Bionic Teutonic

Went back to Spokane last weekend to visit my step-mother. Glad to report she looks much better and on the road to recovery. She still seems very uncomfortable and in some pain, but the life has returned to her face and she seems to be improving. I found it a little hard to be around somebody in discomfort like that and not really be able to do anything to help. I felt like I was just observing at times, not sure how to be of assistance. My (and the family’s) hopes seem to be up though, so that’s good. I feel like my life is starting to return to normal.

The last few days we have been waking up to construction workers downstairs. I think my feelings towards them are moving from irritation to loathing. I do not understand why they must keep the hours of a baker. It doesn’t make any sense to me. Ariel looked up the law too, and as long as they are not doing “impactful” work (i.e. hammering), and they are inside, they are free to start as early as they want. Sucks.

Watched a great movie last night called Paris je t’aime. It’s a collection of 5 minute shorts all set in Paris. It was awesome. The film short is a vastly under-appreciated art form I think. And unless you go to film festivals and specifically go to the short film showings, you never really come across any. I’m going to have to do some research and find some more.

It has been a rough couple of weeks here in my world. Haven’t posted much due to a bunch of heavy life concerns getting in the way. Sometimes the world hits you with a bunch of stuff all at once. Several old family friends have died recently and my step-mother is recovering from some serious surgery at the moment which scared the whole family for a bit. I dropped everything last Wednesday to go to Spokane to be with my family through the ordeal. Good news is that she appears to be doing better every day and the latest prognosis looks decent. I did manage to work from the road while I was in Spokane and it made me realize that for the most part, I don’t need to be in the office at all. My work day wasn’t really that different from being in the office. A computer and a phone and I’m set. Offices are SO 20th century.

Given how life has been the last 2 weeks, really all I’ve wanted to do lately is sit around with Ariel and watch our latest TV series obsession, which thanks to our friend Joriel who has the whole series on DVD, is Buffy. So far, it’s only pretty good, but everybody we talk to says it really picks up after the second season and finds it’s legs, so we are sticking with it.  I’ve been having computer program issues lately so music hasn’t been happening as of late. I did manage to install (after much difficulty) the latest mac OS and I should have my music software up and running again next week so I hope to get back into a groove soon. Computers, for making your life easier, sure make it hard sometimes.

I just got back from a wonderful new years with friends out on Orcas island. We hung out, ate good food, drank wine, had good conversation. It was great. There was a hot tub out on the deck that looked out over the water that was pure bliss. The islands up there are very beautiful. I totally see the appeal of life up there. It was also Ariel and my 10 year anniversary! I love my wife. It has been a fantastic decade with her. I’m blessed in so many ways, really.

I’m actually making some resolutions this year. I tend to avoid them as sort of contrived and doomed to failure, but this year it just feels like a good time to take stock and do some planning. So here are my resolutions

1. Pay off my debts (well, apart from my mortgage)
2. Yoga at least 3 times a week (I pretty much do that already, I’m just far from consistent)
3. Write an albums worth of music (I’m not committing to doing anything with it, just to write it for now)
4. One handed handstands! (I’m going to get this down. I’ve been so close for so long)

That’s it really. I have some vague unmeasurable ones like being good to the people around me, but those are the specific ones I want to concentrate on. Hope that everybody’s new year was good. Happy 2008!