I’m back on the porch, nearing lunchtime, getting hungry. I’ve been answering emails for a while, sitting in the shade, watching people wait in line for coffee.
Last night kind of sucked. M, her sisters in laws (is that how you would say “sister in law” as plural?), and her mother went to Lilydale for a group psychic reading. Don’t ask. Anyway, this left my brother in law and I in charge of the kids on our own. Now, I watch the kids on my own a lot at home, but I don’t watch the kids a lot in a scenario where they have to dodge cars in the street or sit in a stuffy house. The kids were great, however, and getting them to bed wasn’t too difficult. After M arrived home I walked to the plaza to check email. When I arrived home M had moved S to another bed for no discernible reason. This pissed me off because I feel like, when at Chautauqua, I have to remain constantly vigilant of my parenting role. If I’m not careful I’ll have no role at all. M’s family sort of pats males on the head and says, “Go make some money and do what you’re told.” Needless to say, that doesn’t fly very well with me. M and I talked for a long time, working through solutions to “The Chautauqua Problem.” I won’t bore you with the details here. After thirteen years of marriage we’re pretty good at working through issues of that nature.
Oh, more on yesterday…I rode my bike (a comparatively shitty rented bike) from the grounds to Mayville and back. Some of the hills were absolute motherfuckers. I had to walk my bike up one like an old lady. A rails to trails path was disappointing, all grass and gravel, but the exercise did me well. I rented the bike for sixty bucks, so I feel obligated to ride more, but I’m not in the mood today.
Ok, I should get back to the house. More later.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
I’m back on the Hultquist porch again. The women on Bestor Plaza are wearing their slightly better than normal, but not their best, summer gear, sort of like they’re planning on watching but not playing tennis. A fat preteen is selling “Chautauqua Daily” newspapers near the walkway by chanting, in the most atonal manner possible, of the paper’s properties.
Few young kids are in evidence. This week’s “club/children’s school” program started at nine. T and I rode down to his building this morning. He wanted to arrive early. I couldn’t tell if he was nervous or excited, although I suppose some combination of both would be reasonable. S and N rode the bus to their school. M tagged along.
Yesterday seemed to last forever. Sundays are long at Chautauqua. The kids have very little to do. Those are the days on which I’m reminded that our yard, back field, and neighbors are wonderful, not that I would ever really complain about my living situation. Actually, that’s a good segue…
Ok, this is my 100th post on this blog. By coincidence, this is all the ten year anniversary of our move to P.W. In honor of the dual anniversary, I’d like to point out ten things I’ve learned about living in a small town in Wisconsin over the last decade. Allow me to share a bit of background first. The town has about 12,000 residents, up from just under 10,000 a decade ago, and the growth rate is accelerating. Milwaukee is about twenty miles down US43, and the population is slowly changing from locals who have generation-spanning roots to relative newcomers like me.
1) If you have to wait behind more than two people in line at the grocery store, something is wrong.
2) People say “hi” to each other in the street a lot. This threw me, of course, when I first moved here, but now I get pissed off if someone doesn’t say “hi” after I say “hi.” Yes, I can see the hypocrisy.
3) The racism and conservative nature of most small towns is usually under the surface, but not so far under the surface that you can’t discern its presence. The lake is pretty clear as far as that is concerned.
4) If you’re white and comparatively clean, cut your grass, all that, you should be ok. People value the fact you don’t have to lock your doors, chain up your bike, etc. If you’re viewed as a threat to that condition, you’re in a shitload of trouble.
5) Don’t speed. NEVER speed. The police will pull you over in a heartbeat, and they hide well.
6) Everyone knew who you were about ten seconds after you moved into town. Approximately 75% of their information about you is slightly inaccurate. For example, they may know you moved to town from Chicago, but they also think you have a relative in Sheboygan or work at the bank, neither of which is true.
7) Not everybody buys into high school sports, but the football games are well attended.
8) The 3AM bar culture is another dimension. You’d think that people would learn not to piss on the walls after closing, but those people tend not to read the police blotter and don’t realize that someone gets busted for that every night of the week. Also, arresting wall pissers must be the least glamorous police duty in southeastern Wisconsin.
9) The local newspaper is very important. Read the newspaper, all of it, including the minutes of school and city board meetings, if you want to know what’s going on around you.
10) You don’t have to go out, but you don’t have to stay home. Friday nights in February can be hard, but the internet can get you all the books and movies you need. Just don’t expect to find an open coffee shop within twenty miles after 6PM.
That’s it for now. I’m off to rent a bike and ride off the grounds.
Few young kids are in evidence. This week’s “club/children’s school” program started at nine. T and I rode down to his building this morning. He wanted to arrive early. I couldn’t tell if he was nervous or excited, although I suppose some combination of both would be reasonable. S and N rode the bus to their school. M tagged along.
