tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54505052024-02-07T05:00:59.301-08:00Seriously Involved{ feeble attempts at making sense }ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.comBlogger1193125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-47603974173955208032018-09-20T21:38:00.002-07:002018-11-19T22:29:29.467-08:00Where to start...??Let's see,<br />
<br />
1) My Big Girl Scoot moved to the Other Coast (Boston) last December to go to school and just generally get away. She does not think she is, but she IS doing awesome! Definitely running into some ups and downs but despite the weather trying to kill her (and all of her workplaces closing and her various roommates moving out - and the Foot, Hand and Mouth disease!!) she's still in it to win it and i am sooooooo proud of her!<br />
<br />
2) Feb. of this year I found out I have Diabetes Type 2.<br />
3) April of this year I found out I was going to be laid off.<br />
4) June of this year I had major surgery (abdominoplasty) in order to try to do something about the Diabetes Type 2<br />
5) July and August of this year I used my "vacation" and severance pay to lie around getting healed and, sort of, looking for a job.<br />
6) August of this year I was pretty sure I was going to get a job. 3 interviews and nope. They're going with someone else<br />
7) September of this year Spark has started the 10th grade(!!) Where she is (also) owning it! She's being awesome (mostly) and responsible (mostly) and it is a delight to see her maturing into such a wonderful young adult.<br />
8) I still do not have a job. I'm sending out resumes and trying not to get jealous when friends of mine find new jobs for themselves.<br />
9) I am also starting up my consulting practice with a couple of friends. It is nice to have folks in this process with me because it keeps me motivated and, honestly, if this actually works out to be "the thing I'm doing" I would feel unbelievably blessed because IT WOULD BE AWESOME!!!!<br />
<br />
p.s.<br />
10) The surgery thing seems to have worked in the sense that I am now MUCH closer to "pre-diabetes" than before (like exactly on the cusp) whereas before I was pretty solidly in D-Type2 land. Helps that i'm also eating better and taking some medicine. Good news though! :-D<br />
<br />
ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-50991632121930573962017-06-04T12:35:00.001-07:002017-06-04T12:35:10.229-07:00End of school year check in1) Big Girl Spark finished middle school with stellar grades and an award for Student of the Year - Community! She is awesome-sauce and I am SUPER proud. We are all VERY excited that she will be going to The High School next year (me especially because it's just too late for me to try to switch my allegiance!!)<br />
<br />
2) College Kid (Boo) is doing well, just got back from a Mexico trip with the SF fam and is settling into her new job at the ice cream shop (!!) . She'll be off again in a little bit for a trip around Europe with her besties then back for some more ice cream related wage-work before heading into her THIRD year of the college. Sheesh. They really do grow up so fast.ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-90335058519966327572017-03-23T22:17:00.003-07:002017-03-23T22:17:57.651-07:00Bi-yearly check-in<br />
Big Big Girl is in her second year of college. She's
seriously considering changing her major (form BS is Astro-physics to BA
in Anthropology with a minor in Ethnic Studies. she's back at home
(still staying in both the SF house and the oakland digs. Was working
part-time at the cafe at my work but is now concentrating on school and
traveling (been to Germany witht he young man, to europe several times
with her other fam and going to europe again with friends this summer!)
