SS Miiippi

25 July 2010, 2:53 p.m.

We just drove out of Lake Village, AR, after stopping there to have a picnic and to stretch our legs. It is so muggy which makes it unbearable to have pants on or to just be a mammal. I am tired, but content. I probably would not be mistaken to assume that the other passengers, ATM & KMHD, are dreaming of cool showers, precious pets, and some serious lounging, like me.

We are returning from a quick jaunt to Mississippi where ATM's parents, both sets (but mostly his mum and stepfather) threw us a precious engagement party. It was beach themed and we were instructed to dress thusly and to just show up. We took our costume assignment very seriously. Captains's hats, fresh, crisp white pants (or shorts), aviators, and a laaaaid back demeanor. ATM even compiled a smooth yacht rock mix. KMHD accompanied us; it was the perfect opportunity for her to meet her new family. When you marry, you gain quite a few more family members. When you marry me, you get a two for one deal.

Welcome aboard!

(Maybe you've noticed that the date stamp is incorrect. You'd be right. It was a borrowed camera & I didn't realize you had to manually turn that feature off.)

ATM's mum is pretty generous with detail when it comes to party planning. There were beachy decorations in the nooks and crannies & a huge, delicious spread of food. I was surprised to see some of my baby photos (sneaky sneaky, KMHD!) sitting on a table amongst ATM's. A rememorandum! Look how much we've grown! (And grown! And grown!) I was in the kitchen talking to ATM when KMHD entered and proclaimed, "THERE IS A BAND IN THE LIVING ROOM." Well, it wasn't a huge get up or anything, just two guys! But, hello, hired musicians! The party got fancy, fast!

Here is KMHD & Ganga, aged 102, enjoying the smooth grooves. Ganga is the first centenarian that I've ever met. She is ATM's stepmother's grandmother. She's so charming & special! She really liked the musicians. She swayed and sang along with them.

Ah, the sensual saxophone. Rock on, playa.

Captains have moms, too:

ARE YOU READY TO SEE THE FOOD SPREAD? K If it wasn't local fare, it was catered by ATM's cousin, or just plain homemade. <---The best kind. All I can say to ATM's mom is WELL PLAYED, MADAM!

Mississippi State University has a dairy & bakery. The cheese & sweets pictured below? From the MSU dairy & bakery. How many synonyms are there for 'delicious'? I cannot wait to go to Starkville to visit DM, KM & CM...and to get an edam cheese ball & some Turkish macaroons! Seriously, though, if I could just take some of their food science classes (and not awful courses like accounting), I'd consider going to MSU. I basically want to learn how to make cheese and bake things. Go Bulldogs!

I was very happy to see ATM's brother, DM, his wife KM, and their son, CM. They are such a sweet, loving little family unit! We are really hoping to meet them in Memphis to go to the zoo and look at the polar bears!

Here's CM. We had to pull him off the piano when he started playing Steely Dan's FM.

He said "ta-da":

ATM's mum, KM, CM & DM:

Anthony, ATM & ATM's dad:

Business is slow

I've been losing blocks of time to these pain relievers & muscle relaxers. Not much to ponder, nothing to report. Business is slow. I am feeling better, though. I do report to work, at the very least.

ATM & I went to a movie last weekend. We saw the trailer for Tron:Legacy. Frankly, I am more excited about the Daft Punk soundtrack than the movie itself. I can claim that I've logged about 3 honest hours searching the internet for any Daft Punk/Tron leaks. There is some stuff out there, but it's hard to say if they are real, plants, or imposters.


What do you call an attraction to cool, French robots?

Hmmm, let's see. Other than work, physical therapy, and spending time at home drooling, I did manage to get some hang-time with Keiko, Luca, Leigh & Heather (henceforth referred to as KlLH) earlier this week to enjoy summertime desserts and to discuss nothing and everything. Leigh, Keiko & I are hosting Heather & Zach's baby shower in August, so we discussed that, too. Looks like we may have a nacho bar (YES!!!), Mexican coke, churros, etc.

