Seven.Caged.Tigers

The weekend. Ahhh…how very relaxing. Or at least it would be if JT and I didn’t have to drive in bumper-to-bumper traffic on our way “up north” for a family reunion. The reunion itself will be nice at least.

Wooo….I log into Blogger and am greeted with a completely redesigned look. Strange for me considering I was used to the old one and had been using it for like two years or something. Anyway, we’ll see how I like it. But it doesn’t really matter anyway considering that in the not too distant future I will be utilizing Movable Type. I’m just excited to have a more local mode of journaling.

Michigan has been hot and oppressive for the past days. When I say hot, I don’t want you people in California or Arizona or wherever to scoff. See, 95 degrees in Michigan is ridiculous. We have an incredible amount of humidity in the air (usually at like 90% when it’s that temperature) due to the great lakes. I have been literally dripping sweat. Fortunately much of my day is spent in air conditioning. Unfortunately, my slumber time is not. At least I’ve got a big ol’ pedestel fan cooling me down by way of cooling the sweat pooled on my body.

It’s all supposed to break today. Actually, there is a bit of fear that we’ll have tornadoes. The weather is supposed to cool down and get nasty all at once. Of course this weeked is the annual family reunion. The weather is only even decent every three or four years. Consider this year to be the usual “off” event.

I think Tuesdays are worse than Mondays. I’m helpless of course to the sickening feeling Mondays usher in. But Tuesday? Well…everything seems fine…of course until I realize I’ve still got four more days left of work! Gack!

Today will be pretty short though. I’ve got a doctor’s appointment. Some guy to prescribe me some more medicine. I’m not looking forward to the price or the side effects of this new crop of meds. I’m afraid it is going to be rather pricey and will make me sick. But we’ll just have to see. I guess the doctor’s don’t think a girl of my fitness level and health should have high blood pressure. Eh? But what do they know…they only attend school for what–8 years?

A long weekend. Of course, as usual I’m at least grateful for a few things not the least of which is the lovely weather. It’s been sunny, clear, and warm. All three are uncommon (unfortunately) in Michigan. Friday night, we went out to eat at a place with dog pictures all over the walls. I always love going there. It’s just so warm and “homey.” One day, I’m going to bring in a pic of my childhood dog, Bud, so she may be remembered for the wonderful animal she was.

I’ve been pretty depressed lately…actually since Wednesday and that doctor’s appointment. I don’t want to go into it too much right now until I know more but suffice it to say that it was not good news. Although it was also not completely unexpected. Anyway, all I did on Saturday was relax. I needed that for myself and for my sanity. I don’t know how much it helped, but it didn’t hurt. JT and I also met our neighbor, a divorced dad. He and his ex-wife (they are still very good friends) had a bonfire and invited us. It was really very nice.

Finally, today, JT and I went to his best friend’s parents house. It was a fine enough time, but my stomach feels like hell. Blech. So that’s it. That’s my weekend. Aren’t I an exciting girl?

Uh. Yeah. I did the doctor thing yesterday. It didn’t go so well. I have (if I’m counting properly) five more visits with various specialists and for various tests. Bad stuff. I hate my body.

But this is damn funny.

I will mauled by a mob of midgets.

How will you die? Take the Exotic Cause of Death Test

Sad. True.

Mom and dad are now in England. JT and I got them through security without a hitch as far as we know. They were definitely excited. And how can I blame them? I mean, neither has ever taken such a huge trip. Some day I hope to visit England. Probably some day over the rainbow AFTER I get to Oz…but hey! A girl can dream, can’t she?

Ah yes. I survived yet another oh so hectic weekend. Actually, it was pretty quiet. Friday, I visited with my bset friends from forever Kristin and Karyn. Of course, the meeting place was up in G-Town at Pizza Hut but it was still a lovely time. I’m happy that everybody is doing so well. All of my closest friends have been so wonderful for all of these years. Not only are the wonderful, but they are gorgeous, intelligent, and successful. Funny thing considering our home town and the fate of countless of our peers.

Saturday, I sat in the sun some and got a good burn. It went away by Sunday morning though. Fortunately for me. JT headed to Detroit to partake in a bachelor party for his buddy Jim. From what JT says, it was a good time. I guess I’ll go with that. I personally went shopping and found two dresses, a pair of shoes, and a top secret wedding gift for Jim and his fiance Christina. I then came home and had a nice relaxing evening by myself…or at least only with cats.

Dewey was particularly grumpy this weekend. When he wasn’t complaining he was sleeping. It all began with my sunbathing. JT tied him up and brought him outside. I took him for a little walk around the back yard (Dewey, not JT) and he seemed to really enjoy himself. So I went to pick him up finally and bring him inside. Our big lug of a cat then hissed and growled at me! I guess he didn’t want to come inside. Too bad for him that I can out-bitch him any day.

Sunday, I also spent some time in the sun although it was much too intense to stay out there for long. I’ve got a red headed tan now. Hey, but it’s better than transluscent white any day!

Yeah. I’m back. I hate not writing here even for two or three days. It always feels like I’ve been slacking. Then I think about the time that has passed between entries and realize that in reality nothing of much interest has happened.

