Although not unexpected, The Lion has passed. Being a native of Massachusettes and profoundly affected by the "teachings" of the Kennedys I am saddened to see that generation end. The next generation is continuing in public service like they were taught, as I do too.
The end of August, and the kids go back to school next week - none too soon for every ones sake. The crazy part is that Sarah is in middle school and it's like 5 or 6 miles away and there is no longer a school bus to take them. Chris, 8 going on 2, and Panda 6 going on spaced, will walk up the hill together the half block to the elementry school. I am sure Sarah is thrilled, she will no longer be in charge of the little ones. But being the responsible one, I will make sure Chris and Panda get to school safe and sound.
We're determined to be out by the end of February. March will be 4 years. I've already started cutting off time with the kids, there are other people in the house taking care of them, which is fine, somewhat, with me. I am now going to the gym, almost every night. I leave and come take Steve to work, and dogs to walk and return and go to bed. Between cycling and weight training I seemed to have lost the weight I gained when I broke the ankle. We still have 2 dogs, but Bobby the turtle went to live with other turtles in a bigger pond. That's it for now.
1. Wednesday night - preview night. Very little time to pick up name badge (hubby says we don't need no stinken badges). Got limited edition Stay-puff Marshmellow man piggy bank - creapy and cool at same time - add to piggy bank collection. Stayed in line for over an hour to get 2 Comic-con t-shirts - I got White one San Diego on it, and hubby got black one with Green lantern on it. Dehydrated - left. Staying at mummy's about 4 miles away - very good.
2. Thursday - pick up 2 boys and take them for the day. Get Magic cards for boys. Purchase 2 old copies of G.I. Combat, which I read as a teen, and got one signed by artist Russ Heath - tells me he drew picture of his girl-friend at the time in the issue I had - cool, and very personal. Tried to stay in line for "Burn Notice" - to long, rested - boys played Magic - I went crusing around floor- some guy thought my name was like the beer - then excused himself and gave me signed copies of his graphic novels. Met chick named Mo - publishes little books on Geek dating - we totally hit it off. Took boys to Bucca de Peppo to eat. Drove to Nancys to drop of child - already dropped off other - Nancy is clear of Cancer (see other post) - car died - battery dead.
3. Friday - get new car battery - get to Con abut 1:30. Get to panel with Jim Oliphant - political cartoonest - very cool to watch - next panel - "Past Lives" new TV show - coming up mid-season - will be successful because coming on after American Idol. Next panel, Stan Freberg - go oohh, ahhh - because it was great, the next panel was "The Might Boosh" saw 1/2 of it, cute guys really didn't get the show - but really cute guys. Walked the floor, got the opportunity, to speak with Nichelle Nichols - what a really classy lady - it was awsome. Later went to see really bad cartoons, and walked into a panel with Leslie Nelson - that was a nice suprise. Saw bad cartoons - some of Spike and Mike and went home.
4. Saturday - more floor walking - determined that walking around with hubby not a good idea as we have different interest. Got books - he got copy of book signed by Peter S. Beagle, we met up with Stan Freberg. Still good. Met up with girl-friend. Tried to get tickets to masquarade - no good - so unhappliy went to Torchwood and Dr. Who showing - so Sad - David Tennet, Russel Davies and John Barrowman showed up - such is life that I had to see them - check out Davids home page for that adventure - really really. Gush gush - screamed like a girl I did. Yummy.
5. Sunday - got up early - went to Dr. Who panel - David was there - still yummy. Had one of those shirts on where you can see parts of the tummy whne he lifts his arms up - swoon. Saw Edward J. Olmos and the English guy from Battlestar Galactica, and Tom Weller from Smallville, Got a couple of more books - left by 2:00 - out to dinner - mummys to nap and 3 hours later - clean and home by 10pm. See that's that short of it.
Foot-note - gave a kiss to Kevin Anderson for a signed book mark, and threatened another author that if he didn't send me a signed book next year before it Comic-con I would just have to hunt him down next year.
It was a week of star filled photos that's for sure.
I am exhausted - 5 days of insanity - glad it's only once a year. Need a vacation from that vacation. It was nuts and cool and crazy. Saw lots of famous people, and some very ultra - cool people too. More later.
Can't believe how quickly this year has past, It's been up and down. Up - ankle is healed, although it still reminds me that it's not totally healed. I've started going to a gym - my peace and quite, and took my first "Body-flow" class on Saturday, I cried, I've been informed that this is not unusual.
We gave Bobby the turtle to San DIego Turtle Rescue - the lady was wonderful, he will end up with a pond and lots of other red eyed sliders - things I was unable to give him at this time. Still have 2 dogs and 1 hubby (that's all that's allowed).
I still live in crazy place, and it's no better - but.........I am seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.
Comic-con is a month away. We get to stay in San Diego this time - booked my mother's apartment, and she's going to stay with a friend. So if anyone is going to be there, please contact me, would love to meet.
Best friend has lymphoma - diagnosis is good - half way through treatment, I pray - however those go daily.
Brother turns 40 in 2 days - as he's not speaking to me, and my life is crazy enough without his mess - I'll send him a card - but I won't expect anything else. At least for a year I'll remember how old he is. :)
So it's been an interesting 6 months, the place I am living, is gotten worse and worse. We're planning to be out by the end of the year. If we do almost nothing, and save, I think we can do it. It's been 3 years, and we need our peace and quiet. No kids, no demands. I have my own personal demands, i don't need to have others make me their rock to get through life. I can barly get myself through life. Lets see:
Spent time last fall looking after nephew, longer than I wanted, and brother was very unappreciated, so I don't want to do that again.
Was suppost to go away for new years, but instead fell down the stairs and broke my ankle, but there is good and bad with that. Had to take things alot easier. The break wasn't bad, just annoying more than anything else. Only in the past couple of weeks have I started walking the dogs again. But, I did WIN an overnight stay at the Hotel Del, and my mom is looking into letting hubby and I stay at her place during Comic-con. Tickets always bought in advance of course. We're using the Del night, the week before Comic-con, over our anniversary, then 3 days off for Comic-con, then birthday and a week off, and yesterday someone invited me up to the mountians for a weekend, which I will probably take up with her, at the end of April, take dogs and hubby.
So I am someup crazed by the living situation, we've got to get out of there. And I want to find a "perminante" home. And I am getting help with the Law School Applications.