That's all I got.

UPDATE! <---le clic!

Push me pull you

I've had this kink in my neck for well over a month now. It started during the US v. Ghana World Cup match. It was an intense match, ok? Anyway, even though my neck is the source, the pain is actually in the base of my neck, my upper back to the bottom of my shoulder blade and down the underside length of my arm, all on the left side. I've got pins and needles, disabling pain & soreness. It produces monumental amounts of whining from me, which compels me to publicly apologize to ATM for being his pain in the neck. I tried treating it myself, but after going to a massage therapist, taking probably way too many NSAIDs, and extreme woodlock & Tiger Balming, there was no improvement. In fact, things got worse. My GP gave me an examination and I had to get an XRAY. He prescribed muscle relaxers & pain relievers (which makes watching Magnum PI that much greater!) and referred me to a physical therapist. Wait, what? Physical therapy? Is it that serious? After meekly asking if they accept insurance and being convinced that it's not just treatment, but educational & preventive care, I was convinced. Oh, too, the pain helped with that decision.

After leaving Dr. Waterhouse, I went to see Harry Morton, President of Jacksonville Physical Therapy. I got examined, put on a push-you-pull-me machine, treated to soundwave & heat wand massage, a regular kind massage & we did some neck strengthening exercises. I pretty much went home skipping. I do have to go back nine more times, which seems excessive and expensive, but I should probably stick with the program.

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While I was being pushed & pulled, I took the time to think about things like how I need to reevaluate my life regarding finances and health. Leigh recently told me how she had to take some time to make a budget; I've since realized that I probably need to have a sit down and take a look at ye olde finances, something I haven't done in a minute. Ouch. I'm not doing as well as I thought. There is hellof room for improvement. I mean, I pay my bills, utilities, etc. on time, but I'm just treading water. It makes it very hard to move on up and add to our savings, even though I contribute with every paycheck. I'd like to take a proper yoga class and this whole time I was thinking I can't afford it, but in reality, if I didn't overspend & impulse shop, I would be able to afford the class. Too, taking yoga would improve my physical & emotional well-being, so according to my math, if you're doing well in the financial realm, you can improve your entire well-being. Yeah? Too, if we are just treading water, there is no way we can make our desired home-improvements and buy a new car. I've discovered an excellent tool to help me through this at mint.com . It's so helpful and it does some shaming, but it also tells you how to get out of the awful mess you've made. So, I've set some grown-up goals and it feels good. Oh, and another feature of mint.com that is terrific? They pointed out to me the hidden fees on my current credit card and they recommended that I transfer to another credit card company with 0% APR for 18 months. Doing this would save me $253 instantly. The mint.com organization wants you to do well and they do all of the work (well, most) for you! RECOMMENDED. I'll be showing the program to ATM later, so we can both do well together. It's funny how medical problems make you sit still and think about these things.

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On the matrimony front: We will be going to Mississippi soon to attend an engagement party hosted by ATM's mum & dad. Should be fun! I'm glad that we're past meeting family members because I will know everyone there. They are a fun family to gather & celebrate with. By the way, wedding planning is a total bummer, I am largely avoiding it. I try to approach it like this is the biggest party that I get to plan, complete with a larger than usual budget, but it's hard! On one hand, I want it to be comfortable, casual & memorable (Read: not like all other weddings ever). On the other hand, I'm trying to make everyone happy. It's impossible and I'm slowly, but surely realizing that the only people I need to worry about is me & ATM. I have to rely on & hope that some of my relatives will be adult and just let us be us. I've seriously considered the following: hiring Polka Your Eyes Out or hiring a taco-truck. How much fun would that be?!! One thing I would like to do for sure is book WWT for an evening and serve waffles/chicken, beer & leftover cake. This would be for the folks that we couldn't invite to the formal gig. Friends. Friends of friends.

