away, that emptiness. But that is life and death, and that is Samsara, and that is just the way it is. I don't have to carry it as a burden. This I've learned, at least.
I promise my next post won't be so depressing.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Some Good News, at Long Last
The other day my fortune cookie message said "All the news you receive will be positive and uplifting." I taped it onto the shelf of my desk right over my computer. And guess what? Those fortune cookie messages sure know what they're talking about!
I will be starting a new part-time job next week at a local church that's within a short walk of my apartment, as of next Thursday. It's funny - when the temp agency first told me about this, I knew it was the perfect fit (hours, pay, location and environment) but it took a couple weeks of misfires for me to actually get the interview, and the woman offered the job to me on the spot.
"But Ms. Bizarro," you ask, "Why on EARTH do you want to work at a Catholic Church?" The answer, my friend, in simple: better to dance with the devil you know than the one you don't. Seriously, I grew up in the Church and went to Catholic schools my whole young life, so I know the terrain. And believe it or not, there are still parts of the RCC that I respect, even though I reject their backwards teachings about sexuality and women in the priesthood. I guess what I'm saying is there's enough background and understanding for me to work there without any problem. And mostly I'll be working as a receptionist and keeping calendars - it's not like I'll be teaching a CCD class. Besides, I like the small office atmosphere in the environment that actually serves other people, rather than its own interests (such as a business or academia). I know some would say that the Church DOES serve its own interests, and I'm sure on the Vatican level that is true, but at the local level, it's about helping people and providing support through community service.
So - now I can breathe because I have something I can count on even when the teaching is sporadic. And I'm excited that I can walk through a beautiful neighborhood to get to work and have a feeling that I'm contributing something to the world.
Yay for me! I think a celebration is in order.
I will be starting a new part-time job next week at a local church that's within a short walk of my apartment, as of next Thursday. It's funny - when the temp agency first told me about this, I knew it was the perfect fit (hours, pay, location and environment) but it took a couple weeks of misfires for me to actually get the interview, and the woman offered the job to me on the spot.
"But Ms. Bizarro," you ask, "Why on EARTH do you want to work at a Catholic Church?" The answer, my friend, in simple: better to dance with the devil you know than the one you don't. Seriously, I grew up in the Church and went to Catholic schools my whole young life, so I know the terrain. And believe it or not, there are still parts of the RCC that I respect, even though I reject their backwards teachings about sexuality and women in the priesthood. I guess what I'm saying is there's enough background and understanding for me to work there without any problem. And mostly I'll be working as a receptionist and keeping calendars - it's not like I'll be teaching a CCD class. Besides, I like the small office atmosphere in the environment that actually serves other people, rather than its own interests (such as a business or academia). I know some would say that the Church DOES serve its own interests, and I'm sure on the Vatican level that is true, but at the local level, it's about helping people and providing support through community service.
So - now I can breathe because I have something I can count on even when the teaching is sporadic. And I'm excited that I can walk through a beautiful neighborhood to get to work and have a feeling that I'm contributing something to the world.
Yay for me! I think a celebration is in order.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Hump-a-dump-dump
Today is Wednesday, commonly referred to by the masses as "Hump Day." My first job out of college was at a medical billing office, and the girls working there were only a year older than me. They'd graduated from my high school but never went to college. Instead they opted for the safe 9-5 desk job and lived very insular lives. Anyway, they always went out drinking on Hump Day and came in Thursday morning looking like something the cat dragged in. No work was done before lunch time on Thursdays, and they always ate these nasty chili dogs at their desks on Thursday mornings to cure their hangovers. I pitied them because their benders weren't in service of anything besides desperation and looking for a husband.
How's that for smug?
How's that for smug?
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The Good: Two days of partly-sunny skies and near-60 degree temps are doing wonders for my mood.
The Bad: Still facing the funeral for my Uncle Bill this Saturday; and also found out I didn't make it into the semi-finalist round for one of the screenplay competitions I entered last fall.
The Ugly: My writing retreat is canceled because the people at the artists' colony didn't have their shit together and ungraciously bowed out when I called to confirm yesterday. Also, the director of the program at Out of Town University refused to write me a letter of recommendation because she supposedly didn't feel she knew me well enough after only one semester. Never mind that I drove and hour and a half through thick fog, pelting rain, and treacherous snow storm and was never late once for class or a student conference. Never mind that I drove my ass that hour and a half with 2nd degree burns on my face, in pain and exhausted. And the list goes on. I got this news only a few minutes before I found out about Uncle Bill, so last Thursday had to have been just about the suckiest day in awhile.
I know I'm supposed to be leaving the past behind and moving on, but these little tendrils of the total SUCK that was the last half 2007 are still reaching out to trip me up and drag me back into the muck. The Muck of Suck.
Yesterday I was pretty goddamned depressed after the artist colony debacle, but Salty Miss Jill came to my rescue and took me to lunch at our local Chinese/Vietnamese place.
I am working on making the best of the time I have left this break, and not losing any sleep over the assholes that continue to dominate the landscape. Assholes will always be there in some form or another, as will bad luck and tough breaks. Gotta shake their dust from my boots and keep a'goin'. But it ain't easy.
