Crab horror

Being out at the beach yesterday reminded me of this photo. Our two Chiaras were appalled by crab cookery at my best pal's annual post-Thanksgiving seafood feast, November 2004.

Getting healthy

What a week of health issues!!

Dad Marty -- The speech therapist thinks all of Marty's speech will come back. And the folks at St. Francis Villa are eager to have him back, so we hope something can be worked out. He'll probably be at East Jefferson for another week or so.

GG -- My grandmother was hospitalized two days ago for diverticulitis. Her latest CAT scan revealed a couple of abscesses that may need to be drained (not sure what that entails). They were talking about letting her go home today, but she isn't eating enough yet, so it looks like another day or two.

Mezzaluna -- We've had one sick little rat on our hands. She's been to the vet 3 times since last Friday, with the last visit revealing reduced liver function and a certain amount of regretful pessimism from the vet. We've been giving her antibiotics in raspberry syrup, SAM-E in maple syrup, a daily subcutaneous injection of fluids, and baby food meals. By last night, she was perking up enough to be really irritated with all the medical attention, and today she seems almost, um, human? again. Well, almost back to normal anyway. She's still having some trouble regulating her own body temperature, so she's keeping company with a hot water bottle. Anyway, we're feeling much more hopeful.

In other news, Frank starts a short (month-long) contract at Microsoft next week. We're looking forward to the extra paychecks, but it's going to make for some family schedule juggling. Chloe is having loads of fun and some decent weather, and they're finally getting going on the Cold War game mentioned previously (she's a private). MJ is back at work this week after missing two weeks' worth due to her New Orleans trip. The foal hasn't arrived yet, so she didn't miss the action. And I'm enjoying my time off, even if it has been dominated by rat care. The weather is FABULOUS; hope it continues indefinitely.

Yesterday, we went out to Jetty Island for a fun day of hanging out on the beach with unschooling friends Jim, Larisa, and Sarah. It was lovely, and we had the place all to ourselves until late afternoon, when the kiteboarders started to arrive. We saw eagles and herons and seagulls, discovered shrimp as we slogged in the squishy sand/mud of the tideflats, and soaked up the long overdue rays.

This weekend will be spent gearing up for the annual chaos of the 4th of July. MJ is totally psyched. I have my annual mixed feelings about the whole deal. :-)

Marty news

Frank again. I swear I won't make a habit of this.

My dad, Marty, had a "minor" stroke and is in the hospital. They've ruled out his 20-year-old heart pig valve as a potential culprit and will be conducting more tests starting Monday. Currently, his right side is impaired, especially below the waist. Bowel and bladder function but no control. More news as we hear it.

Chrissy and Judy are taking turns being with him, when they're not working. My sisters are the best! Thanks, you two!

We're hoping for a speedy and significant recovery so he can quickly return to St. Francis Villa and his "harem" of female pals for exercise sessions, card games, and whatever else is on his mind!

BHD (re)reunion info for brother Nick

Cap'n Franko posting, so don't expect Ronnie's usual style. My apologies to the literati.

First, congratulations on your engagement! The photo arrived and now we have a visual; that's always nice! When you set a date we'll have an excuse to visit San Francisco and see you. Excellent! Here's an idea, a KENDO bachelor party! Huh!? Strippers in bogu! Oh yeah! Whaddaya think? Well, it's just an idea.

After our BHD reunion in 1991, there were a few negative realities for a re-reunion. Those would include the fact that we're scattered around the country and some of us are very busy with life and work, so scheduling is difficult; but honestly - bluntly - the greatest negative is that Mangey was really pissed at John and never wants to play with him again. Long story and I won't bore you with the details; but there it is.

The other, more recent, negative is that Rickey (our drummer) had a massive stroke in the late 90s and barely survived. He was a CPA and financial consultant and his life *really* changed after that. On the good side, he has come back pretty well personally, except for significant aphasia, which of course means that he is professionally retired. In recent years, he's begun taking drumming lessons again, feels that he's ready to do a short set, and would very much enjoy doing so.

