Life of Wry

Him:     What are you doing?

Me:       Nothing really.

Him:      Taking a picture of my missing tooth?

Me:       No.

Him:      What, then?

Me:        […]

Him:      […]

And sometimes, that’s all ya got.

I blame work. It was a pretty awful day.. a combination of miscommunication, poor communication and being the new guy. Oh, and probably a tad bit of over-sensitivity on my part (who, me?). I just left work feeling really really really really shitty. It was the kind of day perfect for meeting a friend downtown for a glass of wine. Which I did. Except I can’t have wine at the moment because I’m waiting to retake a blood test and I’m not sposta. So I had a chai latte, which I like, but I’d have preferred wine. Disappointment on disappointment.

Sigh.

Which is why I was hanging out in Jim’s office. Just sort of needed to not think about it for a few minutes. This view cheered me up.. or at least distracted me. It is a nice picture.

I could say that about a lot of things (especially if I don’t misspell it):  It’s about time Obama stood up to the gun lobby, took executive action and implemented no-brainer measures to limit gun access, among other totally sensible things. It’s about time Obama refuted the bogus claims that we are somehow on the wrong economic path, when, in fact, the economy has made slow but steady progress in the seven-so-far years of his administration–exactly what he promised. Jobs, unemployment, housing, stock market, consumer confidence, auto industry, gas prices, debt. All way better than when he took office. Got it? Such election season ridiculousness. It’s about time it rained (and rained and rained). It’s about time I got back on the driving schedule for the Winter homeless shelter (my first 6:00am shift begins tomorrow).

All very good stuff.

It’s also aboot time [sic].

This has become a 3-boot winter… justifiable because my one pair of black boots fell apart (while wearing them, I might add… the sole came right out from under my right foot), and because, well, it’s cold and raining, and anyway… I’m way behind on boots.

So I got a great pair of almost-knee-high black boots about a month ago which I’ve been wearing a lot. I’d wear them to bed if I could, they’re that comfortable. I got some dressier ankle boots (I know… really? Me? And in this case I’m not sure why, except I like them and could very well need them.) And I got these yesterday, somewhat impulsively….

… because, fur. And they’re luggy and heavy and have buckles and slip right on. And I don’t want to take them off either.

It may never be cold and wet again after this El Nino passes, so this was the time. A boot time.

I really laughed at this. It doesn’t all resonate, but the part about the back does. I just can’t tell you how often I find myself with some part of my back all tweaked out without the faintest idea how or when I did it. On occasion I’ll do something extraordinary, like reach for a box of tea from the top shelf, or look to one side (or maybe the other), but more often than not, I haven’t abused any such physical boundary. At all!  

It’s just the weirdest thing.

~~

In other news, David Bowie died yesterday. I had other favorites growing up, but I always liked the songs I knew and when I read about it late last night, it was a real jolt. Reading all the tributes today, I realize he was more of an artist than I understood and I’m sorry I didn’t appreciate his music and work more.  As I write this, Peter’s blasting and singing along to Space Oddity… which is really making me smile. RIP David Bowie.

I’ve written in past years about that great, satisfying, cleansing feeling you get (okay, I get) when it’s Christmas break-down day. I’m happy to report it’s not the triumphant liberation from stress and obligation and hype and materialism that it felt like for a few years… got over that, thankfully. Now break-down day is just that–a great big decluttering and reboxing process, like a fresh spring cleaning exercise. It’s good in a positive way, not a negative way.

So.. did that today. Tree down, ornaments and decorations packed away. Surfaces clear. SPACE REGAINED.

It feels like the new year may now begin. I just love that.

Made progress on a few other fronts, too, logged a nice call with mom… and found out the Golden Globes were on! By the time I realized this, I’d missed the first half hour or so, but then settled in for another two and a half. My guilty pleasure.

As he does whenever there’s an awards show, Jim brought me dinner in my office so I wouldn’t miss a single speech or dress… whatta guy! Tonight it was tacos and roasted cauliflower.

I tell ya…..

It’s been a million years since we had a dinner with these guys in which everyone was in attendance (and by everyone, I mean Peter, who, for the last I don’t know how many years, always seems to have plans elsewhere).

The Cavins-O’Hanleighs have always been among our most treasured friends. We used to do trips, holidays and so many dinners together. But over the years, as the kids have grown up and into their various other activities, getting everyone together just hasn’t worked out.

But tonight it did.

There were hats:

And songs:

Sabrina brought music poppers. Each person’s popper, when popped, revealed a mini kazoo. Each kazoo played a single, discreet note, and collectively we spanned an octave (some had to play two kazoos). I was the conductor and would point my baton at the person corresponding to each number on the score, based on the number written on their kazoo. If I did my job right and if people played on cue, you could actually recognize songs. It was hilarious. In Jocelyn’s words, “This was actually fun, Mom.”

Great endorsement!

Anyway. Like old times. Fun and comfortable.

And for old time’s sake, should auld acquaintences be forgot:

November 2004 (Jocelyn and Peter, six years old

Sitting in the Regal, first through a set of unimaginably ghastly previews (this from a person who loves previews), and then a ridiculously silly survival/revenge pic, I pretty much made the personal policy decision to never see a mainstream Hollywood adventure film again and only go to art house movies shown in art house theaters.

