I'm Back

My grandmother's service went well, although seeing the cardboard box her cremated remains were in placed in the ground by my uncle was really difficult. She is finally next to her beloved husband though, and that is gratifying. After the burial, we had a memorial service on the porch of her lake home, sitting and facing the view that she so adored for all those years. My grandparents built a home in the Adirondacks in the 50s and this is where so many of my childhood summers were spent. Being out on the porch with about 50 friends and family, telling stories was just the way she would've wanted to be remembered. She was a kind and gracious woman, always looking out for the least among us. She was generous and funny, quick witted and loving.

I didn't end up speaking during the memorial service, but stayed and shared stories at the luncheon that followed.

My relative who is in the hospital is steadily improving, although he may have some lasting brain damage. Like so many things in life, it's a "wait and see" kinda thing.

I have tons of work to do and get my kids back in half an hour. I can't wait...I have missed them so much. Tonight we'll make a yummy dinner (after four days of traveling and airport food, I am craving healthy stuff) and maybe rent a movie and snuggle on the couch. I am so grateful that are healthy happy children.

Thanks for all the love and support, Lone Reader. This has been a hard summer for me and you've been a source of strength for me. Peace out...

Update

Well, my relative is going to live. He may or not have brain damage. He is currently really struggling with memory loss, anger and some paralysis. It is so profoundly sad.

I leave tomorrow for NY and my grandmother's memorial is on Wednesday morning. I am being pressed to speak and I really don't want to. I dunno what's going to happen. I do know that big family visiting stresses me mightily under the best of circumstances and this is surely not that. Think of me on Wednesday, Lone Reader and send me and my family some good thoughts. Thanks.

tragedy

I am so very, very sad. The same week my family is gathering in upstate NY to celebrate the 90+ years my grandmother was on this Earth, we're now struggling to comprehend the magnitude of hopelessness in a 12-year-old boy.

The ICU doctors are fighting for his life and he is blanketed by the love and compassion and prayers of his family. Thanks for listening, Lone Reader. Helplessness is a horrible, horrible feeling.

Go see the Art of Sweat Rhythm Fest at Patrick's tonight!

My dear friend Todd Harper (who is ironically husband to a queen, yet himself not a king) is curating a show tonight and tomorrow night at Patrick's Cabaret in Minneapolis. It's called the Art of Sweat Rhythm Fest #3 and it sounds amazing. I listened to his interview on KFAI's Art Matters last night and I'm really looking forward to seeing the show. I'm flying solo tonight, so if you're a friend of mine come say hi! (If you're not a friend, then don't because if you're a stalker I'd just have to change my blog again.)

Other than that, it's been a horrific day...3 hours of sleep, feel like a large animal is sitting on my chest, I'm gonna hurl, and so much work yet to be done. I am SO looking forward to a little downtime tonight. sigh. I am really gonna miss my kids when I go to NY, Lone Reader. But tonight I shall distract myself with music and beats...always good.

Sonic in St. Paul!

Yes, the first Sonic in Minnesota is in my hometown, St. Paul. It opened about 3 weeks ago. I have to say, I loves me some Sonic. Why? One reason, pal: I love soda. Sonic has a mind-blowing array of shoices of sugar-free bevs, from limeade to Diet Sprite, Dr. Pepper and Coke. You can get fresh limes, cherries and or lemons in any drink and a whole host of flavors added. Oh my stars, as Samantha Stevens would say. It's too fab.

Combine the choices with the ice, and it's all good, baby. That's right...I said the ice. Pellet ice. Me likey.

Hey!! This is my 100th post. Gee, I wish it was about something more substantial than my obsession with sodey-cokes. Hmmm...shall we discuss the intersection of Hegelian dialectic and conspiracy theories in globalization studies? Nah...I'm gonna get me some Diet Coke with lemons and cherries.

Stuff You Never Asked (or cared about)

1. My life now:
Yes, chaos reigns supreme at the Shack de Whack. I leave for NY on Tuesday morning, and before then I must: write several grants, do some freelance editing, bake a cake, wrap presents, go to a board retreat, hear an old friend play at Patrick’s Cabaret Friday night, hear a friend’s son play at Trotter’s on Saturday night, purchase supplies for the block party the weekend I get back, purchase art supplies for a kids art class I’m teaching when I get back, get my hair done and pack. sigh. Life is a little cuckoo britches if you catch my drift. On the plus side, I had a divine birthday. Thanks to Amy, Andy, Paul, Sydney, Isabelle, Alison, Zoe and Simon – it was super. I’m a little caked-out, though, right now.

2. My life then:
In honor of my b-day I offer these RANDOM MEMORIES of childhood:

Shows I loved: Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, Wonder Bug, Electra Woman & Dynagirl, and Password. (the new one isn’t nearly as good.) I loved turning on Channel 11 at my grandparents’ house in Park Ridge, New Jersey and watching stupid Magilla Gorilla and the Monkees, interspersed with Tom Carvel and his ads for Fudgie the Whale and Cookie Puss.

Shows I hated that my brother loved: Tom and Jerry, Dukes of Hazzard, and Superstars.(boys.)

Instrument played as child: coronet. Why? I wanted a flute (just like every girl in class did!) but they ran out. I was left with coronet or trombone. Me with the T-rex arms really can’t make a go of it on trombone. (or coronet, come to think of it…)

Weirdest injury: sliding into base in my front yard, I unearthed a sharp bone shard that the dog had buried. It hit me at just the right angle to tear into my knee, exposing my bones underneath. Yuck.

Weirdest friendship: me and Kirsten (at age 8) signed pacts to get each other mummified when we died. I think this may not be legal, and I’m pretty glad we’ve lost touch.

Books I loved: so many, but especially creepy and or tragic stories like Alive, The Endless Steppe, Sybil, and of course Anne Frank. I read The Biography of Malcolm X when I was 10 and asked my grandmother, “What’s a doobie?” I don’t think she knew.

3. Get a life, Velma:
My new haiku entitled Joey Chestnut Rules

Kobayashi’s done
He lost the Nathan’s challenge
Suck it sideways, dude

Happy rain day, Lone Reader! Keep hope alive!

Awww...