We buried my dad on Halloween. I thought it was fitting. I hadn't been another year older long enough to prompt the closer to X than to Y qualifier when Trex insisted that I come to her room. That morning I woke up, answered Nature's Call, then set about to making myself a bowl of cereal, as usual. I remember seeing two family friends sleeping on the couch and idly thought they must have been over late and Trex insisted that they stay. Even though their homes were next door and across the … [Read more...]
When You Make Your Own Tradition
I've had a bank account since I was twelve. When I offered to do things about the house to earn badges for Girl Scouts, I proved to Trex that I was of age to take on more than just cleaning up my room. And she obliged. Many times over in fact. In return, I was paid in a manner of speaking. It started with when my one chore to clean my room was done, I was allowed to watch Saturday morning cartoons and go play outside. It evolved when my chores increased to earning an allowance. Cashy … [Read more...]
I don’t care much for either Absolute
A slice of baloney, a slice of Velveeta, a decent squeeze of ketchup with a glass of equal parts water and OJ. The lunch of Adventurers. I can still see the counter of their kitchen while 'helping' to make lunch. I see the slow, careful way in which a slice of Velveeta was cut from the block, and the backdrop of their home carrying our plates to the dining table. In between us was a bottle of ketchup, the cups placed to our respective rights. It was lunchtime and Grandpa made my favorite. A … [Read more...]
Venn
Things in Casa Primer are a wee bit different. It houses four people. There's myself and Trex. Then there's R2 and his daughter. I was a little tempted to use D2 as an alias, I'll be honest. It was Gruff until something came to me, since her dad likes to shower her with affectionate names like Baboon Baby, Monkey Girl and Billy Goat Girl. If you don't see why I hath dubbed her alias Gruff, then I'm taking points from Gryffindor. … [Read more...]
The Story behind Trex
Most can relate when someone refers to the wrath of a parent. More so if you were part of that generation when all that was needed to get you to behave was the question, ‘Do I have to call your $relation-whose-wrath-you-don’t-want-to-incur?’ You just flashed back to that stopped-cold-in-your-tracks feeling that happened each time you heard those words, didn’t you? Veteran readers know that I’m of that camp. When my mother asked if she needed to pull the car over, or similar, we knew to say, … [Read more...]
LA Travels: Craig Ferguson
The latter half of my trip out west has me in San Diego. On the tail end of my vacation to Vancouver, I came down early to San Diego. I have family here, so I spent a few days with them, then took the train up to LA to visit some friends there. While there, I was dead set on attending a taping of Craig Ferguson's Late Late Show. I DVR his show and that's how I start off my mornings. I'm sure there's some partiality because not only is he a Scotsman, but he hails from the same area as my … [Read more...]
Honor
It was October 31st 2008. After putting in a half day at work, I was in my car, headed towards my hometown. I'd be there in about four and half hours, depending on traffic and how heavy my foot was on the accelerator. Long time readers are aware that I observe Dia de los Muertos. When I learned about this way back in high school it resonated with me. I think it was in part because of my own heritage and how we view life, death and dealing when someone that matters to us passes. Anyone … [Read more...]
Operation LCD 4 Trex
Veteran readers know I am notorious for not really being able to keep things of an awesome nature to myself. Mainly this has to do with planned surprises/gifts. It pretty much plays out as follows: I obtain said gift, make it pretty, give it to its recipient and lay on heavy that it's more than perfectly A-OK with me if they open it. Right now. That pretty much sums up the reasoning that had Trex conclude Christmas turns me into a little kid. Albeit one that can drive and has charge … [Read more...]
It’s all about that lil pop of Shazam
Note: In 2008, I was keen or making sure I used the descriptor Tomboy to disassociate with 'girlie,' prissy,' etc. It was exceedingly gross and misogynistic. The post isn't deleted, or edited, beyond this addition you're reading. I understand now, the dysfunction I felt then, and how wrong it is to view womanhood to be so limiting when the truth is it's so much more. Content warning: tomboy, misogyny For those that know me and those that have gotten to know me, you know that I'm my own … [Read more...]
Howdy Doody
I call the Home Owner's Association that Casa Primer is a part of the Neighborhood Gestapo. (NG) I refer to it as that because they are very keen sending letters about covenant violations. I wouldn't have the disdain that I do if some of the bylaws weren't so ridiculous, like say...no colored lights to be used during Christmas for outside decoration. Yeah. (Naturally, people like to line their windows on the inside as a bird flip I suppose). A short observation on my part is that this is … [Read more...]