Also on the good side, the Mystic Knights of the Mau Mau sponsor recurring shows at New Orleans' famous Rock 'n' Bowl and asked us to do a show with Question Mark and the Mysterians (remember them?) a couple of years ago. My schedule prevented me from doing that one and Mangey was also too busy (mostly true); but Rickey and Steve arranged to sit in with the Royal Pendletons, who are a current band who've covered our songs. Steve wound up sitting in with them; but once he was actually there, Rickey decided that he wasn't quite ready yet. However, he says he is now feeling up to it and these folks would be happy to schedule us to play a short (4 or so) set pretty much any time we want, which would be wonderful.

So, as Mange's old school buddy, I gotta start working on him to get him to agree to do a 4-song set. Rickey and I discussed it during my recent N.O. visit and we're VERY ready. Steve would do it in a heartbeat. We're pretty sure Eddie would happily jump in.

Anyway, I'm gonna start twisting Mangey's arm, 'cause our 91 reunion was a total kick-ass funfest! I loved it! If you read my comments from the link on Ronnie's previous post, I pretty much said it all there.

Mangey has recently taken up sailing again after a 30-plus year hiatus. (We almost bought a cruising sailboat together with my college gymnastics buddy Bob back around 1970. Ultimately that deal fell through and Mangey hasn't sailed since then, until recently.) So I figure I'm gonna try to tempt him with a combined vacation. We'll meet in New Orleans, play the gig, then go to the Caribbean for a sailing vacation. Sounds pretty good, huh?

Wish me luck. Rickey and I were talking about trying to get something scheduled in the two-years-from-now time range. If we do, I'll certainly let you know and you should try your damnedest to make it. I guarantee it'll be big fun!

Preview the songs of the Better Half Dozen

Rickey told us about a site where you can listen to a snippet of each of the songs on the BHD single.

I Could Have Loved Her
I'm Gonna Leave You

If you end up on the home page, search for Better Half Dozen, click "The Better Half Dozen" (not the others), click the name of the song you want to listen to, and then click the Play button.

The site also has a link to the Louisiana Punk CD that contains both tracks, but it doesn't seem to be available any more.

The Chick-Flick Scale

In reporting on activities to Chloe, I invented the chick-flick scale, my very own movie rating system. Instead of stars, chick flicks get 1 to 4 hearts (of course). Here are mini reviews of the movies I've watched this past week or so.

About a Boy -- Cute, and I liked that Hugh's romance is almost an afterthought in the movie, and he doesn't fall in love with the boy's mother -- 3 hearts

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days -- Fun enough that I could have overlooked how contrived it is, but the ending *really* fizzled out -- 2 hearts

Love Actually -- Fascinating, moving, unapologetically sappy, and fun. Colin Firth is awesome -- 4 hearts

An Ideal Husband -- Fun but slightly flat adaptation -- 2-1/2 hearts

Brokeback Mountain -- Outstanding performances couldn't quite make up for the lack of romance. The cowboys seemed to have a purely sexual relationship; there was nothing that told me why these guys made such an effort and took such a risk to see each other for 20 years -- 3 hearts

Life or Something Like It -- Tony Shalhoub makes up for a lot -- 2-1/2 hearts

Miami Rhapsody -- Shrug. Antonio's cute -- 2 hearts

Jane Eyre (A&E Presentation) -- Exquisite performances, completely authentic (to the book) melodrama, lovely -- 4 hearts

Roman Holiday -- Audrey at her shining best -- 4 hearts

Ever After -- Sweet version of Cinderella -- 3 hearts

Summer begins

Here we are, a post in honor of the solstice.

Frank and MJ have been in New Orleans for 10 days, staying in one of buddy Bob's vacant-due-to-Katrina apartments (thanks, Bob!) and visiting with many Maiers. Jerry and Cori were in town, too, and Chuck and Karen came over from Houston. Lori hosted a big Father's Day get-together at her place on the river -- a nice spot to be when the temp exceeds 90 degrees!

Frank also visited with the crew of Jojamela, some sailing folks we got acquainted with online. The original Jojamela was done in by Katrina over in the Oak Harbor Marina (in Slidell). Another couple whose boat was damaged in the storm are also online buddies. They are two of the very few boats presently in Oak Harbor Marina and both couples are living aboard in less than top-notch conditions. The whole gang went to see Big Daddy O play some R&B at Ruby's Roadhouse in Mandeville.

