mizarchivist

I realized yesterday that I'd not been here for a while in a writing sense.
I don't know if I'll get around to writing about my Ohio trip, my reUUnion experience (excellent), the traveling alone with a toddler (doable but exhausting), returning, the reality that my kid's about to turn 2, all the amazing leveling up he's done- I started to write about all that, but it sounded boring when I was writing it, so who knows. The moment may have passed.

What I did want to write about was the bit about me getting on my skates for the first time in over 2 years. I don't remember at what point I put them away when I was pregnant, then they never came out of the basement at the newly-old house. But a friend of mine was talking about how he's been skating as his primary exercise outlet and how much he's enjoying that after a bumpy beginning. I had such an instantaneous and visceral envy. Also, I have all this pavement across the street from my house. Never mind the bike path, which is an option, sure- but baby steps. Especially since our evenings are darker now. No way I'm going down the bumpiest bit of the path in the dark. School yard? Sure.

It was already well past sunset when I went over, but the street and building lights were enough to consider this a viable option. If random people can play basketball until 10 at night, I can probably keep from falling over on my skates. It was great. The basketball court is the best- smoothest, but a very limited bit of real estate, and very highly prized. I had not realized my left-over-right cross overs were so frankenstein-like. Right over left? Smooth, gliding, dolphins through water. I spent a lot of time trying to convince my non-dominant foot it could replicate smooth, gliding, dolphins through water. I have a long way to go. I also had 2 repetitions of Wish You Were Here: studio and live versions, on my ipod. That's Bob Wright's theme song for me. I feel like I got a visitation, a benediction. He's been gone a long time now. I wish he was here. I wish he could meet the crime fighter and try to talk me out of selling my motorcycle.

I'm going to be sore in the morning. 

- Didn't want to get up (what' s new there?)
- Still sore from weights yesterday
+ Did weights yesterday - and did 12 miles on a real bicycle -to/from Alewife
- Epidermis misbehavior (I swear I'm not 14 anymore, but nobody told my pores)
+ random T encounter with roozle .
- Came in to find the server's down at work and none of the 3 tech guys are answering the phone. I am about to head off site to see my interns so I won't even be here to assist when (not if) they call while I'm out
+ Top hat! Still don't have it, but I will soon
- Weird dreams about The Ex. The one I've not been with since Sept. 1996. Why? Why?? Oh, right. Symbolism. Of something.
+ Sunny when I thought there'd be rain at this point
+ Almost Saturday, therefore almost by birthday.  Yeah, that's good. I'm looking forward to a few presents and a kickass dinner at EVOO.
? I'm finding Facebook to be almost impossible to get signal:noise ratio within reason these days, so I have this nagging feeling like I'm missing something. (I am, I know. S'ok)
-- Homeless friend, Richie is getting hassled by a cop for being homeless and passively hoping for food/cigarette money from kindly passersby. There's very little that seems to be able to be done. Who cares? He's not hurting anyone or hindering anyone. I've called around to a few lawyerly places, emailed a few people, but I think it's pretty much a tough-luck situation. It's hard to get territory out there, though. He has a spot that's his and regular people (like me) who try to look out for him. Gr. I'm still hoping for a response back from someone on this, but I'm mostly resigned to not actually getting to help.
? I also had a dream that I thought I saw Bob Wright in my library. ... But no. I've thought about him a lot. There's a field out by the bike path and I always think of him when I go by it. I miss him.

I've taken to pulling random tracks for my Shuffle - I change it out every week or so and that's what I take to the gym. Inevitably I get Pink Floyd on it. It might be because I have several albums, but I like to think it's Bob saying hi. Especially when the same favorite tracks end up there week after week after I wipe it.

It's been a week since Bob's memorial- I've not written anything about it because I was either too tired or just not in the space to think about it. So, it was good- very standard churchy sort, as you'd expect at a church. Some of his friends/benefactors paid tribute- that was the best part. And so many people! I was hugely gratified to see that. So, thank you all for the im/explicit support. I think about and miss him every day, but it doesn't feel like a dagger in my chest. Nor do I need to torture myself with marathon Pink Floyd sessions. So, I'm getting back on the saddle and donning my food-fairy wings again. There's a lot of hungry people in the world, and I'll always over-estimate how much we'll eat in a given week. I did fall into the trap when I was Bob-focused that I rarely offered to others, but now I feel like I'd be doing more good by not settling on one person or pattern.

The season is definitely starting to turn, despite the recent omg-hot. When I'm on the bike path, I can see a few leaves  here and there turning red. There's more debris from the overhanging trees on the ground, and today, this morning- glorious. I just adore that more insistent coolness that means you want a bit of a jacket, but don't yet need socks or long sleeves all day. So when it turned out my train crapped out at Charles Street, I got to have the best walk up Charles Street then through The Common. Also, this weather means apples are going to be ripe soon. I've seen a few local ones from early harvests in, but they taste too sharp still- not that deep, sweet but tart thing that makes me hunt around for the peanut butter or insist on making crust for pie. We recently got a food mill. It's much fancier than the one I grew up with that only had one grind setting of super-fine. This one will do much more coarse finish, which bodes well for this season's sauce-making.

