Monday, November 13, 2006
Some excellent times this weekend were offset by too many heart-in-my-throat anxiety attacks. Lately the big life issues have been looming large. Like this morning, when the little man casually declared “both of our brothers are dead.” I replied, “yes honey, yes they are. And that is sad.” He chewed on that thought for a moment before announcing “I’d like to have a new brother.” Wasn’t quite sure what to say to that. I’m pretty certain my baby-making days are over, but I’m not going to be so blunt with the lad. I fear this could turn into an excuse to adopt another cat, but not until after the oh-so-allergic husband moves out. Speaking of which, I guess I should really go back to calling him J…
So the weekend wasn’t all bad. Between panic attacks J and I managed to get an evening out. I swear, we’ve been getting along a lot better since we decided to split up. Anyhow, our favorite Indian restaurant, Udupi, was shut down a while back. Then it was sold and eventually renamed. It’s not the same at all now. But a new vegetarian Indian restaurant has opened up in the same area. And it is oh so creatively named The Vegetarian. But it was pretty good. I’ll be going back to sample other dishes. After dinner we went on to see The Prestige (and arrived at the theater early enough to get in two rounds of air hockey beforehand). We’d both read the book a few years ago and, from what I recall of it, the film adaptation was fairly faithful. And it managed to keep me awake past midnight. That’s saying something considering how dead tired I’ve been.
Saturday’s highlights included brunch with the in-laws, some afternoon napping, housecleaning, and then, the best thing ever - taking my Dad to a MN RollerGirls bout. What a blast. I knew he’d love it. Though we felt awful for the away team from Ohio. Those girls got creamed! Seriously.
Sunday was filled with minor accomplishments. Getting my ass to the gym. Washing a few loads of laundry. Finishing the book I’d been reading. Realizing that car dealerships aren’t open on Sundays. Obsessing over used cars on the internets instead. Hopefully that’s one stressful To Do item that can be crossed off the list soon. Today I test drove a car and put down a deposit to hold it. Now I’ve just got to finalize the financing and get some car insurance set up and that baby will be mine. Along with the headache of monthly payments. Yay, back to the anxiety attacks!
Friday, November 10, 2006
Yesterday was full of strange and off-putting frustrations.
We realized there was a pigeon trapped in the attic. After someone had been paid to clear out the pigeons and seal the attic off. Apparently they sealed one in. Poor thing was stuck up there for nearly a week.
Yesterday I received not one but two phone calls from the little man’s school. The first was to let me know they’d lost some crucial paperwork that I’d filled out and turned in weeks ago. And yay, now I get to do it all over again! The second call was even worse. I was informed that my dear sweet child had been jabbed in the eye - with a pencil! Thankfully it was the eraser end rather than the pointy tip. And his face was, get this, “protected” by a piece of paper he happened to be holding up at the time. I feel like sending him back to school today in protective eyewear and full body armor. Armor not made of paper. Well, maybe if it was cardboard.
My car search seems to have stalled out. The credit union told me they’d have two guys on the case, doing the footwork so I wouldn’t have to. And I did hear from one of them. On Tuesday. Nothing since. So I guess it’s up to me. I used to be a VW girl, but I’m thinking I should do the right thing and go with a reliable used Toyota or Honda. Though I am powerfully intrigued by the 2002 or 2003 Mazda Protege5. Yes, the sportwagon. It’s sweet! Any opinions out there about this?
Oh, and speaking of VWs…my crazy friend Dave is flying down to St. Louis, to buy a Jetta and drive it back up to Minnesota (because it’s diesel and he’s all about the bio-diesel). Though the idea of a road trip right about now is seriously tempting. At least it’s nearly the weekend. And I do have plans within plans.
Tuesday, November 7, 2006
I hate the cover of the book I’m currently reading. There’s a dude on it - well, there are two dudes on it, really - but the one that is just a disembodied glowing head looks alarmingly like Professor X. And he looks seriously peeved. Probably because he can read my mind and all. And right now that is a cluttered mess. Chock full of action items I could or should be taking care of right this very moment, while also brimming over with big life questions. It’s no wonder I’m having a hard time getting past the first hundred pages. And now Jean Luc, I mean Professor X, is glaring at me…silently reproaching me for turning my back on him and my typically escapist tendencies. But hey, I’ll always have alliteration.
Bonus: I completely forgot about Guy Fawkes Night, but Chuck happened upon a celebration…on the beach in the Bay Area, of all places.
It’s like I’ve lost my voice. All these thoughts are rolling around my busy brain, but nothing is bubbling to the surface. I can’t even blame it on NaNo. So far I’ve written maybe 500 words in five days rather than 2000/day (though I do like the direction this new story is taking me). I will admit…there is an awful lot going on behind the scenes here. Contrary to popular belief I don’t make all of my business public or post every little thing that pops into my head. Just most every little thing.
So, the new camera and I? Well we’re still in the awkward fumbling phase. But there’s real potential there. I can feel it. After taking ‘er out for a spin (well, a flickr photowalk) I am much less apprehensive. Now I just need to figure out which lens would be the best fit.
