Dec 23, 2008Posted in by Ken
SML and I are in Germany for the Holiday, visiting my parents. I think that in general the holidays are stressful and I'm relieved that my parents neighbors are sympethetic, showing up at the doorstep with German beer tied in bows.
My parents are a bit eccentric and have been collecting many antiques living in Europe. Their home has all sorts of plates and other ceramics on the walls and shelves. I think I counted three grandfather clocks in their living room and from where I'm sitting right now I see two cuckoo clocks. My sisters and I joke a lot about this because we can't imagine how they'll get all of their stuff to Utah, and whether or not the ship unfortunate enough to stock their belongings will sink from the weight.
Nothing major has happened since we've arrived, no one has thrown a fist or drawn a knife. I think the worst bit was when my mother explained to SML that "back in the day" women in the navy were thought of as "loose." I cocked my head when I heard that statement, half expecting SML's eyeballs to have popped out and be rolling around the tile.
It is very kind that my parents are letting us stay with them this year, as I'm sure that my demands for coffee every morning are a lot like watching a heroine addict without a fix. It certainly feels that way, I miss my coffee grinder more than the kitty, even more than speaking english and having someone understand me.
My mother will tell anyone who will listen how "naughty" this coffee drinking this is, menancingly waving her fingers. Without the support of her Mormon ward, she seems overprotective to the Germans and they'll answer back, "It's normal! They're twenty-five!" I just couldn't agree with that any more than I already do.
Dec 18, 2008Posted in by Ken
SML completed his first semester today, giving a very formal presentation to his class. I consider most events with an open bar, "fancy", and so I was astonished that SML had instructed me to come as I was. As I entered the auditorium I knew at once my attire would be a disaster, made worse that I was late and I would need to walk in front of the entire room to find a seat. One of SML's teammates remarked, "I couldn't figure out who that was, who was coming in here dressed like that."
At the reception afterwards, more than one person came up to tell me how smart SML is. I acted surprised and confused each time someone would bring up SML's intellect, like I haven't witnessed SML explain something with a graph or equation, or that for a hobby SML will browse a bookstore. I needed to have a confused look on my face to convey that I didn't really know where I was and that was why I was wearing a hoodie with a large skull on it.
Dec 15, 2008Posted in by Ken
SML and I walked into the city this afternoon because I wanted to see some Christmas lights and get one of those new hipster hats at H&M. We walked the entire way, all the way from Allston, because it's the first time in awhile that the temperature has been above thirty degrees.
I'm reluctant to go outside when the temperature does fall below thirty degrees, even if it's just to go across the street to pick up a pizza. In the unfortunate event that we do run out of pizza or frozen burritos, I'll complain to SML the entire time I'm outside saying things like, "Did you know that we live in a place that has ice storms? ICE STORMS."
Dec 09, 2008Posted in by Ken
I don't want to bore everyone with pictures of my cat, although with SML being increasingly absent I don't seem to have many subjects. Charlotte has increased her tree climbing activity in the recent days, also increasing the size of the gaping hole she's made from breaking the branches. Over the weekend, SML pulled our couch out from the wall and found nearly a dozen ornaments tucked underneath.
The biggest problem with all of this is that SML and I have no idea how to discipline this cat. She will do the most outrageous things, like pull up the drain filter from our shower and bring it to the foot of our bed. And after we see her with a drain filter sticking out of her mouth we say things like, "Oh, isn't that just adorable!" But it isn't! It's disgusting!
Dec 01, 2008Posted in by Ken
I got out our Christmas tree Thanksgiving night, lugging the large box out of the closet and sitting it down in the living room. Bang always gets excited whenever there's a new box and started running around the room, up and down the furniture, and then finally rested inside the box that housed the tree.
Once I had the tree set up I sat down on the couch to catch my breath, as walking at a regular pace these days can raise my heart rate, and noticed in the corner of my eye a large furry thing in the middle of the tree. I shouted at SML to get bang out of the tree, but he was too late and she broke the branches on her fall to the ground, leaving several gaping holes and an artificial tree that appears to be dehydrated.
Although she has stopped climbing the tree, mostly because there are few branches left to climb, she's been hitting the ornaments around with her paw until the wire hangers break, allowing her to kick and chase the balls around the living room until I threaten her with the Humane Society.
Nov 30, 2008Posted in by Ken
SML and I aren't very good at getting presents for each other, mostly because I'm terrible at keeping secrets. Last week over dinner SML asked me what I thought about the Kindle and answered, "Humph, hosh, heeze, you knew that's what I was getting you for Christmas!" The humph, hosh, and heeze bit mostly sounded like deep asthmatic breathing.
When it came time for SML to decide what he should get for me, and since I was already getting him the Kindle, he suggested a new camera; that new expensive and incredible camera I've been wanting. I began the conversation saying, "Oh no, that's too expensive" and "I just want a red tea kettle", but then it quickly turned into, "We should probably get it now, this weekend, before we go to Europe. And I should probably open it immediately after we get home to make sure it works."
This camera came with a condition, however, and it's that I take a photography class. I'm not sure whether or not to be offended by that.
Nov 24, 2008Posted in by Ken
Last week took me to Toronto and their first snow storm of the season. My time in Toronto was limited because I was there on business and I was disappointed I wasn't able to see more. I took this picture just outside of the hotel the morning I left, a hotel in China Town I chose because I thought that it would be funniest place for someone like me to stay. Unfortunately with the weather the way it was I stayed in the hotel all night, briefly making it down the street to a chinese mall for green tea.
Nov 05, 2008Posted in by Ken
SML and I sat on our couch last night with sushi take-out to watch the election results. I wanted to go downtown and romp with the other crazy people in the reflection pool, but SML insisted that he had homework.
As the results started coming in I commented to SML that I didn't really understand how the media was able to project the winner so quickly, without really counting all of the votes. SML turned the page of his notebook and started scribbling this equation while explaining the projection method in what sounded like Japanese. When he was finished he looked at me and said, "Isn't that interesting?" I nodded in agreement and returned to the kitchen to pour myself a second glass of wine.