Returns and Sublimeness

(Side note: I actually had to check for the form of "sublime" that i wanted to use. Subliminal wasn't right and sublimation just sounded wrong. Thanks to dictionary.com for help.)

I think i'll need to break this into a couple posts to get it all out, because it's been a busy couple of weeks. My mom returned from China with only a small hitch that left them in Chicago overnight. Baby Wren is doing very well, with lots of pictures for all to ooh and ahh over. Of course, now she has some kind of Chinese bronchitis that's kept her in bed for three days and counting. Fortunately, the doc didn't think it was anything too fancy, and she's starting to do better.

Martha was thrilled to see her, and i'll have to get some pics up of just how big and happy that puppy has gotten. She has to be over 55 pounds by now, which is frightening since she's only 4 1/2 months old.

My mom's return also led to my return to Lemoyne. How i missed it. It was good to be back in my own bed, with my own little 10 pound cat who can go pee whenever she wants without disturbing me.

Went bowling Friday night with the gang from work, and apparently we had enough of a blast to make it a regular thing. We've also learned that bowling shoes can be had for under $50, and custom-drilled balls are about the same, so i might become a real bowling geek - complete with luggage and everything.

The real excitement, though, was Saturday night. I took the roommate's sister back to school in DC, and she was kindly enough to accompany me to a Flogging Molly concert in the parking lot of RFK stadium. That was a sublime experience. I've been listening to, and thoroughly enjoying, their CD's for maybe 6 months now, and have come to realize that the only reason to listen to the CD's is so you can sing along at the shows. The energy, the skill, 50,000 people screaming for the accordion. I've never had an experience like that before. Normally, for me, concerts have always been a let down, and i'm disappointed when they don't sound like the album. Maybe because they suck, maybe because the album was overproduced, i don't know. But this... this was something else entirely. For this group, the album exists only for people to learn the words and decide they like it. Then, you go to a show and realize, that's what this is all about. Of course, the beer didn't hurt either.

Next time, another fabled and long awaited movie roundup. Look for such hits as School for Scoundrels, Black Snake Moan , Arlington Road, Embrace of the Vampire, Charmed - Season 5, Cecil B Demented, the Prestige, Secret Things, Flushed Away, and Stranger than Fiction. Some of those may be repeats, but never fear - i'll check first.

On Slippage

And so the slippage begins... 3 weeks since I last wrote. I knew this would happen sooner or later, and must fight to not let it continue because I thoroughly enjoy writing my little inanities here.

First, a link to the Washington Post column I referred to last time. It does an excellent job of explaining exactly why "articulate" can be such an offensive compliment.

Up next, lighter fare. As i type this, my mom, brother, sister-in-law, and two nephews are somewhere in the middle of China, moving ever-onward towards their newest family addition, Wren. They've been trying to adopt Wren for about 2 years now, which is strange because she's less than a year old. They flew to Beijing last week, and come home in two weeks. In the meantime, I'm staying at my parent's house helping my dad take care of the puppy. It still boggles me that she is, now, 16 weeks old, is up to at least 45 lbs, and has at least 60 lbs left to grow. Martha is huge, and sweet as the teddy bear she resembles. At least, as long as she isn't piddling behind the sofa while staring at you with big innocent eyes that do nothing more than blame you for not taking her out sooner.

Don't worry, i'll have pictures soon. Probably not of the piddling, though.