Yesterday seemed to last forever. Sundays are long at Chautauqua. The kids have very little to do. Those are the days on which I’m reminded that our yard, back field, and neighbors are wonderful, not that I would ever really complain about my living situation. Actually, that’s a good segue…
Ok, this is my 100th post on this blog. By coincidence, this is all the ten year anniversary of our move to P.W. In honor of the dual anniversary, I’d like to point out ten things I’ve learned about living in a small town in Wisconsin over the last decade. Allow me to share a bit of background first. The town has about 12,000 residents, up from just under 10,000 a decade ago, and the growth rate is accelerating. Milwaukee is about twenty miles down US43, and the population is slowly changing from locals who have generation-spanning roots to relative newcomers like me.
1) If you have to wait behind more than two people in line at the grocery store, something is wrong.
2) People say “hi” to each other in the street a lot. This threw me, of course, when I first moved here, but now I get pissed off if someone doesn’t say “hi” after I say “hi.” Yes, I can see the hypocrisy.
3) The racism and conservative nature of most small towns is usually under the surface, but not so far under the surface that you can’t discern its presence. The lake is pretty clear as far as that is concerned.
4) If you’re white and comparatively clean, cut your grass, all that, you should be ok. People value the fact you don’t have to lock your doors, chain up your bike, etc. If you’re viewed as a threat to that condition, you’re in a shitload of trouble.
5) Don’t speed. NEVER speed. The police will pull you over in a heartbeat, and they hide well.
6) Everyone knew who you were about ten seconds after you moved into town. Approximately 75% of their information about you is slightly inaccurate. For example, they may know you moved to town from Chicago, but they also think you have a relative in Sheboygan or work at the bank, neither of which is true.
7) Not everybody buys into high school sports, but the football games are well attended.
8) The 3AM bar culture is another dimension. You’d think that people would learn not to piss on the walls after closing, but those people tend not to read the police blotter and don’t realize that someone gets busted for that every night of the week. Also, arresting wall pissers must be the least glamorous police duty in southeastern Wisconsin.
9) The local newspaper is very important. Read the newspaper, all of it, including the minutes of school and city board meetings, if you want to know what’s going on around you.
10) You don’t have to go out, but you don’t have to stay home. Friday nights in February can be hard, but the internet can get you all the books and movies you need. Just don’t expect to find an open coffee shop within twenty miles after 6PM.
That’s it for now. I’m off to rent a bike and ride off the grounds.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
I’m in Chautauqua, on the porch of the Hultquist Center, trying to keep my cool. M’s Mom is already on my nerves, and we moved through the gates less than 24 hours ago. Not a good sign. I think some hegemonic misunderstandings (at best you could call them misunderstandings) are emerging. For example, M’s brothers (both nice guys, none of this is their fault) work high-powered business jobs and don’t see their kids very often. In turn, these vacations are FAMILY vacations, all capital letters, very much so. In other words, a pressure exists in which the father is expected to spend every spare second with his kids because this is the FAMILY vacation. My job has much more flexibility. I see my kids more in a week than both the brothers combined. I don’t feel the same vacation pressure. Also, Chautauqua does not make children monitoring easy. The kids could 1) play in the street, where you have to make sure they aren’t hit by cars, 2) play in a park down the street, but you have to go with them and watch them, or 3) play in the house, where you have make sure they don’t breathe on the wrong family heirloom or whatever. Fuck it. This is M’s party, as far as I’m concerned.
Ok, enough venting. At least the trip out went well. We made good time, P. W. to Wisconsin in nine and a half hours. We stopped twice. I cannot recommend two particular Ohio Turnpike rest stops enough. The rest stops are at exits 100 and 139, and they feature bright, shining restrooms, your choice of restaurants (including a Panera’s at one), and much natural light. Check out these links:
http://www.ohioturnpike.org/service_plazas.html#SPF
The kids watched movies, listened to my Mp3 player, and played with their action figures throughout the ride. I can’t complain at all. They were good.
More later. I’m a bit worried about this trip, I guess, now that I’m pissed off and we’ve hardly started. Oh, James, here’s a picture for you.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i196/randomanthony/STA72934.jpg
Ok, enough venting. At least the trip out went well. We made good time, P. W. to Wisconsin in nine and a half hours. We stopped twice. I cannot recommend two particular Ohio Turnpike rest stops enough. The rest stops are at exits 100 and 139, and they feature bright, shining restrooms, your choice of restaurants (including a Panera’s at one), and much natural light. Check out these links:
http://www.ohioturnpike.org/service_plazas.html#SPF
The kids watched movies, listened to my Mp3 player, and played with their action figures throughout the ride. I can’t complain at all. They were good.
