Late January Makeover...
I know, I know....it's BLUE!
Ah well, it was time to move on in design phase. I haven't done anything with the look and feel since December 2002, so it was about time. Granted, this is a blog template that I'll be building on, but it offers some flexibility and functionality that I've been wanting.
So....since you can now comment if you like; let me know what you think.
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HOME IMPROVEMENT and HISTORICAL PURGING...
Small, but significant breakthroughs on the home/historical front this past weekend....
After almost two years of occupation, we finally removed an entry ramp that had become a minor slipping hazard in recent months. The ramp served as an easy way to get my late grandmother in and out - and we had left it in for the past couple years, mostly because it was still serving a purpose. A few slippery encounters later; it became evident that it was time to break out the power drill. After a couple weekend hours, most of the structure (handrail excluded) had been broken down, and the creepy-crawly denizens that lived underneath had been evicted. Selah.
All of this came on the heels of recent home inprovement ventures - including the reorganization of our pantry room clutterfest, the purchase of a utility cabinet, and a vital trip to Goodwill, where I finally purged the long-suffering Zeinth TV that had served our family for the past 20+ years. We also sorted through a scattered catalog of accumulated wrapping paper - sorting it by holiday (Christmas uber alles) and grade.
So....why do I mention all this housekeeping? In some ways, it's the continuation of a prolonged physical and sentimental purge that comes with the passing generational torch. The ramp, television and wrapping paper all represent my grandparents - and the history we had together. Clearing these items out and organizing what remains is the means by which we move on - while reclaiming it for ourselves.
I'm such a sentimental sod....
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DREAMING OF PETER JACKSON
O.k....a bit of a departure....
Maybe it's just that Alex and I have been reviewing the 12-hour epic extended uber-version of the Lord of the Rings, but lately I've been dreaming about LOTR director Peter Jackson. Inbetween late night pit stops and Greer's occasional noctural howling - I've been finding myself in various situations talking with him about film and life....like he's my therapist. Sometimes it's on a set....other times we're in someone's living room -- but it's always friendly and pretty low key. In one of my first dreams, I was on set and dressed as a hobbit - with Merry and Pippin close by making wisecracks about my feet. Weird.
Perhaps it's time for a break from Middle Earth.
Halloween on the streets of O.C.
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Ok...I'm testing out a new photoblog technology to see if it works. The shot you're looking at is of me and a few other slaves at CMA passing out candy on the streets of Oregon City at our Halloween Party.
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BLOGGING THE NEW YEAR
A pretty tame this time around....such has been the case since parenthood was bestowed on us. Most of NYE was spent cleaning and prepping for Greer's official first birthday party on New Year's Day. While mom got things locked down in the house, dad was out at WinCo, braving the party crowds and the sopping rain to gather supplies for the next couple of weeks. After all was said and done - and Greer was sound asleep - we holed up in the basement with a few unwrapped birthday presents and a couple episodes of the X-files. When the ball dropped for 2005, we kissed and hit the hay - like a responsible couple. No muss - no fuss.
Next morning, we slept in like everyone else.....a byproduct of Greer's semi-restless night (up four times), rather than any party we had attended. After another trip to the market for balloons and crepe paper, we were ready for family and friends. Both sets of grandparents, his great-grandfather, his aunt and uncle, Lisa and her son, Duncan - and his godmothers made the day a smashing success. Mom baked a dinosaur cake to match the Greerzilla outfit that the boy was toddling around in - and everyone sang Happy Birthday to him in grand fashion. The cake was a no-brainer for Greer. He looked at it - pawed it for a couple seconds, then promptly shoved a huge piece in his mouth. Yum!
It was an interesting mix at the house that day, but personal politics seemed to take a backburner, as everyone enjoyed watching Greer attempt to open presents and chase after Duncan (or get pulled by Dunc in his Radio Flyer). As the afternoon drifted into evening, Greer sacked out and the remaining family (my folks/great-grandpa) rustled some Chinese take-out for dinner.
Sunday saw us at Bridgeport UCC in the morning, listening to comadre Anne deliver a New Year's sermon that featured her memories of Greer's introduction to the world. Seems just like yesterday that it all took place, and yet here we are - a year along - with Greer toddling on two pegs.
It's all good, so far in 05'.
