Let the Games Begin, Finale November 29, 2006

The final two clues were delivered to Mikey and Jordy today.

We didn’t know if they were quite grasping what was going on, but when Rocio went to pick Mikey up from school he told her that he had it all figured out. He was thinking about it last night and decided the secret was that I was going to be visiting for Christmas. We correctly predicted this would be his answer. She just smiled and said, “you think so huh.”

So the game continued with little excitement for poor Mikey who thought he knew the answer.

Jordy’s clue was a picture of the Hulk, from Universal Studios. He quickly identified the character but had no idea what it had to do with anything. Mikey was reading every sign in the photo and thought it had something to do with the movie.

Mikey’s clue was my phone number. They got to call me and ask questions. Mikey didn’t have any questions because he was ready to announce his guess. Jordy didn’t have any questions cause he’s 5. Mike and Rocio were nice enough to let me finally tell them the secret we’ve been keeping for three long months, that they are coming to California.

Mikey didn’t quite know what to say, but I could hear Jordy in the background yelling. Luckily Mike has been videotaping this whole adventure and I got to see later that Mikey had a grin from ear to ear and just had no idea what to say. His childhood dream to go to Disneyland was finally coming true. The reality of that was just beyond his grasp. It was amazing to see Mr. Answer man was finally too shocked to say anything.

This has been my dream too, to take them to Disneyland, the beach, Universal, Sea World, etc. I just can’t wait to see them experience it all. I didn’t go to Disneyland for the first time until I was 16. I just think it will be magical to see it through their eyes.

Mikey told Rocio tonight not to even mention the word California because it makes him too excited.

It’s going to be a long two weeks waiting for them to get here.

We interrupt this cough November 28, 2006

Sick and tired of being sick and tired I went to the doctor today for some hard core drugs.

I just want one good night’s rest, I know I will feel better if I can sleep through one night.

The doctor confirmed that I do indeed have bronchitis, my second time this year. Thank you childhood asthma for making me prone to this.

She gave me an antibiotic, an inhaler and my new prized posession, cough medicine with codeine. Aaahh yes, I can feel my lungs rejoice.

Let the getting better commence.

Let the Games Begin, Part 2 November 28, 2006

The boys got two more clues today in their great scavenger hunt of 2006.

Jordy’s clue was a picture of me sitting in a teacup at Disneyland. He looked at the picture then said quite bewildered, "Aunt Marti?" Like what in the world does she have to do with it. Then Mikey asked, "Are we having tea in California with Aunt Marti?" Close, but not really.

Mikey’s clue was the sign that hangs over the entrance to Disneyland: You are leaving the land of today and entering the land of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy. He knew what it was right away.

Mikey has put all the clues together, he knows what the answer is but its like he’s afraid to hope or say it outloud. So he him-hawed around asking a variety of really obvious questions like, "what’s the Disney park called in California, I forget," hoping his parents would react to something, but they did not.

Jordy is just along for the ride, he’s more interested in the process than the prize. He likes playing the game. Mike and Rocio have done a great job putting everything together.

Tomorrow is the last round of clues. So close!

Let the Games Begin, Part 1 November 27, 2006

My brother has finally ended my torture and has started Mikey and Jordy’s scavenger hunt for them to collect the clues about their holiday surprise.

I think he has secretly enjoyed making me wait. He knew I was dying to tell them that they are finally coming to visit me. Making me delay three months with the biggest announcement of their lives thus far was his Disneyland. He made some excuse about it being too hard for them to concentrate and that they would be asking every five minutes if it was time to go, but it was all about harassing his sister, I just know it.

When they finally learned today that there was a secret Mikey got very giggly. He couldn’t even read the first hint to find the clues. Then once the hunt began he was in task mode, he took over and had to figure it out. Their first two clues were (one for each boy, you know there has to two), a fake plane ticket, and the outline of the state of CA.

Mikey’s first words were, "I’m going to Hollywood" like he was on American Idol. Then Jordy said, "I think I would rather go to California."

But as soon as they made their guesses Mikey turned to his mom and said, "Yea right." Aahh we learn cynicism early in our family, like aunt, like nephew.

Tomorrow when they get home from school they get clues #2. I’m still dying for them to know, they’re going to go crazy.

This time last year… November 27, 2006

A well-meaning co-worker helpfully pointed out today that if I would have gotten married when we originally planned (Nov 29, 2005) we would soon be celebrating our one-year anniversary.

My first thought was, ummm… ok.

My second thought was, what the hell kind of comment is that?

My third thought was, wow, has it been that long already?

Once past the shock, horror and inappropriateness of if all I had to stop and think about the last year. Again. I didn’t want to. I wasn’t looking for nostalgia this morning. I wasn’t feeling in the mood for reflection, but it was thrust upon me like Christmas fruitcake, unwittingly and unwantedly.

Yes, we thought about getting married Nov. 29, 2005. We had the date and a place, but we could never put down the deposit and reserve it. We couldn’t get to that point. It always seemed like a giant hurdle pver which neither one of us was willing to jump. It just seemed too far or too high, or something.