The Bad: Still facing the funeral for my Uncle Bill this Saturday; and also found out I didn't make it into the semi-finalist round for one of the screenplay competitions I entered last fall.
The Ugly: My writing retreat is canceled because the people at the artists' colony didn't have their shit together and ungraciously bowed out when I called to confirm yesterday. Also, the director of the program at Out of Town University refused to write me a letter of recommendation because she supposedly didn't feel she knew me well enough after only one semester. Never mind that I drove and hour and a half through thick fog, pelting rain, and treacherous snow storm and was never late once for class or a student conference. Never mind that I drove my ass that hour and a half with 2nd degree burns on my face, in pain and exhausted. And the list goes on. I got this news only a few minutes before I found out about Uncle Bill, so last Thursday had to have been just about the suckiest day in awhile.
I know I'm supposed to be leaving the past behind and moving on, but these little tendrils of the total SUCK that was the last half 2007 are still reaching out to trip me up and drag me back into the muck. The Muck of Suck.
Yesterday I was pretty goddamned depressed after the artist colony debacle, but Salty Miss Jill came to my rescue and took me to lunch at our local Chinese/Vietnamese place.
I am working on making the best of the time I have left this break, and not losing any sleep over the assholes that continue to dominate the landscape. Assholes will always be there in some form or another, as will bad luck and tough breaks. Gotta shake their dust from my boots and keep a'goin'. But it ain't easy.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Picking up the pieces
I'm back home after the last few days at Momazoo's. I am utterly exhausted in every way. And I have a shitload of stuff to do here - take down the xmas tree, do piles of laundry, and get some exercise in.
Mom is doing okay; she thanked us a dozen times for being there and helping her through the worst of the shock and grief. My mom tends to hold in her anxiety and unhappy feelings, but I encouraged her not to do that, that it wasn't healthy to repress all that stuff. I reminded her how close we are and that all she needs to do is pick up the phone if she's feeling really down. Today she went to church as per usual and will have her "ladies" over for coffee and cake in the afternoon as she normally does on Sunday. I think the routine and company will be good for her. Yesterday I drove her and one of her friends who lives in the same building over to their beauty salon to get their hair done. I think it was good for her to get out of the house and be around other people.
And of course, as Salty Miss Jill has reminded me, I need to take care of myself, too. I'm not sure how to do that. I have crap to get done that has piled up over the last 4 days, and I gotta get it done. But I will feel good when I get the boring stuff done today and can start logging my Korea video tomorrow. I will have 2 full days of writing retreat before I'll have to leave for the funeral, and then another 2.5 days of retreat after that. So that's something (and remember folks, there's a jacuzzi tub at the retreat house!). Nothing better come in the way of me and that retreat, or there will be HELL TO PAY!
And can I just say that we have had grey skies for 4 days straight and there is no sun in the forecast for the next few days? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? I hate living in this god-forsaken sun-less place. I need to be able to spend winters in some lovely warm place and come back in spring. How can I make that happen? If you have any suggestions, please leave them here.
Okay, now I have to get to all the crap that awaits me. I am going to open my shrine and meditate before I get started.
Mom is doing okay; she thanked us a dozen times for being there and helping her through the worst of the shock and grief. My mom tends to hold in her anxiety and unhappy feelings, but I encouraged her not to do that, that it wasn't healthy to repress all that stuff. I reminded her how close we are and that all she needs to do is pick up the phone if she's feeling really down. Today she went to church as per usual and will have her "ladies" over for coffee and cake in the afternoon as she normally does on Sunday. I think the routine and company will be good for her. Yesterday I drove her and one of her friends who lives in the same building over to their beauty salon to get their hair done. I think it was good for her to get out of the house and be around other people.
And of course, as Salty Miss Jill has reminded me, I need to take care of myself, too. I'm not sure how to do that. I have crap to get done that has piled up over the last 4 days, and I gotta get it done. But I will feel good when I get the boring stuff done today and can start logging my Korea video tomorrow. I will have 2 full days of writing retreat before I'll have to leave for the funeral, and then another 2.5 days of retreat after that. So that's something (and remember folks, there's a jacuzzi tub at the retreat house!). Nothing better come in the way of me and that retreat, or there will be HELL TO PAY!
And can I just say that we have had grey skies for 4 days straight and there is no sun in the forecast for the next few days? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? I hate living in this god-forsaken sun-less place. I need to be able to spend winters in some lovely warm place and come back in spring. How can I make that happen? If you have any suggestions, please leave them here.
Okay, now I have to get to all the crap that awaits me. I am going to open my shrine and meditate before I get started.
Friday, January 04, 2008
Unbelievable...
So much for 2008 starting us off on the right foot...
My dear Uncle Bill passed away quite suddenly yesterday after a freakish slip on ice outside his home. He fell and slammed his head on the pavement. They rushed him to the hospital but the neurosurgeons were in surgery and so they flew him to a one of the bigger cities nearby. The surgeons did their best but nothing could be done - he'd bled out too much in the brain.