More later. I’m a bit worried about this trip, I guess, now that I’m pissed off and we’ve hardly started. Oh, James, here’s a picture for you.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i196/randomanthony/STA72934.jpg
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Late, nearing midnight, I should sleep soon. Corey visited this evening. We drove around town and talked. He’s more of a late night person than myself, but even I’m somewhat wired now. I suppose I could stay home from work tomorrow. We’ll see. Maybe.
Quick bullets:
I am vaguely obsessed with a band from Sioux Falls called “We All Have Hooks for Hands.” I’ve listened to their CD over and over again the last few days. Check them out.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=37902521
We’re trying to find a bike rack or whatever you attach on the back of the car so we can take out bikes out east. What a pain in the ass. They’re expensive.
I’ve loosely started “The Canterbury Tales.”
That’s it for now. More later.
Quick bullets:
I am vaguely obsessed with a band from Sioux Falls called “We All Have Hooks for Hands.” I’ve listened to their CD over and over again the last few days. Check them out.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=37902521
We’re trying to find a bike rack or whatever you attach on the back of the car so we can take out bikes out east. What a pain in the ass. They’re expensive.
I’ve loosely started “The Canterbury Tales.”
That’s it for now. More later.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Today is Fish Day. On Fish Day about 50,000 people, most of them drunk and shirtless (and these are not the type of people who should go shirtless) invade our town. The parade is on at the moment. I can hear the sirens in the distance. M and the boys went with some neighbors, but I, luckily, ditched the experience. We’ll see what I can avoid later. Some of the guys with whom I play basketball are getting drunk, starting at 5PM, but I’m not sure if I’ll attend that get together or not. We’ll see.
The last few days have been busy. On Wednesday night we took the boys to the Brewers/Diamondbacks game. The air was thick, sultry, so we sweated through the first seven innings before going home. I had fun. My interest in baseball has been renewed over the last couple of years. I like the pace of the game, the flow, the mix of intellectual strategy and specific athleticism. I wouldn’t mind going to a game by myself sometime.
On Thursday we hit Discovery World and Festa Italiana. I like the aquarium at Discovery World. We walked through all the ship and fish exhibits, then hit the upper floors for the industrial design exhibits or whatever they’re meant to be. The upper floors suck, honestly. I think Briggs and Stratton and the other companies who funded the exhibits are trying to raise awareness of engineering and other industrial skills, but my God, that crap is boring. They have a huge punch press that spits out a template for a plastic airplane. I could print that shit off my home computer.
We walked across the lawn to Festa Italiana afterwards. A friend of mine from work snagged us tickets, so we didn’t have to pay admission. Yay! I thought the gig was ok. Apparently retirement homes get free tickets because old people were everywhere. At one point T said, “What is this, wheelchairfest?” I laughed. I wanted to say, “good one, but don’t say it so close to the people in the wheelchairs.” Then again, it’s not like they could have caught him had he ran. We ate some panini and pizza (remarkably hard to find pizza at Festa Italia, believe or not, I think Palmero’s must have exclusive sponsorship rights or something), then let the kids play in the fountain. Here’s some film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSfU2lSy5E0
Some drama at work distracted me a bit while hanging out with the kids, but I guess I was ok. I talked through the issues with people around the office. I suppose it’s not entirely unheard of to be pissed off about work now and then. What do I expect? Yesterday Paul and I talked at the coffee shop for a while, in between meetings, before I wrapped up at work and drove home. Last night I had the kids on my own, most of the night, while M attended a school parent group meeting/get together. The kids and their friends spazzed out in the yard and in the back field while I read under the gazebo and checked on the Brew game (they lost). I was kind of wired by the time M returned home and everyone fell asleep so I cleaned the kitchen and living room before crashing on the front porch. I may start cleaning again now. A couple brief thoughts:
1) I’m discovering I have way more friends than I might have thought. That’s a good thing.
2) I’m reading Jonathan Lethem’s “You Don’t’ Love Me Yet.” Paul told me he only read thirty pages before giving up. I was surprised.
3) I listened to the new Dolorean yesterday. The disc sounded pretty good. Maybe I’ll put it on while I’m cleaning.
The last few days have been busy. On Wednesday night we took the boys to the Brewers/Diamondbacks game. The air was thick, sultry, so we sweated through the first seven innings before going home. I had fun. My interest in baseball has been renewed over the last couple of years. I like the pace of the game, the flow, the mix of intellectual strategy and specific athleticism. I wouldn’t mind going to a game by myself sometime.