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Ever since that fun 4th weekend where we swam swam swam @ the HIP, I've been wanting to swim all of the time. Not only will it help beat this godforsaken heat, but it would be a good low-impact exercise for my injury. I've daydreamed and priced in-ground swimming pools (may have to be an eventual goal on mint.com), but file that under "ain't gonna happen". Not anytime soon, anyway. Then I saw this article on Gawker. This is DOABLE, cool & can fit in our backyard. I wonder if my pals will be willing to go in on this? Imma ask 'em.

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Me, at my lowest/highest, depends on who you ask: (Photo by Mariella)

Watching the third place match aka 'the shame game' @ Vino's:

Food photo intermission, featuring dessert first!:

B(acon) A(vocado) L(ettuce) T(omato) O(nion). BALTO!:

Our favorite summer sammich:

So, this is going to be a little promotional because the folks at Las Palmas Mexican Restaurant on JFK are really good to us. They were completely accommodating to our World Cup Final needs. I mean, they cleared out half of the restaurant so we can shout as loud as we needed to. And they kept the libations a-comin'! There was this Latino family that sat behind us who we cheered on Mexico with during the MEX v. ARG match a week or two prior. They sat with us again for the final. It's cool, yet awkward. I could tell we all wanted to get to know each other, but we never found the perfect ice breaker. I should've just asked them to get into the photo with the whole lot of us. I hope we run into them again.

Will, me w/ my vuvuzela app, ATM, nice lady who's name I cannot recall # 1, nice lady who's name I can't recall #2, Mariella, KMHD, Ben, Robert's big beer: (Photo by Leigh)

Mariella, KMHD & Ben:

Nice Brazilian lady & Mariella:

I reeeeeally miss the games.

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BORING PHOTOGRAPHY

The off-chance I actually read my horoscope and it is awesome! Because he love me! (Scorpio, duh)

The best "toy" that I've provided for these mammals. They LOVE LOVE LOVE card box lids and crates.

I love kitty smooshy face:

Every time we go to the pet shoppe, I look at the hilarious cat toys. They are expensive and ridiculous, especially when it turns out that the best toys are the ones you don't have to buy. HOWEVER, the cat on this one? Looks like he is about to do some kung-fu! We are certain that is a real martial arts stance! And the mouse that is all, "Wha-?"

This is just plain funny. I like how offended this kitty looks at THING IN A BAG!

Upcoming projects include: the Salley-Holland baby shower, Leigh & I tryin' to find a DJ gig, and what else? Oh, I have a seedling of an art project in mind. It's not developed enough to say here! xx

The sad half-German.

Yesterday's match was an absolute disgrace. I didn't even recognize the German team that was on the pitch! I really hope that that silly octopus didn't rattle the nerves of steel! I'm hoping it was the absence of one Thomas Muller that did us in. Who am I kidding? Germany was terrible yesterday. I am completely embarrassed by that display! But, I am a loyal fan through and through and we will have the next Cup! I don't know if he will play the next tournament, so I'd like to bid adieu to one of my favorite footballers, Miroslav Klose. He's awesome! Now, I can finally relax now that all of my teams have been eliminated for a place in the 2010 World Cup. Well, Germany can still vie for third (AGAIN, ugh), but I don't really care. The third place match is shameful! I will be standing behind the Netherlands in hopes that they CRUSH those Spaniards in the final! In any case, whoever wins, it will be a first time for either country, which is awesome. ATM & I did watch a recap of some of the momentous bits of this tournament last night and it made me so sad that soccer will disappear off the scene for another four years. Aside from the occasional aired MLS game and the matches that our neighborhood Mexican restaurant show (from the Latin American league), THAT'S IT. I've been coming off of my World Cup Fever by watching Le Tour de France.

I fear and respect the peloton.

Soccer. It's a kick in the...facial and groin area!

BIG match today! Germany v Spain and I'm sitting here at work being a total nervous spaz about it. I groveled with my co-workers to have the afternoon off, so I can watch it and now I'm beginning to wonder if I can even stomach it. If Germany wins this tournament, I may pick up where Maradona left off and streak streak streak!