So, after a moment of reflection, one year later, I can honestly say, I don’t really feel anything. It’s not sadness. It’s not relief. It’s not anything.

I wish him well.

I wish me well.

God’s Will For Me November 26, 2006

I’ve been writing a lot lately about finding God’s will, especially as I try and figure out what to do with my life. How are we supposed to know how to find it? Is it waiting for a sign? Listening for a voice? Or do we decide and hope he blesses us or stops us as we move forward.

I rebuffed my former small group leader’s idea that God spoke to us through small ultimatums that we give him based on our limited understanding. I know its not a yellow brick road but I feel like I’m hitting my head on a brick wall trying to figure out what to do.

I just want to do what God wants me to do. I know that in that space there is joy, fulfillment, peace and contentment. This is a deeper, gnawing at my soul, type of discontentment. Right now I just feel a little lost, confused and a lot uncertain. I’m not unhappy, I’m not unpeaceful. I just feel stuck. I know this isn’t new for me. These have been the feelings of the year, perhaps a lifetime.

Happy Feet [2006] November 24, 2006

On a another break from coughing on my couch Tina and I went to see Happy Feet today. We were hoping to see it on the IMAX screen but the production company didn’t release the 3-D version yet, so what’s the point, we went to a matinee.

I don’t know what I was expecting. My first reaction was, "wow, the animation and CGI scenes of avalanches and killer whales was amazing." Tina’s first reaction was, "I didn’t know there was so much music." She’s right, this was the Moulin Rouge version of Lion King.

Mumble, the Emperor penguin, is on a quest to prove to his father and all that he’s good enough and strong enough even though he doesn’t have the singing gift native to his kind. He is forced out and away from his family (mom,Norma Jean (Marilyn Monroe), dad, Memphis (Elvis), and lady love, Gloria to accomplish his mission. He finds his Timon and Pumba on the other side of the Antarctic in the form of Latin penguins, headed by Ramon (Robin Williams).

The rest of the adventure is turned into a public service announcement as we realize that the penguins are slowly starving because of pollution and overfishing and our hero is going to ask them to stop and save his people.

There isn’t much story going on. You can find all sorts of forced messages in this carton musical. It lacks the heart-warming nature of Finding Nemo or the Lion King. All of the characters are caricatures of themselves and seem overplayed and a little ridiculous.

When I asked Jordy what his favorite part was, he said the end where they were all dancing and singing. I think Tina’s final advice is best, just watch March of the Penguins.

Photo Friday: Immature November 23, 2006

When Erika and I were in San Francisco for Jer’s wedding my Uncle Kev graciously loaned us his black Expedition to drive to Sonoma. Uncle Kev got this car with a lovely Jesus decal on the back.

Being the good Catholic that he is he thought it would be sacreligious to take it off. So now every time the Western sun filters through the back of his car Jesus reflects and dances on the dashboard. It’s kind of disconcerting to be driving down the freeway in the middle of a road rage fit and have Jesus all of the sudden show up.

When we arrived at the reception we stopped to take a picture with Jesus, when else would you get the chance?

Thanksgiving Musings November 23, 2006

This year for thanksgiving I drugged myself and went to a singles dinner at church.

I had a three hour window when thanks to mucinex, sudafed and cough syrup the runny nose would slow, the body aches would diminish and the coughing would subside. I could capitalize on it and socialize or sit and mope that I wasn’t at home with my family.

I think being physically sick made me more homesick. I really missed my nephews. I talked to them in the morning and they informed me what they had to eat and told me what they were thankful for. I learned that Jordy hates turkey, who knew. Mikey was grateful for his family, because without them he wouldn’t exist. Good thing to be grateful for.

After talking to them I knew needed to be with people. I was going stir crazy at home. You know the feeling when you’ve been sick for a few days and have spent too much alone and watching tv. You talk to yourself, realize you’ve been in the same pajamas for two days and that you haven’t eaten anything but crackers, cough drops and leftover halloween candy.

I needed to get out or I was going to be in a really foul mood all day.

The Break-up [2006] November 23, 2006

Last night I rented this movie to watch between naps. I was worried it was going to be depressing, rambly and painful to watch. I found it instead to be one of the few real romantic comedies I’ve ever seen.

Brooke (Jennifer Aniston) and Gary (Vince Vaughn) are your typical mis-match.

He is a guy’s guy, loves to play video games and is surrounded by his beer-drinking, sports-watching buddies Johnny O (Jon Favereau and pervy brother Lupus (Cole Hauser). She is an art dealer who loves the finer things in life like ballet, fancy dinner parties and matching furniture. They are in love and in a montage we watch them buy a condo, decorate and try to live happily every after.

This is not your typical romantic comedy. It isn’t predictable. It doesn’t feel scripted. You want to root for these characters.

In the first act we watch them meet and fall in love. There is no folly, they immediately fall in love. In the second act we watch them start to fall apart. It’s not a canned fight, it’s real. Vince’s stream-of-conscious delivery makes it all too familiar. When they fight it reminded me with many a fight I’ve had. I could feel the emotion. I could feel the pain. In some places it was hard to watch, but I knew exactly where they were.