On Thursday we hit Discovery World and Festa Italiana. I like the aquarium at Discovery World. We walked through all the ship and fish exhibits, then hit the upper floors for the industrial design exhibits or whatever they’re meant to be. The upper floors suck, honestly. I think Briggs and Stratton and the other companies who funded the exhibits are trying to raise awareness of engineering and other industrial skills, but my God, that crap is boring. They have a huge punch press that spits out a template for a plastic airplane. I could print that shit off my home computer.
We walked across the lawn to Festa Italiana afterwards. A friend of mine from work snagged us tickets, so we didn’t have to pay admission. Yay! I thought the gig was ok. Apparently retirement homes get free tickets because old people were everywhere. At one point T said, “What is this, wheelchairfest?” I laughed. I wanted to say, “good one, but don’t say it so close to the people in the wheelchairs.” Then again, it’s not like they could have caught him had he ran. We ate some panini and pizza (remarkably hard to find pizza at Festa Italia, believe or not, I think Palmero’s must have exclusive sponsorship rights or something), then let the kids play in the fountain. Here’s some film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSfU2lSy5E0
Some drama at work distracted me a bit while hanging out with the kids, but I guess I was ok. I talked through the issues with people around the office. I suppose it’s not entirely unheard of to be pissed off about work now and then. What do I expect? Yesterday Paul and I talked at the coffee shop for a while, in between meetings, before I wrapped up at work and drove home. Last night I had the kids on my own, most of the night, while M attended a school parent group meeting/get together. The kids and their friends spazzed out in the yard and in the back field while I read under the gazebo and checked on the Brew game (they lost). I was kind of wired by the time M returned home and everyone fell asleep so I cleaned the kitchen and living room before crashing on the front porch. I may start cleaning again now. A couple brief thoughts:
1) I’m discovering I have way more friends than I might have thought. That’s a good thing.
2) I’m reading Jonathan Lethem’s “You Don’t’ Love Me Yet.” Paul told me he only read thirty pages before giving up. I was surprised.
3) I listened to the new Dolorean yesterday. The disc sounded pretty good. Maybe I’ll put it on while I’m cleaning.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
I’m having a hard time getting to sleep tonight. I’m not sure why. Maybe I’ll take some melatonin. I’m due at basketball in a little more than seven hours, so I should get to sleep soon.
This morning I slept slightly later than I wanted and missed the late hoops game. I reached work by 8:30 or so, and I screwed around in different offices for a while until I had to attend a fairly lame panel at 9:45AM. After the panel I answered a slew of emails and knocked out another fall syllabus. Today, I guess, was one of those days when I felt busy and productive, but I can’t think of too much in specific that I finished. Oh, at lunch I drove over to Best Buy and bought the second and third seasons of Arrested Development. Both seasons were on sale for 15 bucks each, a great price, so I only felt mildly guilty about spending the cash. The transaction took forever, though, because the Best Buy computers were down. The cashier, a nice guy doing the best he could in a rough situation, had to run my debit card through one of those old imprint things.
After I reached home I hung out with the boys for a while, ate dinner, and headed out to T’s game. I didn’t get to read much this time. S and I played catch out in the outfield for a while, I talked on the phone, and I couldn’t get in a literary groove. Later I found out M and the boys were in the creek again, and I saw a video that made T appear as if he were in quite deep, but it turns out he was sitting on the ground in a shallow part. I was still kind of freaked. Are there holes in the creek? I don’t think so. I asked T, and I think I freaked him out a bit, too. Sometimes I think I’m setting his therapist up for the future, thank you very much. Anyway, the boys and I hung out, watching the Brew game and chatting, before they fell asleep. M and I watched the first two season two episodes of Arrested Development, and here I am.
The Shedd Aquarium trip is cancelled, long story, so I’m working tomorrow. On Thursday we’re taking the boys to Discovery World, followed by Festa Italiana. That’s enough for now, I need some melatonin. Good night.
This morning I slept slightly later than I wanted and missed the late hoops game. I reached work by 8:30 or so, and I screwed around in different offices for a while until I had to attend a fairly lame panel at 9:45AM. After the panel I answered a slew of emails and knocked out another fall syllabus. Today, I guess, was one of those days when I felt busy and productive, but I can’t think of too much in specific that I finished. Oh, at lunch I drove over to Best Buy and bought the second and third seasons of Arrested Development. Both seasons were on sale for 15 bucks each, a great price, so I only felt mildly guilty about spending the cash. The transaction took forever, though, because the Best Buy computers were down. The cashier, a nice guy doing the best he could in a rough situation, had to run my debit card through one of those old imprint things.
