As we approach the time when I'd like to be sending out save-the-dates, I've promised myself to get the registries up and running too.

And I'm learning that I pretty much despise china.
Srsly.

Part of the problem, I guess, is that Kaitlyn and I are co-habitating adults who have been living away from our parents for a while. Thus, we've got a nicely schizophrenic collection of formal and casual dinnerware. We use my formal china (a mix-mash from all three types of the Lenox Etchings collection) and Kaitlyn's everyday china (half-and-half from a company that doesn't exist anymore; half forest green, half cobalt blue).

We don't have a complete set of anything.

And we've been filling in with plain white stuff from Target, purple stuff from Kohl's, and random "specialty" pieces handed down from a variety of family sources. Our mugs are a total mosh pit, the only uniform mugs being from yet a third china company - and the pattern is, yes!, also retired.

I have no clue how to "encourage" a little bit of coherency in my kitchen cupboards.

For the everyday china, I'm thinking about this set from Target - which is pretty much the blue set of dishes that we have. We can register for this, and then simply ditch the forest green stuff (or bequeath to a friend?)...

For the formal china... I'm still a bit stumped.
I need to do an inventory of what I've got... and then, I dunno. Maybe register for a simple, plain white formal china set that I can use to fill in around the pieces we've already got? Forget what I've got, and just pick something entirely new? Did I forget to mention that all three versions of the Etchings collection are also discontinued? Yeah, they are.

I'm not sure what the best way to handle our jumble would be.
Suggestions?

I'm sitting here with my dinner staring, literally, at the blinking cursor in my blank Microsoft word document...

I suddenly have a new respect for creators like Joss Whedon, or even JK Rowling...
I want to just write on the page, "and they do stuff"
"typical stuff, that they do everyday"
"they do that, and ... umm.. they do it again tomorrow"

For the most part, Vol 1. Issues # 1 and 2 are in final draft form. Poke Karen if you want them in final *art* form, cuz she's still working on the character designs & story boards for the scripts I've written out.

I'm stalled on Issue 3 (although, we do have an outline for the story arc that will take place over the first 10 issues, or so)... I know what happens in issues 3 & 4 - I just need to get it coherently on the paper. Or at least, get a start somehow.

"And the Black Alley Cats fight some bad guys, in a back alley way... once again"
...
"Because they are Awesome."

this winter season...
is not helping.
there are many others
with better reasons
than I for sorrow and slumber.
peering at a Window,
I seek some connection -
but I'm finding only reflections.

Reason number 27 that I'm in love with my wife:
She has an unrestrained adoration for Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance - specifically, the Major-General's Song.

Just to make sure my close friends & family are "in the loop"...
My grandfather has taken "a turn for the worse" - he made it through last night, but we don't know how much longer he will "make it through"... another day? another week? another month?

So, that's going on.

Also, here's a snippet from a Fbook thread that I saw the other day (in response to MA and recent political happenings). It is certainly not helping spread sunshine.

He said:
"Democrats: This is your second warning. America does not want this health care bill. America is not as liberal as you think it is. Adapt or die."

I said:
"Honestly, my biggest concern with your statement is probably the assumption that there exists some sort of homogeneous "America" that has one, unified consensus on what it does or does not want.
Also, the implication that such an "America" actually needs what it wants... too often, humans are prone to the exact opposite condition: wanting the thing that they do not truly need.
I think, perhaps, there is the matter of perspective to consider... for example, the "America" that I interact with in my everyday life very much wants reform, a health care bill, a public option, and accepts that higher taxes are the way that we pay into our lives in this particular society. But I know that not everyone thinks the way that I do, or believes the things that I think.
In the end, I vote. That's how I participate in this grand experiment - I would, of course, encourage you to continue your participation as well. Otherwise, we truly would end up with one homogeneous America - and the experiment would fail."

Someone else replied:
"The Democrats problem is trying to compromise. Every time they try and pass a broad "consensus" bill, it gets crushed. Learn from your mistakes. the GOP is only interested in trying to kill this bill. Stop trying to treat them as partners.

