The Times They Are A-Changin'

 

Apparently, I need to find nine quarters. You know, due to inflation. 

He's a Yankee Doodle Dandy

Momentous occasion! Max is now an official US Citizen! A whole bunch of us trekked over to the Paramount Theater in Oakland this morning to watch him (and 1,104 others) get sworn in. It was pretty cool--they were playing the soundtrack from A Clear and Present Danger over the PA system as we filed into the building. The inductees were directed toward the general admission/floor area while everyone else went upstairs. There was a lot of cheering--the whole lower & upper balcony area was filled with family and friends, and everyone got a chance to hoot and holler as the official-type lady read a list of all of the countries (over 100!) from which the new citizens hailed. You could hear our proud little 5-year old cheer for Israel, although he later informed me that he also cheered when they announced Egypt on the list--you know, "because pyramids are really awesome."

The kiddo, dapper as always, saw this as a terrific opportunity to get his tie & blazer on, as did Aba--and they celebrated the end of the 90 minute event with a dance party out front.

Welcome to jury duty, my love! Welcome to voting and a MacGyver--looking passport and constantly shaking your fist in Washington DC's general direction (yes, I realize that you don't need to be an American citizen to do that.)! I guess I can't threaten to have you deported if you don't put your socks in the hamper anymore.

Robot Unicorn Attack 2

There are two reasons I won't be posting a real blog entry tonight. One of those reasons is this:

The other reason involves quality television programming and Liev Schreiber. Which is pretty much the same thing as a robot unicorn attact, when you really think about it.

Slap the cuffs on me and take me away

Clearly, I'm going to win mother of the year. But is it because of the drag queen face paint, the birthday candle cigarette, or the plate of kebabs to the eye?

The Devil in Disguise

Last week, I made some truly awful deviled eggs. Way too much mayo, the wrong kind of mustard, too much salt, just wrong. Clearly, I needed a corrective deviled egg experience. Two tries later and I think I got it right. That or I've just had enough deviled eggs. Either way, here is what I decided: Maille French mustard--not too much--is the way to go. Voilà!

5 is the new 18

Fortunately, I'll still be able to take the kiddo to see The Conjuring tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, I'll have to wait until next year to take him to a midnight double-feature of Porky's and The Shining. 

The voice of reason

So you may be wondering about that super cute puppy in my post from last Thursday. Jan Brady, as cute and soft and puppy-breathed as she was, did not join our family last week. The foster mom who kindly drove all the way from Noe Valley to our suburban abode was actually the one who sort of made the decision for us; when I asked her why she wasn't adopting one of the six puppies herself, she said that with her 1 1/2 year old dog, she felt like she had just finished with diapers and wasn't ready to rush back into house training and obedience and all that. Well put, foster mom lady, and thanks for the wake up call. 

That second one looks a little tipsy

If you've got to be late for work, this a better reason than most.

And yes, I did try honking at them.

What's One More?

My parents are going to plotz when they read this post, but this little bucket of rainbows and magic is going to pay us a visit tonight:

Correction: my parents are going to DISOWN ME and I don't blame them, but they're going to miss out on some mondo extreme cute. I'm pretty sure she's half unicorn, a quarter marshmallow, and a quarter all my dreams come true. 

And just because she's coming to meet the family DOES NOT mean we will adopt her. 

Why is everybody laughing?

Brains, Beautiful Brains

 All is well in the land of my ex-brain tumor. This morning's MRI produced images that look exactly like they're supposed to--just like the last images from four months ago. Nothing glowy, nothing big and changey, just grey nothingness. Shazam! See you in four months, Stanford Cancer Center!

A Brief Timeline

In 2008, the kiddo turned one. Less than a year later, I would be diagnosed with Glioblastoma grade 4. Tomorrow, I will have (what I think is somewhere near) my 13th MRI since going off chemo two years and 7 months ago. 

I haven't told him anything specific, and he hasn't asked, but he really likes me to bring home a photo of my brain scan. 

7-11

Thanks for the free cup o' sugar, 7-11! See you next year!

Splash down

The boy fell asleep talking about the log ride. He woke up talking about the log ride. He wants to have his birthday party at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk so he can take his friends on the log ride. 

Can't really tell from this photo, though.

CPK: Not On the Menu

As we walked out of the California Pizza Kitchen at the mall last night, the boy spotted a guy with a snake hanging around his neck. He was strolling along past the malliest mall shops--Edward's Luggage, Build-a-Bear Workshop, Nordstrom's--with a slithery, green snake  just chilling on his shoulders. The kiddo walked up to him and asked if the snake was real. The guy said yes and asked if the kiddo would like to hold the snake. 

!!!!!!

In hindsight, kiddo asked if it was a rattlesnake after he was already holding it. Then, upon learning that the snake had no name (how sad!), he suggested that the garter snake be named Snakey. 

Such an angry dancer!

This just came on the TV:



He's so angry at John Lithgow! And the teachers and bullies from school! So! Very! Angry! He must dance!

Back on the scene

I'm back from vacation and full of stories with which to regale you. But to conserve energy, I will sum it all up into one word: bacon. 

The unthinkable and horrific event at SFO last Saturday kept our vacation going for an extra day and a half. It feels sick and wrong, but we really enjoyed our bonus day in our nation's capitol. 90+ heat and unholy levels of humidity aside, it was a great way to spend time with kiddo and do some real, proper site seeing. Terrific end to an intensely amazing week in upstate New York.