After I reached home I hung out with the boys for a while, ate dinner, and headed out to T’s game. I didn’t get to read much this time. S and I played catch out in the outfield for a while, I talked on the phone, and I couldn’t get in a literary groove. Later I found out M and the boys were in the creek again, and I saw a video that made T appear as if he were in quite deep, but it turns out he was sitting on the ground in a shallow part. I was still kind of freaked. Are there holes in the creek? I don’t think so. I asked T, and I think I freaked him out a bit, too. Sometimes I think I’m setting his therapist up for the future, thank you very much. Anyway, the boys and I hung out, watching the Brew game and chatting, before they fell asleep. M and I watched the first two season two episodes of Arrested Development, and here I am.
The Shedd Aquarium trip is cancelled, long story, so I’m working tomorrow. On Thursday we’re taking the boys to Discovery World, followed by Festa Italiana. That’s enough for now, I need some melatonin. Good night.
Monday, July 16, 2007
I was out of sorts all day today. 10:00PM is almost here, and I wish I could just go to sleep. I couldn’t get into a rhythm today. This morning was ok, I guess, as I left for work a little after eight. I was all dressed up, for once, because I had to kiss donor butt through a morning meeting. The meeting ran long, almost two hours, but I can’t complain, as the conversation was at least interesting. I decided to drive home, eat lunch, and work on my syllabi. At first I thought I’d drive to the coffee shop, but I made the unwise decision to work upstairs. The kids were out of fucking control today. S was all pissed off because I was beating him at “Pig”, T was whining about how he couldn’t have waffles for lunch, and N…well, he was just being N. I suppose we don’t have many days like today, but I fucking yelled pretty much as loud as I could at one point. We have wide open windows, and I’m sure you could hear for blocks. Oh well. Later M took the boys to the creek to look for crayfish, so I knocked out one of my syllabi and tried to gather my thoughts. Later T, S and I played baseball for a while. We drove over to S and N’s t-ball game after dinner. N hit and ran the bases well, but he was on some other planet when he was in the field. At one point my youngest son was playing with the dirt behind second base while my oldest, who aims, I’m convinced, to shit in every gross toilet in America, took a dump in the porta-pottie next to the baseball field. Lovely. I threw in the towel and got Culvers ice cream on the way home then sat with the two oldest boys to watch the Brewers beat the Diamondbacks. I considered driving to a movie, as usual, but my eyes are watering like crazy. Is it possible to get allergies or whatever later in life? What causes them? Stress? My chest hurts from when I had to yell today.
Tomorrow will be better, I hope. I don’t have too many bad days. I’m still tired as hell just about all the time, though. Good night.
Tomorrow will be better, I hope. I don’t have too many bad days. I’m still tired as hell just about all the time, though. Good night.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
I’m writing a bit earlier than usual tonight. M and the kids are off at the city pool, although they could be back at any second, so I thought I’d write now rather than watch tv or screw around on the net. I want to rise early tomorrow, maybe around five, and reach work by seven. Maybe I’ll meditate beforehand. I feel as if my discipline is slipping.
Today was a good day. I woke by seven. T and S were already up, watching tv and eating breakfast, so I quickly took them out into the back field for some baseball. T was asked play “up” a league for a tournament this weekend, so he’s been into practicing more than usual. His catching has definitely improved, to the point where he’s almost automatic, and his batting isn’t half-bad either. After eight I cut the back grass, although I was slightly concerned that I might wake some neighbors. Oh well, what the hell, they’re not shy about running their power tools or whatever early in the morning, so ten minutes on the lawn shouldn’t have hurt. The grass was pretty long, too, and I couldn’t look at the back yard without noticing. After cutting the lawn I showered and read some of the paper. The boys have taken over the dining room table with “Heroscape”, so I ate on the kitchen island. I didn’t want the boys hanging out inside all morning, so on a lark M and I took everyone down to the harbor for lemonade. I ran into a neighbor in the coffee shop, so he and I talked for a while. He’s a good guy with the rare ability to talk more than me. After we split the coffee shop we walked around the harbor. The skies were bright, tourists, were everywhere, and I was reminded of how beautiful our town can in the summer. Now, come February, no one’s going to be in the harbor park, trust me, but on a bright July Sunday, you can’t lose with a harbor walk.
M agreed to watch a couple neighbor girls for the afternoon. The girls, lovely little things, played in back with the boys while I alternated between the Brewers and Cubs games. The girls are Cubs fans, unfortunately, and my efforts to indoctrinate them otherwise failed. The Brew won, at least, but so did the Cubs. After the game I rode my bike south ten miles or so, twenty miles round trip. The weather was close to perfect for a bike ride, although the wind was slightly too strong on the way down for my liking.