The Democrats are sissies."

I'm still reeling a bit from the startling concept that we are all not, in fact, partners in co-creating "America"... Isn't the desire to learn to work collaboratively to shape our future and govern our land one of the primary reasons that Obama was elected? Isn't it one of the lessons that led to disaster on Wall Street - and friends of mine desperately in debt and struggling to claw their way out of that hole?

Epic "America" Fail makes me cry.

I did not realize how much of an insufferable kiss-ass I must have been (and still am) - until I got all proud and excited when my sophomore English teacher friended me on Facebook. Actually, the part that really put me over the moon was when he also left a comment on my wall. I had the terrifying moment of actively repressing my urge to call my mother up and tell her that my school teacher's actions implied tacit approval of my actions, and that - yes, dear gods - I'm smart enough, good enough, and they really like me!!

How did my friends not want to kill me through four years of associating with a teacher's pet? I honestly had no idea... and I guess I truly ought to apologize. Although, not to my fiance, because then she'll just expect me to change - and I find it highly unlikely that my personality is mutable enough to handle that.

Speaking of high school English teachers...
One reason why the memory of Mr Neil and the way he read poetry has been permanently stuck in my head, when so many other things were lost in the (troubled waters) years between then and now... The rhythm of it had been turned into a moment in one of my poems - not one of my better ones, but still - there is is, what can you do?

And thus: in honor of that particular class (which was incredibly awesome, now that I think back to it) Ursuline Academy, Mr Neil's English class, 1997-1998.

soul and mates
5/16/00

where is the line between me and you?
i'm lying here, you're asking me
am i living my own life?
inadvertently my mind wanders.

at one point in time
the adamant optometrist forbade me
to sleep with my contacts in;
i heedlessly fell
asleep night after night-
pulling those high school hours-
letting those pieces of glass become
a part of me.
when did they get buried so deeply?
i feel a pain, and a burning inside-
then watch as one falls,
flipping through space,
away from my eye.
half blind my left eye remembers
what is was to live without
constant sight.

my mind flips around,
i roll across the grass of my
summer lawn
remembering the voice of my
sophomore english teacher
stretching possessively around poetry,
intensely focused in the pursuit of each
syllable of spoken verse;
he pushes each word out of a void,
into my mind and down my throat;
each line becomes a question:
are you swallowing this?
the women come and go-
but you are on my mind now,
not michealangelo.
i pull up the dry grass,
stare at the brown grey roots
and surrender possession of me
to what is my life with you
and me-from-memories.

no,
i say resolutely as i grip
a coldly sweating glass of ice water;
it leaves a wet ring on the table top
where we sit in a Cafe Brazil,
this is where i take my dates;
you sit focused and intense-
a flaming fire sign-
i can see your mind already forming
thoughts around the seconds i'm taking
to exhale.
no, god did not intend there to be
any sort of line between what is you
and what is me:
the older we get, the longer we live,
the more the lines will fade and blur;
and we'll grow together living two lives:
one twice-blessed soul.

I find this funny... I've also been informed that I'm a dork for this.
Anyway, my sister and I adore my mother's green leather sofa.

Today was brought to you by the color "green"
(as in: 'green tea' colored Uber Gloves of Awesome)

And by the letter "T"
(as in: Earl Grey, Hot... freshly brewed with my favorite french vanilla creamer added)

And by the number "2"
(as in: thank the gods that, no matter what kind of funk I got myself into, I am not "1" - the loneliest number - and I have my "2"nd to look forward to, for the rest of my life)

... my dumplin's are a little sticky on the inside cuz I didn't leave them to cook long enough - but, darn it, I wanted my chickin & dumplin' corn chowder. Besides... I kinda like the doughy dumplin's anyway.