and such. She broke up with the young man for predictable reasons. I'm
sort of amazed at how well she managed that process - clearly feeling
the emotional parts (loss, sadness, anger, resignation) while still
keeping on moving forward in a thoughtful, self-protective way. It's
interesting because in her path i keep seeing things i think i have
and/or would have done that i think are "the right way to do something"
but she's doing those things in a more complete way, better and earlier
than i ever managed. I stick to my assessment that we all arrive on this
planet with an "age" an that she is and has always been in her early
40's.<br />
<br />
The Little Big Girl is also doing well. She's
doing well at school, growing and learning in all sorts of ways; she
has a mixed set of friends and the respect/approval of her teachers. She
is learning more about herself and her "ways" and is really trying to
get a manageable groove set up. She is also very beautiful and - like
the rest of her screen-addicted generation - is running into the age-old
unrealistic beauty standards conundrum that women everywhere are facing
down. being dark and curvy and dreadlocked sets her apart from the
majority of the bloggers she likes to watch but she also carried very
firmly within her the knowledge that she is a person to be reckoned with
and as such doesn't seem to driven to change who she is. She is
stubborn though and capricious and quick-tempered. some of this is, i'm
sure absolutely due to her being a teen-ager and hormones, etc. but it
is also her being her (remember, The Wife has that same passionate
nature) and as she learns the borders of her internal whirlwind, i am
also learning how it affects me and ways in which i can work to have it
not.<br />
<br />
the Wife is doing swell as well. She is settled
back at the job/company she was with when we first knew each other so
long ago. they love her, she enjoys them. It feels like she's finally
settled after several years of drifting around through start-ups and
other random engagements. She's playing tennis, playing guitar, talking
to both of her sisters (they came back together when her mom died) and
just generally doing well. She is still stubborn, capricious and
quick-tempered (sound familiar) but i can see that she's moving forward
to meet the Little Big Girl in some of the harder places they both get
themselves into and it's interesting to watch how they connect with and
love and really need each other.<br />
<br />
Our house is lovely. it's never quite clean but it is a perfect size for us and is holding up admirably to the winter storms. Big Big Girl and her buddy C were here today playing with the dogs in the front yard and it made me very delighted to watch them.<br />
<br />
Work = fine. In the middle of a Big project, of course, but working with same excellent team and better handle on it than last time so i'm not particularly worried. <br />
<br />
Still making dolls (although a bit obsessed with getting the eyes right) - trying to get myself motivated to exercise again. I am carrying around alot more tummy than I ever have before and more than i like so.... I have my super cool bike plus a gym at work - seems like i can figure out way to try to be a little more fit.<br />
<br />
Going to have a lovely night out with The Wife tomorrow which i am looking forward to - gonna swap out my wedding rings onna counta 1) the current set is too tight [see getting fat comment above] and 2) because it's been almost a decade now the i've been married and i'm feeling like a different person in it than the Gal who came to it originally. i'd like my hardware to reflect that so.... two cool new rings to carry me forward into the next decade.ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-84550353958846280582016-08-18T20:02:00.001-07:002016-08-18T20:02:53.844-07:00comings and goingssad news - the Wife's mom passed away this past week-end (Sat. August 13th). She'd been in the hospital for awhile and in a coma for the last few weeks so, it was "expected"; still very sad though. The Wife and her sisters are managing. We're having the viewing on Sunday and the actual funeral on Monday. Note: Urban death is SUPER expensive!!!!! Seriously. i'm not actually sure i can afford to die... :-(<br />
<br />
In other news, the Big Girl FOUND. HER. DONOR. Thas right folks, Scoot submitted all the appropriate paperwork, sent off the appropriate e-mails and ta-da! located the other half of her genetic make-up. He wrote her a very nice e-mail in return (letting her know that she is the first to contact him - which *i* find interesting) and gave her his phone number. As I recall, he is in a long-term relationship with a man and I think (based on some unrelated sleuthing i did a few years ago) that he might be a reproductive services doctor! (Another Dak-tah in the family, my my!)<br />
<br />
I am doing my best to just sort of sit with both of these life events and not try to get all manage-y about either of them. It's pretty exhausting but i think it's all going to come out o.k. ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-88336400370477895442015-10-04T22:18:00.004-07:002015-10-04T22:18:45.752-07:00Trying not to...Today I am trying not to:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Feel bad/sad about my Big Big Girl being a full on grown-up and away form me having a birthday week-end</li>
<li>Gloat over the fact that she's feeling bad/sad about it as well</li>
<li>Feel jealous that one of my very best buddies just got a job offer from the one place I would seriously KILL to work</li>
<li>Feel annoyed that she is "thinking about" whether or not she wants to accept</li>
<li>Pick a fight with anyone</li>
<li>Forget how lovely and basically kick-ass my life is and continues to be</li>
<li>Eat too much ice cream.</li>
</ul>
ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-5876436146497118592015-09-18T20:20:00.002-07:002015-09-18T20:20:25.077-07:00miss, miss, miss my kidThe Scoot is away at college and i'm weirdly, sadly depressed about it. I mean, i understand that it's "normal" to miss her but i feel sad all the time. well, most of the time. I am just uninterested in stuff (even tiny house building! gasp!) and tired and MAD a bunch of the time. It's been a month now and I was starting to feel a little more normal (e.g. not bursting into tears all the time) but I'm still not really interested in doing anything. I mean, i AM doing things. I understand i have a family who loves/needs me and who i enjoy. It's just that everything seems like work and i'm tired and just... blah. i also feel guilty about being such a mess because Scoot is going to a very local school (mi alma matter, in fact!) so it's not even like i'm that far away from her. I think what i'm missing is the me i get to be when she's around. It's a "me" that is strong and capable and APPRECIATED and understood and who is loving and insightful and FUNNY. there are a bunch of people in my life who make me feel those things in bits and pieces but she's the only one where it's like that all the time. She is and has always been the one area where I don't feel like i ever have to "work". {sigh}
Anyway, I was wondering what to do with all the messiness and FEELINGS so i ended up getting a tattoo. Yesterday. I know it sounds weird/cliche/contrived but i actually think it's helping. I mean, it HURT so there's that. nice way to focus some of that internal energy onto an external target that i know will heal and will look fabulous once it does. Also lovely that an old friend was able to do it for me. It was great catching up with her and helped me to remember how lucky I am with my life and my family. Lastly, it is just so cute! it makes me smile and gives folks around me something to be happy about regarding me which is a nice change from everyone feeling weird about me being all weird but not knowing what to say. Not saying it's completely turned everything around, but it seems to be helping alot.ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-41552145331308866872015-04-23T21:00:00.001-07:002015-04-23T21:00:09.046-07:00Home stretch!Jeeze, where to even begin?? the big girl has a job - has had a job for a while now - has applied for and been rejected by five (stupid) colleges (which is actually pretty sad and is causing some stress/disappointment/disillusionment but has been accepted to SFSU which is MY alma mater so... i feel like she'll be alright. We're also investigating options like sending her off to go live someplace that is "not here" for a semester or two just to get a feel for what that might look like.) and has now been in TWO "serious" boyfriend, girlfriend relationships. Both of which she's handling/and handled like a champ but which are also sort of causing her a lot of stress right now. I feel bad that i can't do more to help her feel better. I think it's just crazy hard being a graduating person no matter who your parents are or what sort of life you're trying to have.
My Little girl is continuing to do well in her new school - has a couple of (one in particular) besties and is well-regarded by her teachers. Her 11-ness (soon to be 12-ness does occasionally make me crazy but when it's all said and done, i find myself liking her more often than i am yelling at her so i think it works out in the end.
the wife is also doing well. job seems to suit her (for now) and she's out playing tennis every week-end when it isn't raining so... between that, the piano, the giants and the warriors I'm seeing her less but whenever i do get a glimpse, she seems pretty happy/content. (mostly)
My work is an mind/energy suck (which i expected but which is crushing my life and soul) - We're going through this massive systems upgrade and while i love my team and am grateful that the whole colossal project seems to be on track, I am seriously going to go at-shit crazy if anything else gets added to it and/or my already waaaaaaaay too full plate!
Sa-all good though. we have a nice vacation to hawaii planned for June and i get to go to Sharon Ellison's Summer Deepening again just a week after we get back so.... i think i'll find time to rest/recoup.
the other really good (but not great) news that's happened is that my friend who had the tragic accident occur on her watch has FINALLY (two years, people!) made it through the courts and has a resolution in the case. She ended up with misdemeanor child endangerment (instead of the two counts of felon manslaughter and felony child endangerment she was originally charged with) and a sentence of 18 months jail time. Her attorney thinks they can get the jail served on an out-placement and/or on week-ends so there's minimal impact of her continuing to try to raise her kids and have a real life. She feels like the sentence is fair. I think the whole system is so massively screwed up/unbelievable but i'm glad it's done and she can start moving on. She is also (because she is such an amazing trooper) graduating this May with an AA and is planning on going to UC Berkeley next year! Seriously. i think she's all that and a bag of chips!
ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-44817811195473110032014-12-12T21:17:00.001-08:002014-12-12T21:17:50.986-08:00Big Girls and little babiesMy Big girl has a car! a delightful little VW Jetta that she's using to get to and from WORK! Yup. she has a job too. and did i mention she's worked her way through all of her college applications/essays and that she still talks to me and that I CANNOT stand how cool she is???
My Little girl also = cool. she too, continues to astound me with her ability to handle herself and her "situations"... to be clear, I do NOT appreciate all the attitude she throws around the house at times, but she is such a champ at dealing when she's out in the world!
As for the rest of the life... it's going. We're pretty anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Grand-nephew, Lil V.(due dec. 15th!!!) beyond that, just really trying to make it through this crazy month/work situation without going ballistic/curling up under my desk in a tiny, mewing, ball of "can't deal" and staying there until spring! {sigh}ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-17038908151076510612014-11-08T21:36:00.001-08:002014-11-08T21:36:15.021-08:00Mazel Tov!One of my dearest, oldest friendliest of friend (BBQ)'s daughter had her Bat mitvah today. It was amazing and touching and so very heartfelt. i admit it - I got a little teary more than once!