Sidebar…last night I met the Russian (I think he’s Russian) guy who re-opened up the liquor store on the main road not far from here. He put in a gorgeous new floor, knocked out walls, etc., but I have no goddamn idea how he’s going to make enough money to survive. You hardly notice the store when you drive past, and there is a gas station that stocks beer about half a mile down the road. Poor bastard. I hereby swear to buy all my alcohol from him for the foreseeable future. His name is Vlad.
I have been reading a lot of Jonathan Lethem. Ok, perhaps I’ll meditate a bit now. Good night. I felt fortunate to be alive today.
Today was a good day. I woke by seven. T and S were already up, watching tv and eating breakfast, so I quickly took them out into the back field for some baseball. T was asked play “up” a league for a tournament this weekend, so he’s been into practicing more than usual. His catching has definitely improved, to the point where he’s almost automatic, and his batting isn’t half-bad either. After eight I cut the back grass, although I was slightly concerned that I might wake some neighbors. Oh well, what the hell, they’re not shy about running their power tools or whatever early in the morning, so ten minutes on the lawn shouldn’t have hurt. The grass was pretty long, too, and I couldn’t look at the back yard without noticing. After cutting the lawn I showered and read some of the paper. The boys have taken over the dining room table with “Heroscape”, so I ate on the kitchen island. I didn’t want the boys hanging out inside all morning, so on a lark M and I took everyone down to the harbor for lemonade. I ran into a neighbor in the coffee shop, so he and I talked for a while. He’s a good guy with the rare ability to talk more than me. After we split the coffee shop we walked around the harbor. The skies were bright, tourists, were everywhere, and I was reminded of how beautiful our town can in the summer. Now, come February, no one’s going to be in the harbor park, trust me, but on a bright July Sunday, you can’t lose with a harbor walk.
M agreed to watch a couple neighbor girls for the afternoon. The girls, lovely little things, played in back with the boys while I alternated between the Brewers and Cubs games. The girls are Cubs fans, unfortunately, and my efforts to indoctrinate them otherwise failed. The Brew won, at least, but so did the Cubs. After the game I rode my bike south ten miles or so, twenty miles round trip. The weather was close to perfect for a bike ride, although the wind was slightly too strong on the way down for my liking.
Sidebar…last night I met the Russian (I think he’s Russian) guy who re-opened up the liquor store on the main road not far from here. He put in a gorgeous new floor, knocked out walls, etc., but I have no goddamn idea how he’s going to make enough money to survive. You hardly notice the store when you drive past, and there is a gas station that stocks beer about half a mile down the road. Poor bastard. I hereby swear to buy all my alcohol from him for the foreseeable future. His name is Vlad.
I have been reading a lot of Jonathan Lethem. Ok, perhaps I’ll meditate a bit now. Good night. I felt fortunate to be alive today.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
I’m going through a massive sneezing fit as I try to write. I’ve never had significant allergy problems, but in the last year or so my eyes water to the point where I can’t read. At least the sneezing fits aren’t common. I have boogers all over my right arm, though, from turning to sneeze. There’s an image for you.
I think I’ve jinxed myself as far as sleep is concerned, too. I sent an email earlier today to a friend stating that I felt like I was doing pretty well because my sleep has improved. Then I used the same phrasing with M a few hours later. The only nights during which I’ve been up late took place in NY a couple weeks back. Tonight, however, I don’t feel as if sleep will come easily. I don’t know. Maybe I’ll read from the Laxness (finished “Gun With Occasional Music” a couple days ago, very good) or watch the second half of “Breach”. I was playing on playing hoops in the morning, but I may not now, as I’ve played the last two days and would have to ride my bike to the gym to play. M needs my car for summer school as the van is in the shop for $2,500 worth of maintenance. Oh well. We don’t have a car payment, so let’s call this money the car payment, or a little over $200 a month. Not bad, I guess, and probably inevitable.
Bullets, bullets, bullets…
Work has been fine lately. I am not particularly motivated with paperwork in the last few weeks, but I’m knocking out everything I need to knock out in the mornings. I should be ready for the semester by the late July vacation.
We almost bought a moped. I would have liked one, but the car repair bill (see above) rendered the purchase impossible. Still, I’m jealous of my neighbor’s moped. This was a sign from God, I hope, that 1) we should continue to live within our means, and 2) the kids may have been hurt had they rode on a moped.
There was nothing on TV tonight. I can’t wait for the baseball season to start again. All Star week sucks.
Apparently some kids laughed at T when he lost at lightning (a form of basketball popular here in Wisconsin). He’s probably too sensitive. Everybody gets mocked sometimes, especially if you’re a boy playing sports, I think. I hope he can handle it. He’s got his head on straight.
N and I have “played guys”, e.g. played with action figures together, a lot lately. The action figures play together, hang out at home together, and defeat zombies that come out of the ground at night (his idea, not mine). We’ve had fun. I’m getting closer to my youngest son. That feels good.