For the last US match, I actually did some body/face painting. I can't believe I have arrived there. Here's my handy work on KMHD, who is looking at a photo of footballer Kaka:

Match-watching @ Vino's:

Match-watching @ home. (This is the terrific shut-out against Argentina! GER 4, ARG 0)

I am so going to miss the games.

♫ Make me act real funny, make me spend my money ♫

♫Oh, baby, thats what I like!♫

If I ever felt foolish or had any doubts about booking a room in town, they are gone gone gone! 1. It was good hi-jinx! I laughed (and swam) 'til it hurt! 2. We were treated so well; great customer service! 3. Niiiiiiiiice facilities. Great pool, good restaurant (do not get the key lime pie, though!), clean room. It was money well spent & I had a really lovely, if exhausting, two days with terrific people. I was so impressed with the hotel, I felt compelled to write and send the H(oliday) I(nn) P(residential) a thank-you-for-looking-the-other-way-while-I-invite-too-many-friends-over-to-swim note.

I am hoping that if W Boyd wins his World Cup fantasy pool [GO GERMANY!], he will use the earnings to get us more pool time!

We pretty much owned it:

Cool schmool:

LEIGH! ☺

B Bell & ATM:

KMHD, W Boyd, B Bell & a big-ass bucket of cheeze ballz livin' it up in the hotel room!

Yeehaw! Yahoo!

The arrival of R Bell:

Heather & Jett! ☺

By the way, it floats.

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We went over to the Victory St. space on Independence Day eve to shoot off fireworks and hang out, but I was sooooo exhausted from two days of swimming, I could hardly belt out any karaoke or carry a conversation. I did sit in my lawn chair and listen to all of the activity going around me. These people I run with? They are fun and funny. I mean, I can just there and big (and little) things happen all around me. Occasionally, Zach would stick a roman candle in my hand for me to shoot off. But, I mostly watched the Kilgore Bros. and Everett and Will and Mary and Nate ignite fireworks and blow things up.

It was a great weekend in that ATM & I didn't have to plan anything, we just showed up. I can get used to that!

Here are the only usable photos I've got. Tanks v.Chickens:

4th of July Holiday (Inn)

We get two days of rest from the World Cup & I find myself coming out of some kind of spell, one I like being under, thank you very much. I've done some work work & a little critical thinking. It's like the opposite of "game on!". "Resume living with the living!" Speaking of which, I will hang out with real life women this evening! Leigh, Keiko & Heather make it exciting to go eat at Fantastic China.

So, the 4th of July holiday snuck up on us and we find ourselves planless. Well, we were up until right before lunch. Having no holiday plans is unacceptable, so I booked a room at the Holiday Inn downtown, just so we could at least get some swimmin' & sunnin' in. Seriously. Who does this? Hotel room party!

Made from blueberries picked that very morning!

Re: the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico

There really is nothing to talk about, frankly. And writing this won't be cathartic, but I wanted to contribute to the national/international "dialog".

Ever since the terrible news about the massive oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico broke, you know, the one that is the fault of those of us who wish to protect the environment, I've kept my head buried deep in the tar-flecked sand. To describe how much my heart aches over this would be an "exercise in futility", if I may borrow some words from President Lincoln, vampire hunter.

The hurt and the rage is real. It's difficult for me to even address this matter because before all of this happened, I didn't think our home planet was in a good way to begin with. This just drives some of us who wish to enjoy, conserve, protect, reduce, recycle & reuse over the edge. I feel depressed and broken. Who wins?

To whom do I direct my anger? BP? Businessmen, leaders & citizens who champion deregulation? My fellow Americans for not even attempting to drive less or work towards fuel-efficiency? Are we so desensitized that we can't even rustle up a care? How can we help? And not just the environment, but an American way of life -- will there be any true relief? Who am I kidding? Asking anyone to sacrifice anything is, well, good luck with that.

I am trying not to be cynical, but I'm not given any good material to work with here. I can have an opinion on an assortment of issues, but environmentalism is not negotiable. Why can't we have nice things?