While they were doing that, MJ hung out with cousin Brian at Gary and Judy's. G&J are all moved back into their house, with front stairs replaced and the mud removed from the inside. I'm sure they're glad to be out of their FEMA trailer now that the summer heat and thunderstorms have hit.

Yesterday, Frank and MJ went to see Rickey and Brenda. Rickey was the drummer in the Better Half Dozen, and he had a cleaned-up video of their reunion gig from 1991. As entertaining as I'm sure the video is, Frank and Rickey evidently became the main attraction as they told stories and cracked each other up. I'm sure MJ found it quite educational.

The travelers are due home tonight, which means my alone time is drawing to a close. I've really been soaking up the solitude, watching chick flicks and doing just whatever I want. I can't remember the last time, if ever, that I've had so much time to myself in a stretch like this. But it's been going on long enough now that I'm starting to feel lonely. I'll be glad to have most of my family back (and to be down to only one month til Chloe returns!).

Saturday, I had a nice little gathering of females at my house. It was a fun mix of unschoolers, Microsofties, Maiers, Minshulls, neighbors, and otherwise-uncategorized friends. We had more food than we knew what to do with, and we talked about everything from vegetarianism to racism to labor and delivery to growing up Maier.

Sunday, I woke up with a cold that was maybe really an allergy attack, and I totally punked out on Father's Day. Apologies to my three fathers!! I do love and appreciate you, despite appearances!

Last night, my niece Emma came over for a sleepover date. We did a couple of craft projects (I just love my hot glue gun!), watched "Ever After," talked, read, ate party leftovers, and had a lovely time all around.

Now, I'm sitting here in my clean house, blissfully temporarily unemployed, with my allergies under control and 10 more hours of alone time to enjoy before most of my family returns. Not a bad way to kick off the summer.

Some unexpected free time

Hmm. I just got word from my manager that I am laid off for the remainder of June. Seems the team did a cruddy job of budgeting and they have no money to pay us temps til the new fiscal year begins July 1. Pretty significant snafu by what is supposed to be a world-class corporation. Sheesh.

Anyway, my manager is going to work with me so it won't be such a big financial hit. He says I can make up the time in July and August. And -- in a nice bit of cosmic timing -- our tax refund just got direct deposited to the bank account.

Now I just have to figure out how to enjoy this impromptu little vacation. How will I ever fill the time?! Let me think....

A long chat with Chloe

Big doings at Summerhill this weekend. It's Half-Term Weekend, which essentially translates to "Big Party that Parents Can Attend." The kids voted to make Friday and Monday "slobbing" days like the weekends always are, which means no classes and later wake-up and bedtime times. There are activities planned for each of the four days, as follows:

Friday night -- The Midnight Walk -- Large pack of Summerhillians roaming about Leiston and the English countryside after dark.

Saturday

* Half-Term Crafts Sale -- Poc ("pocket money") will be handed out a bit early so the kids can spend it all at the sale. Proceeds benefit the school.

* Archery Competition

* Miss Half-Term Talent Show and Party -- Yes, boys can be crowned Miss Half-Term, too. Chloe, Ellie, and Popono will be performing a Summerhill version of "What Do You Do with a Drunken Sailor," with verses tailored for each of the 5 age groups at the school. Chloe says they are suffering quite a bit of stage fright.

Sunday -- Races and swimming games (field day)

Monday -- Football (soccer) match and Capture the Flag

Parents who attend will either camp on the grounds or stay at the pub in town. I know from the traffic on the parents newsgroup that the parents have a few activities planned, too, including a meal in the Jazz Cafe (on the school grounds) and something about a late-night kitchen raid. Wish we could be there for the fun!

In other news, Chloe seems happy and settled. She's making friends. Some of them are younger than her, which works out nicely since Chloe is never very interested in teen conversation and the younger kids need an escort to walk to town. She spent a day last week with Little Ruby (yes, ~85 students but two Rubies) listening to music by Harry and the Potters and Draco and the Death Eaters. Obviously a kindred spirit there!

For some reason, not all of the laws (school rules) are written down, so she occasionally blunders. The only time she's been punished, though, was for oversleeping one morning. Some of the older kids are "Beddies Officers." It's their job to (1) wander the school -- all 11 acres -- at bedtime making sure everybody heads to bed, and (2) shake out the sleepyheads in the mornings. All students are supposed to be up and dressed by 8:30. Chloe's penalty for sleeping in was a "Small Job" -- 20 minutes helping out with housework.