I’ve considered checking “Knocked Up” out one of these nights, but I’m either usually helping the kids get to sleep or reading.
I’ve been listening to The Hold Steady a lot lately. “Boys and Girls in America” is a seriously underrated disc. I’ve also listened to Charlotte Gainsbourg’s “5:55” quite a bit at work. Today I downloaded the new Meat Puppets and some old New Order.
Did I mention we bought a gazebo? The gazebo is on our deck. Gazebos kick ass.
More later. I’m feeling better now I’ve written.
I think I’ve jinxed myself as far as sleep is concerned, too. I sent an email earlier today to a friend stating that I felt like I was doing pretty well because my sleep has improved. Then I used the same phrasing with M a few hours later. The only nights during which I’ve been up late took place in NY a couple weeks back. Tonight, however, I don’t feel as if sleep will come easily. I don’t know. Maybe I’ll read from the Laxness (finished “Gun With Occasional Music” a couple days ago, very good) or watch the second half of “Breach”. I was playing on playing hoops in the morning, but I may not now, as I’ve played the last two days and would have to ride my bike to the gym to play. M needs my car for summer school as the van is in the shop for $2,500 worth of maintenance. Oh well. We don’t have a car payment, so let’s call this money the car payment, or a little over $200 a month. Not bad, I guess, and probably inevitable.
Bullets, bullets, bullets…
Work has been fine lately. I am not particularly motivated with paperwork in the last few weeks, but I’m knocking out everything I need to knock out in the mornings. I should be ready for the semester by the late July vacation.
We almost bought a moped. I would have liked one, but the car repair bill (see above) rendered the purchase impossible. Still, I’m jealous of my neighbor’s moped. This was a sign from God, I hope, that 1) we should continue to live within our means, and 2) the kids may have been hurt had they rode on a moped.
There was nothing on TV tonight. I can’t wait for the baseball season to start again. All Star week sucks.
Apparently some kids laughed at T when he lost at lightning (a form of basketball popular here in Wisconsin). He’s probably too sensitive. Everybody gets mocked sometimes, especially if you’re a boy playing sports, I think. I hope he can handle it. He’s got his head on straight.
N and I have “played guys”, e.g. played with action figures together, a lot lately. The action figures play together, hang out at home together, and defeat zombies that come out of the ground at night (his idea, not mine). We’ve had fun. I’m getting closer to my youngest son. That feels good.
I’ve considered checking “Knocked Up” out one of these nights, but I’m either usually helping the kids get to sleep or reading.
I’ve been listening to The Hold Steady a lot lately. “Boys and Girls in America” is a seriously underrated disc. I’ve also listened to Charlotte Gainsbourg’s “5:55” quite a bit at work. Today I downloaded the new Meat Puppets and some old New Order.
Did I mention we bought a gazebo? The gazebo is on our deck. Gazebos kick ass.
More later. I’m feeling better now I’ve written.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
So today was the day when a slew of people got married, right? I guess the date, with its synchronized sevens, is seen as good luck. Well, I’m sure they were warm enough in their tuxedos and wedding dresses here in Wisconsin. The temps are tropical, global-warming tropical, and tomorrow is supposed to be worse. I did what I could to avoid actually going outside much today. I drove out to West Bend early this morning to hit the farmer’s market, but beyond that, I hardly left the house. Let me recap.
The farmer’s market was actually pretty cool. West Bend is sort of a shitty industrial town, in my eyes, but the farmer’s market made the old downtown look like Boulder or Madison. Tents lined up in front of the fading downtown businesses (I saw one advertising an inkjet printer cartridge club) sold mushrooms, cherries, cheese, etc. I picked up all the aforementioned products and cruised home, listening to The Hold Steady on full blast. When I was halfway home my phone rang. Dan and I talked about his house issues until I pulled up at the house. I sat in back, under the new gazebo (on sale at Target) while the kids ran back and forth between yards. Later T and I went for a walk/ride. I walked, he rode his bike. We skipped the cemetery (rare funeral service taking place right on the path) and sat on the rocks near the old church/new electric consulting company. Not long after that M took the boys to a birthday party. I finished cleaning the office (moved a ton of books into the upstairs closet) and screwed around on the computer. Later I ate dinner, watched the Brew game (they lost a close one), and caught an old episode of The Sopranos on cable. M and the boys visited a neighbor’s, but I wasn’t in the mood for socialization, so I stayed home. Sometimes I think I don’t fit in very well with the neighbor dads. Oh well. High school never ends, I guess.
Last night Rich and I took in a couple high powered high school basketball games, AAU level, then got drunk on the back porch. That was fun, anyway.
