January 24, 2012
Sad
Early Sunday morning Go Go Mommy passed away. She was staying with my Aunt and Uncle in North Carolina, and they said they heard her get up in the middle of the night and walk around a little, then heard her fall on the way back to bed. By the time they got to her, she was already gone. The leading theory is that she suffered a stroke, and that death was probably instantaneous.
My dad was visiting them that weekend as well. He said that they all had a good day on Saturday reminiscing. She didn't want a funeral, but we might have some kind of memorial when the weather gets nicer.
When I stop to think about it, I get pretty sad. So I've been not thinking about it very much. (I'm not *not thinking about it*, I'm just not dwelling on it.) For all that I didn't talk to her very often, I'm going to miss her. (It's one thing to know someone's only a phone call away, and not pick up the phone. It's entirely different to know that she'll never be there to answer.)
Right. Now I'm spending too much time thinking about it. I'm going to head home now, to my wife and cats and dinner. And when I turn on Go Go Mommy's computer tonight - which I set up on Laura's desk in the basement, but haven't plugged in yet - I'll spend some time doing my own reminiscing.
January 19, 2012
Lincong
Yesterday was Laura's birthday. We ran some errands and went to Olive Garden for dinner, which was very nice. And they had a tasty wine there, which was also nice. Then home for DDO.
Tonight we don't have anything planned, but I expect to go to Marquette to drop off the list poles and ropes I borrowed for Boar's Head. As for this weekend, I haven't ruled out a drive to Lincoln, Nebraska for Calontir Winter War Maneuvers (I even bought an audio book just in case), and expect to decided tonight or early in the morning based on the weather forecast. Which I'm just checking now. And hey, there's a winter weather advisory for tomorrow - but it might not affect the weekend or driving through Iowa to get to Nebraska. Whose forecast is nicer. I mean, you know, for Nebraska. Though the forecast for here is snow all weekend. Anyway, I might go to Nebraska and I might not. If I do, a target rich environment awaits. And if I don't, there's plenty to do at home.
Right. Lunchtime. End of line.
January 17, 2012
Rascally Rabbit
On Saturday the Stritch kids came over and we worked on their armor for a couple hours. I can't find my jigsaw, so cutting their barrel plastic was rather a chore; in the end they took it home to work on it. (Becky's going with splint leg armor. We'll see how that works out.) On Sunday I went to their campus for fighter's practice, where we had Becky (Gabrielle), Shawn (Ambrose), me, Corydon, Jean, and Murdoch in armor and Tig out of armor. Murdoch's been out for a few months as a result of surgery, and he's slower than he was, but he's still got most of the mechanics there - and I have the bruises to show for it. Monday night (last night) I went to our other local practice where I fought Murdoch, Corydon, Jean, and Akira. Akira ran a video recorder through the practice and we watched the results afterwards. And I saw a few things that I should work on.
Other things that happened over the weekend: I worked on my cuisses, we burned through more Warehouse 13, we got some boxes from Arizona, and we spent time relaxing.
Tonight is Curia, and Wednesday is Laura's birthday. (If she has a plan, she hasn't told me what it is yet.) Thursday night I think I'm going to drop off the list poles and ropes (which I borrowed for Boar's Head) at Marquette. And Friday I'm considering driving to Lincoln, Nebraska for Winter War Manuevers. I haven't decided for sure yet, but it sounds like fun.
And, right. I should eat before this next meeting.
January 12, 2012
Updates all around
My grandmother is doing much better, when last I got an update - the surgery went well, she started eating again, things are draining, she can talk again, and my Aunt and Uncle are getting a caregiver for her so that they don't have to spend every minute with her.
Today is a day of food - the intern brought in cheesecake (he was bored, so he made cheesecake), the mid-morning snack was spinach smoothies (the project managers wanted to try out a recipe), and lunch will be something light because the smoothie was filling. (I should note that the smoothie was only dixie-cup sized, so it's not like I'm drinking gallons of green stuff.)
It's also a day of snow, which just started falling an hour ago. Winter weather advisory. Just a couple days before Jenny and Karl get on a plane to warmer climes.
I missed fighter's practice this week, which is still in the temporary space. We return to the established space on the 30th, and we'll start inviting the regional folks once a month or so. (Sunday practices start this week.) December and January are always slow months for fighting for me, and Flesh Wound starts things up again in earnest... maybe I can change that this year. I did do a bit of armor repair last week, and I've begun gamboissing my cuisses (actually adding the padding), which is time-consuming - I watched all of Gangs of New York over the weekend and did 16 rows. I have a total of 80, I think, between the two legs. Once I finish the first leg I'll find out of this pattern actually worked... And in related news, I'm going to get together with the kids from Stritch sometime before Sunday to make them some plastic legs and possibly vambraces.
I've finished reading everything by Lionel Fenn, and must now decide if I want to read any of the rest of Charles Grant's stuff. (Lionel Fenn is a pseudonym, you see.) I've nearly finished burning through REAMDE, which I'm enjoying quite a lot. And then I have the newest Bordertown book to read. And then ... there will be more. There's always more.
We might make it to Tree Girt Sea's 12th Night, having not made it to Nordskogen's. We probably won't go to Winter War Maneuvers in Lincoln, NE, and we will be at Flesh Wound.
Right. Work to do. End of line.
January 04, 2012
A New Year
Lessee.
Christmas was quiet. I think Laura and I are both pleased with the gifts we gave and received. New Years also, which we celebrated in our own tradition of chips and salsa and tv, was laid back and relaxing. (We've almost caught up on Hawaii 5-0, we're up to date on Leverage, and I've finally seen Super, Whip It, and some of the other movies that have been languishing on the shelf.)
Travel-wise we're doing fine as well. Ben made it to Milwaukee and back. We made it to Minnesota and back. And previously we made it to Arizona and back.
My grandmother's status: She has pancreatic cancer. This was made evident when her liver failed in early December, resulting in her hospital visit then - they implanted a stent to drain the excess bile, and that took care of the immediate problems. She was released while we were in Arizona, and various members of my extended family have been taking care of her since then. My mom flew with her to Minnesota, where she got sick again and went back into the hospital. There where we (Laura, Ben and I, my cousins, their spouses, their kids, my aunt and uncle, my parents, my sister and her daughter) visted her for what might be the last time. She was released from the hospital on Saturday and flew to North Carolina with my aunt and uncle, and she was sick on the plane and during the drive to their place. Back into the hospital, where they did an operation this morning to take a look; they drained "about a gallon of gastric juices" and are optimistic about putting in a new stent tomorrow. If that goes well they should be able to take her home on Friday. And she has an appetite for the first time since leaving Minnesota, so that's also a good sign.
This weekend my dad is going to Arizona to pack the rest of her apartment there. (While we visited her Sherry packed a few boxes which we shipped to various places; this trip is to take care of everything else.) And if he asks, I'll join him. It's also Nordskogen 12th Night - or, technically,
Right. Work beckons, so that's enough for the moment. Happy New Year!
End of line.