How snooty of me.

But tell me if you don’t agree after seeing the Revenent:

Which actually had pretty good reviews. Judging from the popularity of this movie, the previews that preceded it, and the capacity crowd that actually clapped at the end, I’d say they aren’t making movies for me. I thought as a boomer I was golden when it came to [all things cultural, but especially] movies. I appear to be no longer a target demographic.

I will say the scenery at times was stunning. (At the other times it was just grim and snowy cold.)

And that’s about it.

At the top of my mind today was the immense gratitude I felt for our president. He finally took executive action on a few no-brainer gun safety measures (which lit up the republican presidential candidates like nobody’s business and made for some eyebrow-raisingly absurd displays of hysteria, I must say). It happened yesterday, though it wasn’t until today that I watched his whole announcement. I watched it feeling grateful for his leadership, for his humanity, for the authenticity of his comments and feelings. There is no question in my mind that he speaks from his heart, that he’s moral and that this was action that had to be taken.

For most of us–not just democrats–implementing gun safety regulations is a very modest but necessary step in the right direction… and yet, as we’ve seen over and over, when it comes to the NRA and guns, there ain’t no such thing as sensible regulation. I do get they want their guns. I don’t get an unwillingness to strengthen regulations that will go some distance toward making people safer. They’re looking sillier by the second.

I have no doubt that at some point–not sure when, but hopefully soon (ish)–we will start to see a shift. The majority of people support the simple notion of common sense gun laws and at some point they’re just not going to support legislators who won’t take even modest steps to represent their interests. I don’t know how much longer the NRA will be able to control the conversation (it’s not a conversation).The politics on this are going to change. I suspect legislation will have to come from the right, but it will come. Mostly because for the United States to continue to dig its heels in and not take any action on gun laws is just stupid. Inanely, embarrassingly, dangerously, heartbreakingly stupid.

I think most people know that common sense gun laws do not equate to an infringement on anyone’s right to own a goddamn gun anymore than regulations that require you to drive safely impact your right to own a car. In his speech, Obama had better examples; I think all of his had to do with laws that govern various of our constitutional rights…free speech rights and privacy rights were his examples. There are rules in place and reasonable limits imposed which balance freedom and safety. You can’t yell fire in a crowded theater because your right to free speech does not trump my right to public safety. We all have to be searched before getting on a plane for the same reason. Protecting our safety = important and we accept rules that ensure the common good. Nobody’s suggesting we give up basic freedoms. Sheesh.

I’m lecturing. Sorry.

I KNOW the non-budgers will find themselves on the wrong side of history. I KNOW we will look back on this era and feel ashamed for our country. Morally we (they) will wake up. Eventually we (they) will smarten up. Yesterday was a start. A very teeny, tiny, modest start, but a recognition that unfettered access to guns is not a good strategy. We are smarter than this.

I wish he’d done it a long time ago. But he did it. Finally. And it might just lose the election for any republican who overreacts.

Wait… they ALL did. Shrilly.

Huge money’s going to come pouring in from the NRA. They are going to use their usual arguments, trot out their usual statistics and ignore the fact the US has more deaths by gun than any developed country on earth. We’ll see who wins: the NRA or the people.

~~

Kinda related….

This afternoon, Peter had the car, and parked it in the high school lot (I think) while at baseball practice. When he came out, this was on the window, tucked under a wiper blade…. a reaction, evidently, to our bumper stickers (it sure wasn’t a reaction to our bike rack):

My guess is this guy/gal has a stack of these (it’s a pair of articles, one critical of the liberal, lame-stream media, and one critical–very critical–of Obama’s action and speech yesterday) and drove around town papering cars with progressive bumper stickers.

Knock yourself out.

I think it’s kind of an interesting tactic, though–we all read the articles, after all. I wouldn’t call it a warm invitation to converse and share ideas, however. In fact, I felt mildly creeped out and a bit invaded, so I’m not sure it was productive.

But as Jim said, it was better than being keyed.

I love that I can even say that.

Corner County Roads 31 and 98.

Being a bit pressed for time, but not wanting to get any further behind on my blog, I’ll make this an archive day…

Seeing as how we got a ton a rain today, and the Sierra got a ton of snow, I’m picking a wintry weather photo… this one from 2004. Peter is 5 in this picture.

I crack up every time I see this picture. It reminds me of those Cover Girl ads back in the 60s and 70s. Remember their technique for converting an action sequence into a cover shot for the magazine? There’s probably one or two on Youtube…

Sorry, hon. But you’re awfully cute!

Big doings in the neighborhood.

And yeah, this was taken yesterday since it’s raining today (and hopefully most of the rest of the week, which is why these guys are working on a Sunday).

I agree, this isn’t all that interesting to share (though we in the neighborhood are pretty darn pleased, as University-area homes, which are mostly student rentals, don’t have the classic elegance, tidy yards and general street appeal of homes in Davis’ other neighborhoods, so any improvement–even just a room expansion–is a big deal for us), but if I really told you what was going on today, you might feel sorry for me, or worry, or, I don’t know, maybe just chalk it up to being almost 60. Whatever. If it truly becomes news, I’ll share.

Until then, the owner-occupieds on A Street are happy.