In other news, my Big big Girl had her first job training today at a real actual job that she had to go apply/interview for! It's in a cafe which is awesome because now i won't have to leave the house to get a quality bagel with latte! ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-85692467108582412712014-05-09T22:36:00.000-07:002014-05-09T22:36:20.335-07:00Mid-year update postGah! i feel like i never write anything down anymore!!!
1) Happy birthday Little Big Girl (eek! 11?? Really????) - I love you more than words can say and am sooooo glad you came into our lives!
2) Congrats on getting into the new Middle school! I know, i know, we just moved you like three seconds ago but, life is what she is and i'm super excited/happy that you both got to experience the awesomeness that is Kipp Bridge, Oakland as well as get to now go to the also awesomeness that is Gateway Middle School!
3) Yay, Big Big Girl for both living through (ish) SATs (wha???) as well as just kind of maintaining. I know 16 is rough but yo're handling it like a champ! Plus you looked really cute n your prom ensemble!
4) Excited that the Wife managed to off-load the condo in this past fiscal year (and had the presence of mind to get a real "paid-for tax person" so we ended up getting back enough fundage to get a new roof! (whoot, whoot! Raise de... eh. um. never mind.)
5) Sad that BOTH of my bro's lovely wife/partners continue to experience health issues. Here's hoping you both turn some significant corners soon!
6) Shout out to my lovely Lady friend B-Bee who i adore and who is hope is getting on with her pretty self post-divorce and is not having too rough a time of everything (what with everything...)
7) Here's to Facebook which broke the news that i am going to be a Great-Aunt yet again - this time to the beautiful niece V. which is AWESOME!!!!!
8) Lifting a figurative glass to the fact that things in gen are just kind of nice right now. The Wife appears to love me/be happy, the kids are doing great. work doesn't suck....
There's so much more but i'm losing my steam a little bit (plus i want to get back to surfing the web for pics of Gypsy Wagons!!) so, until next hurried, half-assed update... keep on keeping on!ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-9287922672326955302014-03-09T21:47:00.001-07:002014-03-09T21:47:15.718-07:00SXSW 2014I'm in austin! having a very nice time attending the South by Southwest festival which has during the last couple of years, decided to add an interactive path to it's regular film and music line-up. Apart from a few mishaps early on - e.g. not being able to rent the car I had reserved due to Texas' INSANE rental policies and 110% deposit; then totally LOSING my badge within the first 20 minutes of having it! - it's been pretty nice. We're staying in a nice little house that the Boss (IHOEL for you old timers) found for us. It's super cute and super clean/well-appointed. I almost feel bad tracking mud all over it!
Aside from not really getting any sleep, since we're 2 hours ahead out here AND because it's daylight freaking savings time (grrrrr!) I've been going to some very interesting panels (the lost badge sitch was rectified in a possibly less than legit way by my new BFF, Sean - Lovely young man, also mixed-race! what up, Mongrels of the world, unite! - yesterday so I could continue going to the many informative sessions and/or get into the various pop-up lounges hawking popcorn and t-shirts. I heart Sean. Seriously. The man is my Dawg.) I also got to see Mizz Mindy Kaling and some of her crew - also awesome. Didn't get any facetime though due to the fact that her people had clearly not told her Who I am and/or the fact that i realized that while i may think she's all fantasticey and all that (and really very cute) probably not alot we have in common were we actually to get a good chinwag going. Still, love her; love her show. And really, really love her co-star/writer Ike Barinholtz who is just completely and consistently hilarious.
One other bonus to the whole being in Austin thing, is i got to see my niece V-ness who is delightful and who i love so much. She's really a great young woman and getting to watch her in her town on her terms just makes it clear ow hard she tries to keep everything/everyone supported and moving forward. Plus she took me to the best place to eat (Rudy's BBQ) pretty much the second i got here and I am STILL thinking about the brisket! Yum.
ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-43763417971565445462014-02-16T00:03:00.003-08:002014-02-16T00:03:50.245-08:00everything is o.k.!life is moving pretty fast but it's mostly in a good direction so...
x-mas was good. all the major holidays actually = pretty good. the wife was ADORABLE this valentine's day which was a little surprising but also really really lovely. Sad for her though because now she has a really high bar to match every year for the rest of our lives together. ah well. tis what it tis. we - me and the girls - got to go to minneapolis and to Oakes, ND for my G-ma's 100th birthday (and New Year) which was the world's awesomest trip! tons of snow. got to hang with my beautiful cousins and their amazing families (and the girls got to meet their minnesota cousins which was also sort of fantastic!). There was snow everywhere and -17 degree temps and my mom and my Big Bro were there and noone killed anyone! quite the contrary, things went relatively smoothly - and my boy cousin T was sweet enough to take the girls out on his snowmobile just like i remember his dad doing when we were little! it was great!