This past holiday was so incredible, I can't even begin to say...
First of all, despite my parent's warnings that (1) Xmas was going to be "small" (2) most presents were going to be for the baby (3) they had already bought us two plane tickets for the visit, and therefore that was our "present" for this year... They still ended up wrapping quite a fantastic selection of much-desired items for Kaitlyn and I.

For example, they wrapped up a picture of a coffee table. No joke - they're going to help us get a coffee table to replace the cleverly disguised stack of boxes in our living room.

Mom also provided me with my new "favorite sweater of all time" Woot! And some Kohl's cash (which magically transfigured into a new pair of jeans). Plus there were new books, which always work for me.

On the other side of the family, it was even more insane. We now have a Keurig for the making of coffee for guests, tea for me, and the Moste Incredible Haute Chocolate ever!!!!! Also to be found in the kitchen: a really nice crock pot (the kind that has a removable dishwasher-safe inner pot).

And Kaitlyn got new jeans!!

For Christmas this year, I got my mother a webcam.
Then I set up Skype on the house PC.

I am not one of those "you never write, you never call" children. LOL...
Of course, we did a Skype test-call from my laptop to the PC when I was still visiting; tonight was the first time we had a Skype call now that I'm back in NY (and they are still in TX).

It would have maybe been "better" if my mom hadn't been feeling under the weather - on the other hand, it was delightful to be able to see her, and say hello, and all that jazz. And while we were chatting, my dad got home from work & I got to say "hi" to him too. So awesome.

They were intrepid and spent NYE in New York City, somewhere abouts Time Square - I swear, those crazy kids just get more and more outrageous as they get older!! I'm glad I got to Skype with them tonight, if only because it was our first contact in 2010 & I was beginning to worry (just a little bit) that they hadn't actually returned from their excursion into The Big City.

So, if you know my parents by name... you might avail yourself of Skype's free content and add them as contacts. (Siblings, I'm looking in your direction)

And, Big Brother, when you've gotten Skype set up for your household, let me know - I want to add you to my contact list & get some "adorable niece" facetime!!!

Apparently, I dropped off the face of the earth for a bit there... Never fear! I has returned.

This past December: I was down in TX for Solstice with Kaitlyn and the Texas crew... I am amazed at how big Carolynn has gotten - just 11 months at Xmas, and she's walking around and exploring this big, beautiful, strange world.

After Solstice (which was pretty awesome - thanks for the inspiration, Kaitlyn) - K had to fly back to Roch for work & I stayed in Plano for Xmas with the family. It was pretty "low-key" this year, most presents were for the baby (as it should be)... there was much eating, much running amok, and much playing of various boardgames.

Upon return to Roch, NYE was spent once again at Sean & Mizzy's fabulous boardgame night. I enjoyed it so much more this year, now that the people at the party are my friends (instead of strange aquaintances with potential... what a difference a year makes!)

I caught a stupid cold & was laid up for the week after NYE... frustrating way to start the new year, of course - but what can you do?

Apologies to all that I may have lost touch with - especially those whom I mean to send gifts to, but have been terribly remiss. I didn't even get a "Xmas newsletter & Solstice greeting card" done this year. Bleh...

More updates to follow!!

I'm not sure what my connection is to the Pacific - only that I have one. Dar Williams was, apparently, born somewhere in New York, but has admitted in interviews that "The Ocean" is about the Pacific, rather than the Atlantic of her childhood. It's the ocean that I've never seen, never touched, never even been remotely close to... But I know something about it that twists inside of me, sometimes unbearably. I forget about it as often as possible, to be perfectly honest - I have a life to live here, after all, and I'm not about to go following after a distant wave like some Edna Pontellier. But sometimes, I ... well, sometimes my iTunes plays "The Ocean," and I remember that there's something vast and alive and ineffable waiting for me, way out west.

Pardon the terrible pun.... After weeks of frustrating starts-and-stops with this year's Solstice Celebration, Kaitlyn and I had a talk that spun everything I've done in the past on its ear. I'm making some plans now that, if they come to fruition, might change the way I write out the Yule ritual for my family forevermore. Wheeeew...