I am terrible at grief, and I'm terrible at eulogizing as well. With that said, my Granny passed away during the night. Not unexpected but still very sad.

Here are some pictures.

She's in the center:



With Pappy:

Labels: family, granny, pictures

Where the hell have I been??? Honestly, it's been a long week here. Every night has been packed, this is the first night I've been at home before 9. Dang.

So, last Thursday meant Alcohol Stuntband and Black Diamond Heavies. Pictures and more to come.

I visited the maternal side of the family this past weekend. It was fun. My Pappy has mobility issues, he's now got one of those clever power chairs. My uncles built a ramp on the front of the house. My grandparents have lived in this house since my mom was a young girl so this is a pretty big change. Apparently the power chair is lots of fun so I decide I'm going to take it for a spin. See, I've never ridden in one of these and should I ever end up in one it won't be for fun and games. It jerks and moves a bit too fast but I manage to make it outside and down the ramp and back up again. As I drive back up the ramp I pass the kitchen window where my mom just happens to be standing, I give her a wave and receive a shocked look in response. I manage to get it back in the place where it started but that thing had some kick to it. So later in the day I find out that it has multiple speeds, and apparently the family watching (and laughing at) my struggle probably knew this.

Monday night was my most successful roller derby practice yet. I did a couple of crossovers--this is a big step (no pun there so shut up). I also proved to be a master of weaving through cones and t-stopping. It was the first night I really felt like I COULD do this. WANTING to do it was never a question. For those of you who don't listen to the podcast I'll be Comanche Red #FF0000.

I'm so tired. There was a roller derby benefit last night so I skated my way around the Mercy Lounge while listening to some fine rock n roll and drinking a dirt cheap PBR.

As soon as I get my tax refund I think I'm going to buy better skates. Heck yeah.

Labels: family, roller derby

Two quick things before the workday begins.

Firstly, my roller derby career may be over before it began. You see, I'm at the sporting goods store with Mom and try on a helmet. I brace myself and say "hit me in the head!" she does, but not in the sweet mom way. In the closed fist, let's test this bitch out way. It knocks me back about a foot and leaves me a bit dizzy for the rest of the day. Seriously. Good times.

I can't remember the other thing. Damnit. It seemed so important at the time. ah well.

Labels: family

me and Pappy

Granny asked me to sit in her lap. Don't worry, I was easy on her.

Denny likes to catch bubbles.

Pinball Wizards: me with Gracie.

Me, Mr Milk Mustache, and the big dog in the background with his rawhide.

Dogs in shirts!

Dogs with rawhides!

Flashy in a rare moment of stillness.

Labels: denny, family, flash, pictures

• I'm losing my faith in humanity. I mean, y'all are cool, but I'm not sure about the rest of them. Yesterday I had to take some boxes of fruit down to my mom. I loaded them on a cart and met her downstairs. After that as is the nature of these things I had to take the empty cart back upstairs. So I'm struggling with the front doors of my building and this gigantic cart and when I turn around to pull it in the building I see a dude standing there smoking, watching, and softly snickering. Jackass. I understand that these are different times and men aren't expected to hold doors for ladies or assist them with heavy items but damn, you could at least not watch and snicker.


• I'd like to have a night without crazy vivid dreams. I won't share details, but when you get to the point where your dreams are not only film-like but also have alternate endings, well it's just weird.


• A couple of years ago I was told that the movie Gigantic was excellent and if I watched it I would go dig out my old They Might Be Giants tapes. He was right, but I'm wondering if anyone actually bought a TMBG tape in the late 80s/early 90s. I had dubbed copies of Lincoln and Flood, everyone I know who had this tape also had dubbed copies. I'm not sure who had cassette zero but it would be fun to trace the lineage. It's stealing music which is ILLEGAL, children, but I like to think that TMBG would be good natured about the whole issue.


• Today at work no one's going to get anything done because it's the last day before a four day holiday. What do you have planned? Tomorrow I go buy skates! hooray! Let's hope I'm successful. Also planned is a trip to the maternal side of the family on the East side of the state, church, cholesterol laden breakfast casserole, bowling. Oh, and running around town with Dr Gay!

Labels: celebrations, family, food

Today my granny and pappy celebrate their anniversary (please don't ask which one, I'm bad with years unless they end in 0 or 5). Here they are as youngsters.

Labels: family, pictures