No, I'm not dead, on vacation, too busy, sick, or have any other valid excuse for not posting lately. Just plain old didn't feel like it. That, plus the fact that I have re-discovered television after a break of about ten years and have spent much of the last month watching episodes from past seasons of "House." And while browsing the re-run section of the video store, I've gotten it into my head that I now also need to catch up on all previous episodes of "Lost," "Deadwood," "Six Feet Under," and "The Sopranos. You might not hear from me until, oh, 2008 or so. (And no, this Jersey Girl hasn't ever seen "The Sopranos" - you gotta problem wit dat?)
Anyway, in the last couple of weeks I have:
- been working really, really hard at work. Fortunately, my company is humane and believes that after you're done with your eight hours, you should - gasp - go home! So there's no overtime. Unfortunately, my boss just told us today he's leaving in two weeks. Rarely have I worked for someone that I could respect on so many levels, and I've never before seen great management skills in someone younger than me by ten years. Of course, that particular population gets bigger every year, which increases the odds, but still. My boss is great and I've learned a lot working with him, and I'm bummed that he's leaving.
- witnessed my daughter turn 16 and into a real beyotch almost at the exact same moment. People tell me I'm lucky she didn't "get like this" earlier, like at age 13 or 14, because then I'd have to deal with it longer (assuming, that is, that she snaps out of it around age 18 or so). I, however, think it's like labor. The shorter the duration, the stronger the pains.
- learned that EurekaBlyth (Bekah) and her hubby Mark are expecting. This is great news for the world because if any two people should contribute to the population, it's definitely these two. They were part of the small-ish Blogger Meetup we had in New Orleans last year, five months before the city was wiped out. And if we'd know that either the hurricane or the pregnancy was on the horizon, we would have drank even more.
- been to lots of parades. And a quick overnight trip to Wildwood. Let me tell you this: one night on the boardwalk with a kid who likes rides will cost you four times as much as a whole day at Great Adventure. But it was worth it, of course. Here's my son and Sparky's lad getting ready to go about 150 feet straight up in the air. They look rather blase about the whole thing, don't they?
About two minutes (and $16) later, I got this shot right as they re-entered the atmosphere (i.e., dropped straight down from the top in a free-fall with the brakes being applied about 15 feet before they would have been toast):
We were laughing hysterically at the image on the digital camera a few minutes later when some passerby, possibly drunk, peeked over our shoulders to see the picture. He was somehow very impressed, and told me I "ought to be doing weddings" if I can get shots like that. I disagree with his opinion of my camera skills, but he might have a point. If capturing expressions of abject terror is my gift, then perhaps some weddings would fit the bill?
- been getting ready for my first vacation in a long time, which is also my first trip to the secret island in Maine in four years. I can't wait to go back. Every inch of that place is stunningly photographic. Although my memory card holds in excess of four hundred high-res pictures, I'm considering buying a second. Just in case. This also may be the event that finally propels me to open a Flickr account along with the rest of the people in the civilized world.
That's all the news that's fit to babble about right now. And I have more "House" episodes waiting in the other room.
Be back soon.
Deadwood, Six Feet = HBO On Demand
Don't waste your time on Sopranos because it tubed in a bad way.
Lost = ABC.COM or iTunes $1.99 if you want to skip commercials.
House = Ummmm... can't help you there. If it's online or on video, I don't know where it is!
Daughter issues... "snaps out of it at 18?" HAH! Yeah, right. You'll only be done with it when she gets married and then she's HIS problem. LOL
Posted by: CNL | Monday, June 19, 2006 at 09:42 PM
Yeah, LOST is on abc.com, I can vouch for that. The rest, I'm at a loss. I think I actually went through a bitchy phase between 10 and 15, and then started becoming human. Then again, maybe it started at 10, I adjusted to myself at 15, and I'm still bitchy? Who knows! (I claim 2nd-generation bitch when the compliment comes my way, if that makes any difference.)
Good to hear from you again. Also? I'll be online at home again this evening, if all goes according to plan!
Posted by: scorpy | Tuesday, June 20, 2006 at 04:49 PM