I will say that I went to the dentist this morning. It was my final (hopefully) appointment for this whole root canal fiasco. The last temporary he adhered to my tooth stuck. Good thing, too, because I really was getting sick and tired of going there and he must have been sick and tired of me. Anyway, as Cheryl would say “bling-bling.” Yes, I now officially have a gold tooth. Unfortunately it’s on the back, left, top molar so nobody will ever see it unless they are purposefully looking for it. It *almost* feels like a real tooth.

So as I sit here with English Toffee latte in hand, I really don’t have anything else to say. JT is done with classes this semester as of tomorrow. Uh. I have to drive my parents to Detroit Metro Airport next week so they can catch a plane to London and visit Cheryl. I must say I’m jealous of that since I’ve never been to England. Heck, I’ve never been any father than Canada and Mexico. Some day. Maybe next year. JT’s been a lot of places around Europe, but never England. I think that’s how I’ll sell the trip to him…

The weekend went well, but it was busy between eating out, cleaning, and visiting family and friends. Sunday also brought with it a bit of a harrowing experience. Fifty years ago, my father and his brothers and parents went through the last tornado in the US to kill over 100 people…the infamous Beecher Tornado. Anyway, there were a bunch of tornados sighted in my particular area. A few touched down, but certainly none was a F5 like that in 1953 Flint. My dad was freaked out. That was pretty clear. And I do definitely understand. Fifty years exactly since 116 people were killed including his classmates, entire families, countless children, and even my mother’s own cousin.

Anyway, the Flint Journal has a load of coverage from June 8, 1953 online including a 48-page special insert edition from July 1, 1953 where you can see the stories of many of the dead and survivors brought to life. There are additionally video clips and survivor stories. My grandfather and my uncle drove on of the meat wagons to pick up bodies to bring them to the makeshift morgue, the Armory. There are tons of photos and tons of things to explore. My grandparents were interviewed for the special edition, and the PDF page can be found here: click me. Theirs is the story in the upper left hand corner. Also of note is page 29 where my great uncle, David Clifford, had a $25 savings bond returned to him from north of Port Huron. That snippet also mentions his son, David, who was killed during the tornado…fortunately the only of my extended family. Some families lost numerous children. Some families were completely lost.

Anyway, feeling a bit sentimental here. I remember flipping through the original Flint Journal tornado insert. My father still has a copy somewhere. This will just have to do for now. It’s still rather powerful.

I feel like such a lazy butt. I haven’t been updating or anything. Blame it on the weather, blame it on the long week, heck–blame it on anything but me. I can’t possibly be at fault.

I got a bunch of stuff in the mail from my sister. She sent me all her tickets and programs and such from the Led Zeppelin DVD/CD debut party in London. It has now found a locked, clean, dry home…on my counter for now, but eventually in a box. Must. Put. Somewhere. Safe. Really, both are AMAZING products. I’m not just saying that to hype one of my favorite bands–it’s the damn truth!

Finally, one other thing. I just discovered that the Eels are coming to St. Andrews Hall in downtown Detroit on Sat, 07/26/03 at 8:00 pm. Well, needless to say I’m excited especially considering the small size of the place. Not that I’ve been there, of course, but I know it holds at most 1k people. I can’t wait. Everett is da man, baby! Anyway, I’m dragging JT with me whether he likes it or not. I’ve already informed him that he needs to listen to the music in my collection before he goes so he doesn’t look like a complete tool who knows just one song…Novocaine. Anyway, I can’t wait. I don’t ever go to concerts, either…it’ll probably scare the crapola outta me!

I’m not religious. Ya’ll know that. But if a god exists it would be Led Zeppelin. Think I’m exaggerating? I’m not. Led Zeppelin does rock music the way it was meant. PERFECTLY. I can’t help raving. Listen to How The West Was Won (released last week), and THEN you can disagree with me. Otherwise, you haven’t so much a leg to stand on.

Damn. I love Led Zeppelin. Though I wonder if I’d been alive (and lucid–I was alive for the latter half of the 70’s) during their reign if I’d have also enjoyed them. I guess my apprecation for Zeppelin is in part a product of my background. First it was hair metal and then grunge. Then classic rock with Zepp at the helm. Seriously guys–give ‘em a chance. This is ESPECIALLY important for people who love current crap rock. Drop that Linkin Park shit and pick up something real. You won’t ever be the same.

Baby toe still hurts. I thought it was getting better, but somehow yesterday it managed swell up the approximate size of a balloon. I wish the damn thing would just figure out what it is going to do. I want pain if it is going to be painful and comfort if it is not. Darn it all, I want my way!

Yesterday was the perfect day in the sun. The temp was definitely on the cool side–I don’t even think it reached 65 degrees. But at rest in the sun, I was able to stay toasty warm even in my bikini. I listened to music, did logic puzzles, and finished a book called The Select from F. Paul Wilson. I even managed to get a bit more color. Hopefully summer actually happens soon here so that I may sit outside after work also for an hour or so.

On Saturday morning, I got to talk to Amy. She is of course still pregnant and still in Japan. It was nice to speak since it had been since Christmas since the last time we communicated aside from e-mails. She is doing well, and is due the end of October. Brian is on a boat right now for a few months, so I think she’s lonely. I asked when they are coming back to the states to stay, and the answer was (fortunately) March 2004. They are going to be in Florida for 10 months followed by California, Virginia, North Carolina, or maybe even Washington State. Too bad it’s not Michigan…