This is a good segue into mentioning that I'm reading Julia Child's memoir My Life in France. Amazing! But it makes me hungry a lot of the time. And while I'm not likely to go to Paris any time soon, I can focus all that pent up lust for travel on my Italy trip next spring.

Life at home seems to be pretty frickin' awesome of late. He's not much of a LJ writer these days, but I will say that quiet_elegance  is dealing with a lot of needful and in the end good stuff- after years of stoicism re: bad knee and back, he's making getting better a priority. Right now it's sort of adds up to a part time job given how often he's going to the doctor, at PT, etc. He's been between jobs for over a month at this point, but it really was providential, given how much time he'd have to take off for appointments, so in other words, wouldn't be. Despite the on-going pain, the man is downright chipper and entirely delightful to be around. His attentiveness- presentness- and the schmoop levels may well be lethal. Woe! ;) I'm proud as hell of this new path he's taking. It's like he woke up after years of dormancy.

And apropos of nothing from above, but mentioned previously- things are work seem to be going pretty well. I have actually finished writing up my scripts for my screencast recordings. My software choice is likely to be Camtasia, which pairs with my already installed Jing. Now I just have to start recording. Yay? Actually the best bit was having such positive feedback from my boss yesterday. Really, need to review the whole set of scripts before I try to record. Or practice by reading out loud (not a favorite task, but necessary)
So I should go do that.

So, I was cryptic yesterday on FB, so instead of trying to craft individual answers which just sap the energy from me, I'd do one big post about it, which I have now done. I left it entirely open to anyone, so theoretically all can now read it. Link Here.

I'm glad I didn't skip work today. Our server fell down again in the night, and it's best if I'm around for that fix. However, I'm at peace with the reality that I may not have the energy to do much at all today in a work capacity besides fill the space in case I'm needed, which already I have, so score one for me. The crushing weight that comes with grief seems to be lighter today, but my gym attempt before work was a joke and so abandoned in favor of breakfast and Bob's further write-up.

I'll be off to New York (Poughkeepsie) to see family tomorrow. I'll be back Saturday night, late.

Thanks again, everyone.

Farewell, dear friend.
You were one of the best: Fighter and warrior; laborer; rock n' roller; story teller....
I loved to talk about motorcycles with you. And to hear about your travels. You were and advocate for the homeless- so outspoken and smiling even when you didn't want to.
School is cool - a motto for the kids going up to the Park St. daycare.
Smile, it's the law.
I must have seen you on that corner for about a year before I started to talk to you and my only regret was not talking to you sooner. I thought of you just about every morning before I left for work- would you be out? Was it going to rain on you today- did I already have some food for you at work? 
I was so glad for you when you finally got a real room at the assisted living place. And yet, you still liked my food better.
Whenever I was able to do a bit more for you, I was glad. What a revelation to be able to give you a little iPod so you could listen to your old favorites- Pink Floyd first and always. Janis Joplin, Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, all the good stuff of your generation. Music is my solace, and I have to believe it lightened your spirits from time to time. I'll never be able to hear Pink Floyd again without thinking of you first, and missing you. No longer an earth-bound misfit. I hope you are happy and at peace. Know that you were greatly loved and that you mattered.

My homeless friend is back on his usual corner after being gone for most of the month. Whew. I thought he was a goner this time. But, he's chipper and re-healthified. He says he lost 100lbs in the hospital. I had no idea he had that much surplus, but he did. This will mean the diabetes will be easier to control, for sure. Whew. Yay, Bob!!

Ok!
Having a pretty good day thus far: ( not in order!!)
1. Remembered to take out the trash/recycling
2. Caught the correct (early) bus
3. Saw Homeless Bob and remembered his food. He was in good spirits, which is always a relief
4. Looks like I did snag the Ani tix for Sunday (and w/in my comfort level of price
5. Pink's album came out yesterday, so I'm planning on getting that at lunch (hey! On sale, bonus!)
6. Dad called and we had a nice chat
7. Q_e comes home tonight!!
8. New Angel episode tonight
9. NH book dealer is coming to take the a % of the discards this afternoon
10. I had a great conversation with Manderwoos last night
11. Arisia volunteer email went out and I already got a response back (Thanks bbbsg)- btw: if anyone wants to work registration let me know reg at arisia dot org. Remember! 12 hours of working a con = free membership next year and if you work pre/post, the hours count for double! (I'm a shameless pimp)
12. Yesterday was filled with great visiting w/ bookteacher and B. and the Diesel tuesday evening regulars (hey- sounds sort of like a militia- how scary would that be??)

So, yeah. It's alllll good.

I feel like I have a combination of Alexander's Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day and Fred Durst- ("Break Stuff" came to mind).. however, I find this hard to maintain after I started drinking my coffee and having breakfast and putting the compilation disk in that I made 2 weekends ago. Goddamnit! Why can't I maintain a bad mood?! wink

Why you ask?
I woke up after having a dream in which my homeless friend, Bob, died. He's not here for the second day in a row, so that just adds fuel to the fire.

I checked online for voting results before coming in to work. Prelims say that Lexington defeated the tax override- So, while it might turn out OK, doubtful. Less money to school, library, emergency workers, etc. Tightwad Lexington.

Well, must finish breakfast and get to the worky bit of the day. I have a lot to do today.