I think I stress myself out. I’ve been thinking about death and fear a lot lately. There are times during the day, many times, when I find my chest tightening over anything from heights to the thought of the kids crossing the street. I will write about this fear more soon. I see old people, too, and I think I’m not too far away from that. More soon. Good night.
The farmer’s market was actually pretty cool. West Bend is sort of a shitty industrial town, in my eyes, but the farmer’s market made the old downtown look like Boulder or Madison. Tents lined up in front of the fading downtown businesses (I saw one advertising an inkjet printer cartridge club) sold mushrooms, cherries, cheese, etc. I picked up all the aforementioned products and cruised home, listening to The Hold Steady on full blast. When I was halfway home my phone rang. Dan and I talked about his house issues until I pulled up at the house. I sat in back, under the new gazebo (on sale at Target) while the kids ran back and forth between yards. Later T and I went for a walk/ride. I walked, he rode his bike. We skipped the cemetery (rare funeral service taking place right on the path) and sat on the rocks near the old church/new electric consulting company. Not long after that M took the boys to a birthday party. I finished cleaning the office (moved a ton of books into the upstairs closet) and screwed around on the computer. Later I ate dinner, watched the Brew game (they lost a close one), and caught an old episode of The Sopranos on cable. M and the boys visited a neighbor’s, but I wasn’t in the mood for socialization, so I stayed home. Sometimes I think I don’t fit in very well with the neighbor dads. Oh well. High school never ends, I guess.
Last night Rich and I took in a couple high powered high school basketball games, AAU level, then got drunk on the back porch. That was fun, anyway.
I think I stress myself out. I’ve been thinking about death and fear a lot lately. There are times during the day, many times, when I find my chest tightening over anything from heights to the thought of the kids crossing the street. I will write about this fear more soon. I see old people, too, and I think I’m not too far away from that. More soon. Good night.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Fourth of July, late in the evening, first post in a while. I feel ok, if a bit wired, and I’m hoping I can fall asleep soon, but sleep may not be in the cards. Today was a good day. I woke near seven on the floor in the Wii room. Last night T heard a storm was coming and asked to sleep in what he calls the “quiet room”. I didn’t want him in there on his own, so I slept on the floor. I slept pretty well, actually. I was reminded of how I can sleep pretty much anywhere, and I have pretty much slept anywhere, for my entire life. M and some of her friends took the boys to Random Lake later in the morning. I cut the grass and read for a while before walking downtown with Shadow. The weather was beautiful, bright and breezy, near downtown. I had missed the parade, but tourists still milled around the park, I could tell they were tourists because they weren’t accustomed to strangers greeting them on the street. The walk felt great, as my back has kept me from running lately, and my body felt out of sorts without exercise. When I returned home I ate lunch and cleaned the entryway to the basement of winter coats, plastic bags, and errant gloves. After that I took a shower, read a bit more, and took the boys on a bike ride. The afternoon passed quickly. Just before dinner I put the infernal train table on the front lawn with a “take me” sign and reclaimed about ten feet of the front porch. By early evening we were at a neighbor’s for a fourth of July party. The kids were good, but the fireworks didn’t start until 9:30, and the fireworks sucked, so the end of the evening was a downer. Plus, while my street doesn’t get much traffic, after fireworks drivers use our street as a short cut on their rush home. They fly up the hill, and I worry about kids getting hit. In fact, tonight is one of those worry nights, a night when I can’t get the possibility of my kids getting hurt out of my mind.
I meditated today as well, only for a few minutes, but the meditation felt great. Perhaps I should meditate now.
Some bullets:
I just finished Joshua Farris’ “Then We Came To The End”. Fine book. I’m returning to Jung and the Ramayana next.
I have “Breach” from Netflix. Maybe I’ll turn on the film if I can’t sleep.
I’m on a cleaning binge since finishing the dissertation. Tomorrow I plan on taking on the office, maybe moving some of the books on the top shelves to an upstairs closet. I don’t want them in the basement because of the mold.
I’m disappointed in the upcoming New Pornographers CD except for the first song.
More later. Good night.
I meditated today as well, only for a few minutes, but the meditation felt great. Perhaps I should meditate now.
Some bullets:
I just finished Joshua Farris’ “Then We Came To The End”. Fine book. I’m returning to Jung and the Ramayana next.
I have “Breach” from Netflix. Maybe I’ll turn on the film if I can’t sleep.
I’m on a cleaning binge since finishing the dissertation. Tomorrow I plan on taking on the office, maybe moving some of the books on the top shelves to an upstairs closet. I don’t want them in the basement because of the mold.
I’m disappointed in the upcoming New Pornographers CD except for the first song.
More later. Good night.
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