Got The Yuck

Woke up yesterday with a headache that soon became a massive headwrecker with a side of nausea. Cameron thought I was getting The Ick - the bug he had a week ago - but it was only The Yuck.

I went to a friend's house night before last, thinking we'd be going out for dinner. Turned out the plan was to help her make dinner. It was fun and tasty, but now I think those meatballs weren't cooked as thoroughly as they should have been. I remember one of them looked a tad pink in the center and at the time I thought, I wonder if that should be pink?

Best part though, after dinner we played Guitar Hero and it was amazingly fun. I don't know how they make it *feel* good to hit the right notes, but they've done it. I'm hooked. Can't wait to start rockin out at home.

Boxing Day

As in, striking repeatedly. Another Christmas logged. I said logged. I need a week to myself on a deserted island.

Christmas was great - lovely and relaxing. It's all the wedding stuff that's making me crazy. It was supposed to be a low key, mellow deal, which I think it will be in the end, but the rush to get invites ordered immediately after Christmas seems a bit crazed.

I wanted to design them myself, not order them out of a book full of the ordinary. But whatever. In the big picture, no one cares about the invite. What really matters is making sure people know about the open bar and that there will be CAKE!

Ice

Finally picked up the ring today... It's similar to the original design, but seems like someone else's ring. It's taking time to get used to it. It's a solid symbol of what's coming - like now it's more real or serious. Not sure how I feel about that... I've really enjoyed all these years I've been married to myself. I think I'm going to miss that.

All Hail Festivus

This might be the best Christmas since I was 7 years old. Not because I'm drinking enough spiked nog to once again believe in Santa, but maybe because this year we decided -- with full family support and agreement -- to not buy any gifts. Food items are allowed, but no "stuff."

Without the stress of shopping for umpteen people and worrying about the ginormous cost of that, it's felt more like Christmas this year than in the past 20 (or 30, if we're being truthful about age).

And this relaxed, festive feeling comes without taking time off work. You can't miss the energy of the season when you're downtown around the decorations, shoppers & tourists. Ice skating at lunch helps, too, as does driving around town to see the decorated homes.

Even though it comes up faster every year, we've been able to slow down and truly enjoy it before it's gone in the blink of an eye. Time for some more nog.

Festivus

Thanks to Jeff & Randy's lovely home decorations for tons of fun holiday shots. Happy egg noggin.

Holy Crap - What Have I Done?

I've been engaged since Friday. I've stressed to the Mother Parental Unit many times that there are NO plans as of this moment - this most current moment being the 3rd day since making this crazy move. I told her we've discussed the merits of a very small 'do at SF City Hall. To that, she replied:

"Question, when you say a small family wedding, who all are you thinking about? Just your brothers and familles, or your cousins, as in Mike and Sally etc?

We really need to sit down over a calendar and get organized. What sort of 'vacation time' do you guys have during the next 6 months? If you guys want to, would you like to come down here on Sat? We can talk over some ides and then have dinner.

I am always available to help you, but I don't want you to think I am being pushy. It is always good to brain storm some thoughts and see where we get to. Just let me know. This can be a really fun experience."

Holy crap. She's down there in San Jose putting together a float that she's gonna drive up here with a tank, and on that float she's gonna put every person she's ever spoken to about anything, and then she's going to grab David and I and throw us onto the front of that float and she's gonna drive that thing all over town.

How much vacation time? How much time could this possibly take? Do I have to apply for a leave of absence from work? Should I make sure I'm current on all my vaccinations? What the hell is happening?

We're going to have to leave the country.

Betrothed

I said I'd never do it again. But - I said yes. My Nana's ring is getting repaired in time to wear for Christmas.

It's weird. Nothing's changed, yet everything seems a little different. Like we moved all the furniture in the front room to the left a couple of inches. Mother and mother-in-law-to-be are asking when, where, etc. We don't know yet!

And now, for just for a little while, I want to be alone to sit with it. I'm sure by Monday I'll have forgotten this ever happened until my mother calls me for the tenth time to ask me when we're going shopping for invitations.

Goodness

There is goodness in the world. Last night I was jamming down the escalator to Bart, looking for my Bart card I'd shoved in my back pocket earlier in the day. Reaching into my back pocket, I felt nothing but fabric... shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.

That was a $60 Bart card, used only a few times, GONE. Shit. Dammit. Shit. I looked in the side pocket of my bag, wondering if by some magic trick it had migrated from my back pocket, where I normally *never* keep it, to where it was supposed to be. I stood there for a moment, iPod filling my head with some song, thinking, Great, now I have to go buy a brand new Bart card - great.

And then someone tapped me on the shoulder and handed me my Bart card that had fallen out of my pocket on the way down the escalator. I was so thankful. As soon as I landed on the lower platform I was able to jump on the train that was still there & make it home in record time.

Thank You Other Human. You made my day.

Postcard from Puerto Vallarta

Hi pink!

Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
November 3, 2005

Reunions - Why?

Big weekend on deck... a 20th high school reunion. Who thought this was a good idea? I haven't seen any of these people in 20 years - will I know if I'm in the right place? What will we talk about? Never mind - I forgot - that's what the bar is for.

I'm going - I have to see Karen - my high school BFF - because now we can sit together and get drunk, legally.

Keys

qwerty

New Gear

We start today's update with an announcement about our broadcasting equipment upgrade. We finally have a new PC - the first new one since buying a Mac Performa 6100 (with state-of-the-art CD ROM drive!) in 1995. Now we can burn DVDs while blogging and/or reading any number of different media cards.

In other news, electricians work as slowly as Caltrans employees, taking five days to install five ceiling fans and an attic fan. Officials say the team of two will be back for another full day to complete the *original* scope of work - rewiring the old brittle shit so we can blow some friggin insulation up there.

This just in: everything gives me headaches, and some things you might imagine could cause a headache probably do not. Such headache sources have reportedly been certain types of breakfast cereal, too much coffee, certain dairy products, pollen, riding Bart, sinus issues, and running in the early morning hours.

Our business update today reports that working five days a week still blows. However, participants in this recent poll report that a change in personnel has helped mitigate the mind-numbing effects of rising at 5:30 a.m. in order to eke out a few extra precious minutes of "me time" before losing another nine hours of pointless meetings and emails to The Man before being herded back towards mass transit via shifting currents of drone pods. Once home, our poll participants report that their brains are usually so decomposed that the most demanding activity entails watching Must See TV and/or episodes of Laguna Beach.

We hope you enjoyed today's update - thanks for joining us.

I'm a Migraineur!

After a shitty, headache-filled week, I've now learned that I'm a "migraineur." A connoisseur of head-splitting pain... how lovely!

Who wants to trade with me?

rosy