then we got back and settled in and are just really liking the new house and the life. At least i am. mostly. works a little nuts but whatevs... you do what you can do and you can't do no more! {sigh.} i'm really tired. there i probably some other milestone type stuff i'm forgetting to write about but... i'll finish filling folks in later/after i get some sleep.ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-50625621626578869212013-12-23T20:46:00.001-08:002013-12-23T20:47:45.802-08:00Conversation with my 16 year old daughter<b>Her:</b> mom. I think i'm pregnant.<br />
<b>Me:</b> [driving] yeah? Why?<br />
<b>Her:</b> I'm tired all the time and i'm gaining weight.<br />
<b>Me:</b> Have you been visited by any angels of the lord?<br />
<b>Her:</b> Not that i know of.<br />
<b>Me:</b> Are you having sex?<br />
<b>Her:</b> Wha??! EW! No. Why would you even ask that! {gagging sound}<br />
<b>Me:</b> [smiling] O.K., o.k. Immaculate conception, then. You're about to produce the next messiah.... Well, you're a little older than the others but I guess it holds conceptually.<br />
<br /><br />
[Continuing to drive]
<br /><br />
Her: [under her breath, looking out the window] sex?! Ew. <br />
<br />
that's my gal.
<br /><br />
And, no folks, she is not, in fact pregnant. Sad,because i sort of liked the idea of being the next Savior of humanity's Na-nah. ;-)ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-66844925613338501982013-12-23T16:24:00.002-08:002013-12-23T16:24:23.003-08:00Portraiture anyone?Exciting!!! Apparently, Leland bobbe, <a href="http://lelandbobbe.com/blog/" target="_blank">a very awfully amazing photographer</a> thinks I have "an interesting look" and would be open to having me sit for him {squeal!!} - all I have to do is come up with his (<i>reduced</i>) fee and enough money to get to NYC and I'm golden! Seriously, I'm sort of in awe of his portraiture and I think it would be amazing/lovely to have my mid-forties documented by him.... must think, must think, must think.... Maybe a "gofundme" project set up to cover studio plus flight?? I could ask folks to donate in lieu of birthday presents...! I dunno. is that too weird/self-serving? {sigh} Why am i not independently wealthy???????ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-87548093659722969482013-11-04T10:37:00.001-08:002013-11-04T10:37:43.571-08:00This week-end was awesome-amazing. I got to have dinner with my Wife whom i've literally not had a chance to talk to in like five years; i got the first edition of "The Billops Family News" which the Little Big girl, Mz. Spark has taken it upon herself to produce (I hope regularly!!) and which is FAN-tastic; and my amazing "adopted" Little Sis stopped by to watch my kids, clean out my basement and do my dishes! Oh - and to make everyone cupcakes while she was at it... Seriously. me=really, really blessed/lucky!ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-77302882538616382013-10-13T22:51:00.001-07:002013-10-13T22:58:04.788-07:00babies, babies everywhere but not a drop to drink!Such an exciting week-end! Went to an old friend's baby shower (really old - roomies 20 years ago, old) and made much of their about to be birthed daughter while also getting a glimpse of my another old friend's (Pretty Boy to be exact) brand new 3 week old son and finally getting to meet his lovely wife who i've heard so much about! really quite fantastic to be re-united with the crew and do some catching up. Also lovely to see the newly renovated digs and to sample the latest in the exceptionally tasty cocktail that were being served up to those who chose to imbibe!
In other news, went with the CP and my Big Big Girl to watch her get her nose pierced! I know! crazy right??! She was, of course a big ole trooper although i did feel a bit faint. The place/piercer though = totally legit/awesome and in the end it seems to be not hurting nearly a much as we all thought it might so.... That's good. Spent the rest of the week-end just sort of puttering around. Thought briefly about assembling the uber-cool fire pit my wife bought me for our anniversary but in the end realized i'd rather sit around in the sun and read so... whilst the Missus and the Little Big Girl were in Livermore watching some random football game with the Auntie/cousin, that's just what i did - lazed about! Felt good to. So good, i may even do it again sometime!