On the random tip, yesterday morning I walked into my kitchen, looked out the patio doors and saw four GIGANTIC birds strolling around my backyard. I swear they were wild turkeys. Sadly my photos of the incident aren’t very clear. They’re not like, bigfoot blurry, but still.
Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Wow, November first. Not just All Saints Day. Today is significant for other reasons as well.
- The little man slept in this morning, after his exciting yet exhausting introduction to the world of trick or treating. His enthusiasm was inspiring and his projection was top notch (he was practically shouting TRICK OR TREAT). And the lad remembered to say “thank you” at every house. Well done. We’ll definitely be doing that again. Only on Halloween, of course.
- It is time to celebrate the birth of Empress Eve. Happy Birthday Eve!
- Speaking of which, it’s also World Vegan Day.
- Today saw the kick off National Writing Month. I don’t know if I’m insane enough to give it a go this year, tempted though I am (speaking of insane, the Austin, TX group got together at midnight last night to kick things off). A much more reasonable compromise would be NaBloPoMo. But it seems a bit silly. I post to this blog nearly every day as it is and have heard from some readers that it is too much.
- The surprise I alluded to yesterday? It’s a camera. I worry that the learning curve will be steep. I’ve been using my Olympus C-4040Z for so long…we have a symbiotic relationship. That camera is like an extension of me. It sees what I see and I don’t have to think at all to use it. This new one? Frankly I find it a bit intimidating. Though I haven’t given it a chance yet. It arrived yesterday and I haven’t had time to sit down and play around with it. Soon. Very soon. And maybe someday we too will be as one.
Five good things:
- I used to dread Daylight Savings, but falling back didn’t throw us off too badly this year.
- One of the light bulbs in the dining room needs to be replaced. This morning the little man was convinced that some nefarious evildoer had entered our home in the night, with the sole purpose of rendering this one light fixture useless. And he seems to find this notion much less alarming than he does the idea of natural entropy. The boy has such a wild imagination. He is definitely his mother’s son.
- The lad and I had a blast at the Chuck E. Cheese birthday party. He had such a grand time that he wants to have his next birthday party there. We’ll see.
- Our pumpkin carving party went well. The smallish turnout worked in our favor. The chaos was controllable (we still had eight pumpkins to carve) and there was BBQ Tofu leftover this time. That is a rare thing.
- My Dad is going to the next Rollergirls bout with me! Yay!
Tomorrow: In years past the little man has been content to stay home with mom on Halloween, helping to hand out vegan-safe candy to the neighbor kids. But this year he wants in on this trick-or-treating business for the first time. It should be exciting. And I’ve promised to bring the non-vegan goodies in to my co-workers.
The arm is healing but it’s going to take a little time. Yesterday I very carefully took a bath. This morning I’m desperate for a shower but I just know that’s going to sting like a mofo. Oh well.
As usual we have a crazy busy weekend ahead of us. While the little man has an overnight with grandma tonight I’m going to the Walker with friends, to catch a special screening of Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus. Bright and early tomorrow morning I’ll retrieve the lad and whisk him off to a child’s birthday party…at a Chuck E. Cheese (we’ve never been, this promises to be quite the experience). Sunday we’re having our own party, Halloween-style, and the house needs some serious cleaning beforehand. I’m tired just thinking about it. So it’s no wonder I skipped the Marjane Satrapi reading last night. I’m extremely disappointed - I think her graphic novels* are amazing and inspiring - but I really needed to rest up.
Next weekend will be a busy one as well. We’re finally having another Twin Cities group flickr photowalk, in St. Paul (with a bonus surprise, but I’ll wait before I spring that bit of info) and it’s also Art Attack! at the Northrup King building. Should be good times.
Note: I wasn’t going to get into the graphic novels vs. comic books debate, but…I have no problem with calling ‘em comic books. Recently I read Brian K. Vaughan’s Ex Machina: The First Hundred Days. Clearly a comic book (and an awesome one at that, I’ll have to read the others now). But Marjane Satrapi’s stuff…well, it’s not glossy full-color (strictly black and white) and I’ve only read her work in hardcover, so it just doesn’t feel like “comic book” applies. I could be wrong.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Today was my 33â…“ birthday. I didn’t get a chance to listen to any vinyl, but I did get my Kraken! It had been over ten years since my last tattoo, and it was at the hands of the very same man. I am so glad I went back to him. Sure, there was a little anxiety in the days leading up to the appointment, because the artwork hadn’t been totally finalized (and hey, this is permanent and all) but I couldn’t be happier with the results. And catching up with Nic was hella fun too. I am exhausted but happy. Now I just need to figure out a way to sleep tonight. Must take care not to put pressure on my sore shoulder and arm…so my usual bellyflop position is out. Naturally I’ll be posting more photos, after the slimy bandages come off and it’s all cleaned up.
Bonus: Very short stories, written by some of my very favorite people.
Plus: Yay, the Vegan Lunch Box cookbook is out now!
And: Mimi Smartypants makes me laugh regularly. Especially when she’s high on Dayquil.