Something I didn't know before: The Beddies routine includes bedtime kisses-on-the-cheek upon request. The Beddies Officers try to avoid this part of their duties, which I'm sure makes the other students determined to make demands. Chloe said one Beddies Officer got so flustered by kissing one of her top-bunk roommates that he fell off the ladder. :-)

Chloe is regularly late for bed, but apparently there's no penalty if you're late because the Beddies Officers didn't find you in time. Chloe makes them work for it, having cozy little thinkin' spots out in the woods and way up by the entrance. (As you can tell, they all spend a lot of time outdoors.)

For the first time today, Chloe seemed pretty sure that she's going to want to go back for Christmas Term. There goes the budget! But I do want her to have a term where she's not the new kid.

Which didn't stop me from blubbering a bit when I got off the phone. I miss her!!!

Replies to comments

Scott -- No, the BHD never would have referred to themselves as "punk." That's a more modern label. They considered themselves rockers. Period.

Mom -- Burt Rutan is the engineer who designed SpaceShipOne, the ship that won the Ansari X Prize by reaching space twice within two weeks. He is one of the major players who will make it possible for space tourism to happen, with SS1 being the prototype for the Virgin Airlines craft that is expected to begin making commercial space flights in 2008.

House is on Fox on Tuesday nights. Right now, they are running reruns so you have a chance to get caught up on a very eventful season. On the West coast, two back-to-back episodes air on channel 13 starting at 8:00 p.m. You can also see older episodes on USA on Friday nights at 11.

Randi -- Yeah! :-)

Make that a baker's dozen

And #13: Watching House, M.D.

A dozen things we proselytize about

Here's a quick list of things we wish more people could enjoy as much as we do:

1. Attachment parenting
2. Unschooling
3. Pet rats
4. Caribbean vacations
5. Freedom sailboats
6. Cajun food
7. Thai food
8. REI
9. Crocs
10. Burt Rutan
11. MR2's
12. Swordfighting

I'm going to be a grandmother!

Okay, sort of, but I couldn't resist the shock value of that title. :-)

Nephew-son Jerry and his wonderful wife Cori called today to let us know they are expecting a little one on or around February 7, 2007. (02-07-2007 would make a cool birthdate, wouldn't it?) So far, Cori is feeling good. The doctor does have her taking pren-a-tal, that same mystery drug they put me on when I was pregnant with MJ. (Prenatal vitamins, really, but the label on my bottle only said "Prenatal", and poor Jerry, who suddenly found himself at 17 living in a house turned upside down by baby plans, asked one day what the pren-a-tal was for.)

We're totally tickled and can't wait to welcome our new grandniece-daughter or grandnephew-son.

The immortal Better Half Dozen

A friend just sent us this link to a list ranking the "most legendary" garage-band 45's from the '60's. The single put out by Frank's band, the Better Half Dozen, came in at number 31. Here's what they have to say about "I Could Have Loved Her" and "I'm Gonna Leave" (reviewed on another site as "a great, previously undiscovered girlfriend trasher"):

"A supreme 2-sided masterpiece which has everything. The a-side is a monster punker with frantic organ, basic pounding drums and a ridiculously effective stuttering guitar solo. The b-side combines a memorable haunting chorus with upbeat popsensibilities, and more frantic organ and killer guitar. An estimated quantity would be a bit dangerous here. It's incredibly rare, but also incredibly great and it's likely there may be a few copies tucked away that no-one knows about. We know of 6 copies, only one is near mint. Hear both killer tracks on Sixties Archives 5 - Louisiana Punk Groups from the 60's"

Frank was the "frantic" organist, with his good buddy Mike Mangiapane (aka "Mangey") on the killer guitar. Rickey Moore was on drums, Steve Sklamba provided lead vocals, Eddie McNamara played rhythm guitar, and John D'Antoni played bass.

We own a copy of both the 45 and the Louisiana Punk compilation, so if anybody wants to hear these deathless tunes, let us know.

For somewhat R-rated reminiscences by the band, visit http://home.unet.nl/kesteloo/betterhalf.html. Frank's comments start about two thirds of the way down.