Lastly, just so we're all caught up with the current events: We celebrated Mizz Boo's 16th birthday by taking her and a few friends Go-karting; She/Boo also re-took and PASSED her written driving test AND we decided to move our Spark to a new school (KIPP Bridge in oakland. 5-8, very structured environment, fantastic-seeming principal, rave reviews from the parents who have gone there from Spark's old school - I really think this is going to work for her)... I know, right! Personally, I blame the government shut-down but for whatever reason this has been a very eventful couple of weeks!ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-35370186919885869682013-09-29T16:49:00.003-07:002013-09-29T16:53:12.703-07:00warmingso, we had a housewarming party last week-end that was fantastic! It rained a ton in the morning which made me both sad (because all of our nicely loaned tables and canopies were getting soaked) but also kind of happy because i've not yet been in the new house with the rain and it was really very lovely to feel so warm and tucked away. Regardless, the rain eventually cleared and the sun and my friends turned out looking adorable to a person and bearing lots of really delicious food. they also brought their adorable children which made me practically cry with happiness because, really, the only reason I keep most of them around is because i love their kids. After my adopted sister d and i put together a new grill for my wife to practice her cooking skillz on (and which i think she actually only ended up standing near while, again, My Adopted Sis, D handled most of the grilling!) everything sort of came together in a fabulous, chillaxed kind of cohesion which, although it was crazy stressful leading up to the event, just ended up flowing super well (IMO.) The ONLY thing i found lacking even a little bit was my inability to actually talk at length to all the super cute, super smart people in my house because i kept having to be all hostesy and greety and making sure nobody got too killed on the toys i provided-y.... Still though, all in all it was fun and I feel lucky and blessed to know such great people even if i only get to view them from a distance.<br />
<br />
<hr width="100%" />
<br />
In other recent news - the Big Girl Boo took her written driving test two days ago and, sadly, did not pass. I told her i totally flunked on my first go too but i don't know if that makes anyone actually feel any better. She's got the book now and will be taking it again on Friday and/or Monday depending on how well we understood or misunderstood the directions for re-taking and i feel like she will do better next time!<br />
<br />
<hr width="100%" />
<br />
then lastly, right this second, Me and the Spark have just returned fro a cute little event that my very lovely buddy A-girl had her handmade book at and it was both very fun as well a very inspiring to both me and my little angel. forget that i really like hanging out with her but to see her get o excited about book making and printing is just a joy! We missed IHOEL and the children but The Israeli was there with his a-flippin-dorable youngest girl-child o that was nice. :-)<br />
<br />
<hr width="100%" />
<br />
Oh! and i almost forgot - Pretty Boy and his beautiful Wife had their baby! I know! It is a boy and weighs a million pounds (10 to be exact) and was born about a little over a week ago. {collective "awwwwwww!"} Let's hear it for fabulous people having/raising kids!!!ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-8746816612069069882013-08-26T19:31:00.002-07:002013-08-26T19:39:57.854-07:00back to school!The Little Big Girl went back to school today. the Big Big Girl has been going for a week now. 5th and 11th grades respectively. oy.<br />
<br />
re: that - I had a disturbing dream the other night. me and the wife and the little big girl were in a truck driving along and i took a corner too fast. the truck rolled over (completely!) and ended up facing the opposite direction back on all four wheels. we were all shook up but when i asked if everyone was o.k. everyone said they were. LBG said she "was scared." who wouldn't be?? i just freaking rolled the truck! so anyway, we're sitting there dazed and i look around outside and realize that noone else seems particularly concerned. in fact there are a couple of folks just sort of looking quizzically at us; one lady had her blinker on and was waiting (it would seem) to get into her driveway (which we were in/blocking). the other weird thing was that this shake-up had caused the truck to kind of split into <i>two</i> trucks. One was solid seeming and the other was sort of a <i>spirit</i> truck that was super imposed on the "real" one. in the dream, I'm trying to get the truck moving but i'm also really aware of the tenuousness of the connection between it and the spirit truck so i'm trying to move super slowly and carefully. the thing is, we're also sort of on a hill and as the truck (my truck) is rolling toward it, the other truck; the spirit one is moving faster. So i try putting on the brake but that just makes me slow down more and the other truck gets even farther ahead. THEN i think i'll try to catch it but when i speed up, the LBG and the wife get a little freaked out (because, let's face it, i JUST got us into this big ole accident which we are lucky we survived!) so i realize i've got to think of them and slow the f down. which i do which means though that the spirit truck keeps going faster and faster away from us until finally it turns a corner and i can't see it anymore. by the time i get to the corner, it's gone. :-(<br />