Yesterday was surreal - I drove to take mom to the hospital, we sat for 2 hours in the waiting room because of an emergency procedure they had to attend to. They started to bring us in, but then had to send us home because there was another emergency they had to take care of. It was probably that 2nd emergency that kept the neurosurgeon occupied when my Uncle went in a short time later.
I took mom home, we had a snack together, then I drove back to my apartment. 45 minutes later I got the call from mom and later that night I got the call from my Aunt that Uncle Bill didn't make it.
Bizarro and I drove back to my mom's last night; mom is an absolute mess. We stayed over and have just come back home for a couple hours tonight to gather a few things and get a couple errands run. We're headed back there tonight and will stay until Sunday. The funeral is next Saturday, but I know that my mom needs us around now to keep her from falling into a depression. She and Uncle Bill were brother and sister, very close. He was a truly wonderful, kind, generous, compassionate man, with a sense of humor and always a positive word to say about everyone. I will miss him dearly.
Why am I blogging all of this? Because I have to write it down. It doesn't seem real. It's so sudden, and I am reeling with my own grief and worry for my mom. All last night while driving to mom's (45 minutes) I kept saying over and over again, "It's not fair." He had some health problems but wasn't sick like my mom is. He was active and still working part time, for krissakes. He leaves a widow who was devoted to him and who relied on him heavily, and an adult son who is developmentally disabled. Whatever will they do without him?
Okay, I've got this out of my system a little. Kudos to Bizarro for being so great at this horrid time. I need a shower, food and a nap.
My dear Uncle Bill passed away quite suddenly yesterday after a freakish slip on ice outside his home. He fell and slammed his head on the pavement. They rushed him to the hospital but the neurosurgeons were in surgery and so they flew him to a one of the bigger cities nearby. The surgeons did their best but nothing could be done - he'd bled out too much in the brain.
Yesterday was surreal - I drove to take mom to the hospital, we sat for 2 hours in the waiting room because of an emergency procedure they had to attend to. They started to bring us in, but then had to send us home because there was another emergency they had to take care of. It was probably that 2nd emergency that kept the neurosurgeon occupied when my Uncle went in a short time later.
I took mom home, we had a snack together, then I drove back to my apartment. 45 minutes later I got the call from mom and later that night I got the call from my Aunt that Uncle Bill didn't make it.
Bizarro and I drove back to my mom's last night; mom is an absolute mess. We stayed over and have just come back home for a couple hours tonight to gather a few things and get a couple errands run. We're headed back there tonight and will stay until Sunday. The funeral is next Saturday, but I know that my mom needs us around now to keep her from falling into a depression. She and Uncle Bill were brother and sister, very close. He was a truly wonderful, kind, generous, compassionate man, with a sense of humor and always a positive word to say about everyone. I will miss him dearly.
Why am I blogging all of this? Because I have to write it down. It doesn't seem real. It's so sudden, and I am reeling with my own grief and worry for my mom. All last night while driving to mom's (45 minutes) I kept saying over and over again, "It's not fair." He had some health problems but wasn't sick like my mom is. He was active and still working part time, for krissakes. He leaves a widow who was devoted to him and who relied on him heavily, and an adult son who is developmentally disabled. Whatever will they do without him?
Okay, I've got this out of my system a little. Kudos to Bizarro for being so great at this horrid time. I need a shower, food and a nap.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Balls Cold
It is -2 outside according to our local rag website. According to weather.com, it's -1 and FEELS like -14. Jeezus H. Keerist on a pogo stick. I gotta drive to Momazoo's this morning to take her to the hospital for yet another procedure for her dialysis fistula thingie.
Have I mentioned that it's BALLS COLD outside?
Have I mentioned that it's BALLS COLD outside?
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
New Year's Day
So far we've had a good day. This morning our new futon was delivered (the old one was starting to fall apart - literally), so when Bizarro gets home it'll be out with old and how the F8ck do we put together the new? I've been on a cleaning spree since last night - much needed. It feels good. Again out with the old...
Our new year's eve was quiet but very nice. We opened a bottle of bubbly and toasted at midnight while watching the ball drop in Times Square (and might I say that Dick Clark looks and sounds a damn sight better than he did last year when he screwed up the count down!). Called our families just after midnight and such, and we also kept the tradition in Bizarro's family to turn on all the lights in the house and open all the inside doors for good luck in the new year!
Earlier today while I was dusting I listened to the Vienna Symphony play their traditional New Year's concert on NPR. I do enjoy me some Strauss waltzes (all of 'em).
I am content.
Our new year's eve was quiet but very nice. We opened a bottle of bubbly and toasted at midnight while watching the ball drop in Times Square (and might I say that Dick Clark looks and sounds a damn sight better than he did last year when he screwed up the count down!). Called our families just after midnight and such, and we also kept the tradition in Bizarro's family to turn on all the lights in the house and open all the inside doors for good luck in the new year!
Earlier today while I was dusting I listened to the Vienna Symphony play their traditional New Year's concert on NPR. I do enjoy me some Strauss waltzes (all of 'em).
I am content.
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