<br />
i woke up feeling very sad and NO this dream has NOTHING to do with my now-junior-in-high-school Big Big Girl getting ready to leave me for college or whatever! sheesh. can't a girl just have a random dream!ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-6878752871403735032013-08-14T15:51:00.003-07:002013-08-14T15:51:36.337-07:00Two incredibly important thingsbefore i forget.<br />
<br />
1) Mz. Sharon Ellison/my own personal idol/cult leader is here in the Bay Area/Oakland and is STAYING with us! I KNOW! can't really stand it.<br />
<br />
2) I just had THE BEST idea for an art show. my dolls plus Boo's drawings (sketched on post-its) plus the "little Red Wagon" wooden piece all hung together with a show title of "Mixed Media: post-it-plank series" Genius!!<br />
<br />ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-87281961005568798592013-07-25T15:01:00.001-07:002013-07-25T15:01:39.328-07:00I'm gonna live For-evah!My Little Big Girl is performing in Fame Jr. today/tonight! I am so excited to see her bounding about on stage i can not hardly even stand it. :-)<br />
<br />
Also, not sure if i gave adequate page time to this information in previous posts but by Big <i>Big</i> Girl is just completing her first PAID summer work position as an intern at the SF Friend's school! Whoo hoo! Now that she is loaded, I am going to start figuring out how to retire early...!ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-10330742505717303222013-07-16T14:32:00.001-07:002013-07-16T14:35:31.733-07:00Seriously SettledLet's see, I'm pretty exhausted right now but still feeling the need to keep this thing at least sort of up-to-date so I think i'll give the expanded bulleted update and let it go at that.<br />
<br />
1) in the new house FINALLY. The actual Movers helping experience was delightful. They were fast, reasonable and very, very nice. Also super nice was/were the ladies who cleaned the bathroom/kitchen/molding, the guy who cleaned the carpets and the guy who took away the huge pile of trash by the side of the house. seriously, could not have asked for a better set of professional folks. That being said, there was also close to three weeks of post-move moving/re-painting/cleaning/storing in the new basement of stuff that still needed to happen and which resulted in at least one major blow-up at the Spark who when asked to simply accompany me/us on the LAST trip to get stuff didn't feel like it/got all attitudey and in me throwing my back out [not the *same* incident but still]. {sigh} Still though, finally in and loving the new house. It's just so nicely laid out and has lots of space and the yard is really very peaceful and nice.<br />
<br />
2) Spark and Da Wife and Da Wife's Big Sis and Spark's Cousin(s) and G-Ma are getting to see each other a bit more which is lovely. I know it's something that means a *lot* to both Spark and the Wife so, glad to see it's happening..<br />
<br />
3) Got to go to the PNDC Summer Deepening in Sonoma where I hobnobbed with Canadians, got to surface some of my "stuff" and potentially made some really nice new friends. Also got connected to the folks who are setting up and trying to move forward with the PNDC institute which is where i'd love to end up working so getting in on the ground floor now is a great thing!<br />
<br />
4) Am happy about the supreme court ruling vis a vis gay marriage and the DOMA act and folks being allowed to get (and stay) hitched, in this awesome state of ours!<br />
<br />
5) Super thankful to have friends like A-Tail who hook a Chick's Boo up with some fancy paid internships at swankity-swank Quaker schools so she can have something to list on her college apps as well as making enough cash to support her fabulous 15 y.o. life!<br />
<br />
6) Helped my Adopted Sister get herself moved the hell out of the place she was living with her (now ex) GF who as treating her like some kind of 50's housewife. I get that "s" has been super difficult what with moving in together right away and blending families and adding in a 14 month old to the mix *but* i also think that this lady has some issues that are hers alone and that it's not an entirely bad thing for ASis to see this as an opportunity to get herself completely out. She may be sad, homeless, broke and supporting two kids BUT she's also resilient and smart and sweet and i feel like she's going to be sooooo much better off once she finally gets to the other side of all this crazy.<br />
<br />
7) Almost died from dehydration. Not really, but sure as heck didn't feel so great for a couple of days before getting yelled at by the advice nurse/my doc who are clearly sick of me and my lack of fluid intake: "your chart says you've experienced this before???!" [all raised eyebrows and whatnot] and getting myself a little more liquidated up. Nice, ultimately to stop feeling dizzy/headachey all the time!<br />
<br />
8) Got the brakes fixed on the truck and (finally) the oil changed - Whoot Whoot!<br />
<br />
9) "Insurance-gate" 2013 with the CP. nuff said.<br />
<br />
10) Trying a bunch of different things with regard to the Spark since she continues to be both extraordinarily delightful and as frustrating/irritating as a human being can be; pretty much interchangeably. I'm really working on not letting her provoke me into crazy, intense screaming matches but dammit it's hard. The girl really knows which buttons to kick! Somethings that seem to be working are quigong as a transitioning/wind-down method and singing her her own sleep song (both of which i learned at Deepening!) not that i'm not still getting mad but at least they give me something to try instead of just sitting around being frustrated. And she does seem to respond to them a little bit so... that's nice.<br />
<br />
11) and, oh yeah, I'm teaching the Boo how to drive(!!)!<br />
<br />
so, that's where we are.<br />
<br />
In general things are fab. still tired; still feel like it's all a little too much, but still pretty happy/contented/set so I'm gonna give the life "four thumbs up, Bob!"ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-13917150153015908282013-05-11T22:28:00.001-07:002013-05-11T22:28:16.864-07:00Homeowners!Thas right, folks we are officially owners of our very own a little-too-perfect-to-be-true housey-house in a great little neighborhood next to a great little creek right in the vibrant heart of this glorious city called oak-Town! {whew.} I'm kind of freaking out right this second because we closed a little later than we thought we would and have already set up moving dates and contractors and stuff so it seems like we have fifteen seconds to get everything done but I also know that things <i>will </i>get done (even if it kills me which would ultimately be a shame because it would have been nice to live in the new house for at least a little while...) and that everything will work out (continue to work out) jest fine so... super stressed right this second but knowing that this too shall pass<br />
<br />
in other news, got treated to a really lovely Group Mom Tea Party Social hosted by my lovely 15 year old and her pals as a consolation gift for their spending tomorrow (the actual Mom's Day) at a concert. Needless to say, more than worth it - totally awesome food and fine china and getting serenaded by the three of them playing "an acoustic set" of some of their standards... Priceless! And totally cool getting it a whole day early!ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-20206655559600764232013-04-17T15:34:00.002-07:002013-04-17T15:34:28.092-07:00we are buying a houseWE. ARE. BUYING. A. FREAKING. HOUSE! k. just needed to get that off my chest. more later when the rest of the deal is done. (a HOUSE!!)ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-63473549316504281892013-03-15T11:03:00.000-07:002013-03-15T11:03:29.476-07:00Househunting 101 - Part 2Looking for a house to buy is extremely edifying. There are some basics that i
feel like we need to have but then there are a bunch of things that come
up that i didn't even think about - like what if you actually do like
the multi-level house in the cute neighborhood and it's in your price
range and everything and if you get it you get to evict the family of
five with three kids under the age of five plus their cute, pit-mix
puppy. OR what if the "fixer-upper" down the street is suddenly
available and you're thrilled because that means you can stay int eh
neighborhood but then you find out that it's actually not so much a
"fixer-upper" so much as a paint- (please, dear god, let that be paint!)
stained, crumbling mess of a place (with no central heat and a "shared"
backyard which is still getting a million bids from "investors"
whatever that means. OR you find a place that is great. you love it. it
works and is basically move-in-able and the listing agent isn't thrilled
with the type of loan you have or with your downpayment (she likes your
letter though!) but she'll [grudgingly] submit your offer anyway. Just,
you know, so you don't sue or something.... It is a very good thing
that we have both a fantastic realtor and a stable rental place where we
can continue living for the foreseeable future [knock on wood!]
otherwise... well, i don't know what otherwise. It is interesting seeing
what's out there though. Nothing like a crazy, mostly
outside-of-your-control process to make you start thinking about your
relative place in the world. [yes, pun intended.] ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5450505.post-84257513004999944122013-03-15T10:51:00.002-07:002013-03-15T10:51:43.771-07:00Househunting 101Ah... so i'm out looking for a house for us to live in for the rest of
our live and i'm realizing that this is EXACTLY like the worst parts of our adoption-of-the-Spark
experience. Lots of seeing and not knowing and being told that "all you
need to do is..." and finding out that actually, that's not entirely
true, and finally finding a place that's PERFECT then realizing that a
whole bunch of other people also think it's perfect and that they have
more money to offer, bigger down payment, <i>whatever</i>, than you and
that you're not going to get that perfect (or practically perfect
because, let's face it, the ones we can really afford are in the
"fixer-upper" category. Sorry. Try again and remember to keep a hopeful
outlook but don't hope too much. just enough to keep looking but not
enough to get sad if/when you don't get it. We're even having to write "why we're great and super deserving and you should give us this kid - er- ah... I mean <i>house</i>!" letters..... {sigh} K. i realize everyone goes through this. i KNOW that. but it still sucks.ChickMagnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07321423162617128736noreply@blogger.com0