Milestones...and other news.
Today is the 20th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger exploding, killing all seven astronauts on board just moments after lift off. Do you remember where you were when it happened?
I was a senior in high school, sitting in my physics class. I remember watching and being thrilled that this was happening, and the next thing I knew the explosion happened and I was dumb-struck. I'll never forget the feeling of that day as long as I live, and everytime there's another launch, I remember Challenger as well as Columbia. While modern technology has advanced, and while NASA has claimed to improve their program and now listen to the engineers who build these crafts, I often wonder how I'd feel if Jack came home one day and said to me, "Mommy, I want to be an astronaut!" I'd rather my son die another way, not at the hands of the people at NASA, which is sad to say.
My grandfather Irving was one of the creators of the LEM back in the 60's when the space program was getting started. He worked for NASA, as well as a company in Long Island that manufactured the parts for the rockets that carried the original astronauts of the Gemini and Apollo programs. Why does it seem that these men were more efficient than the men at NASA today? Why is it that Management feels the need to over-ride what the experts who built these space ships are saying nowadays? Why can't we just be happy here on Earth, instead of trying to colonize places like the Moon and Mars someday? There are millions of problems to solve here first; then let's move to outer space.
Senator John Kerry is coming home from a trip to Switzerland in order to organize a filibuster in order to block the confirmation of Robert (?) Alito. I'm for it, as I was hoping that a liberal would get the last seat on the Supreme Court. If Alito is confirmed we can kiss Roe vs. Wade goodbye, along with interracial marriages, and say hello to segregated schools once again. I'm scared that too conservative a Supreme Court will abolish Women's rights and throw our nation back 100 years. It's not going to be a pretty day when Alito is confirmed, but I fear it's where we're going. Looks like King George is getting his way, the fucking dicator.
Actor Chris Penn died on Tuesday at the age of 43 of unknown, but natural causes. "Willard" from Footloose, as well as the goofy son Eddie of the mob boss in "Resevoir Dogs", and a few other pretty classic movie characters, Chris was a terrific, if not under-rated actor, living in the shadow of two famous brothers, Sean and Michael. When I woke up Wednesday morning and read it on the internet, I let out a pretty huge sigh. I was really stunned and I felt terrible for his family. I hope that the toxicology report that comes back from the autopsy shows no illegal drug use. It would really cast a bad pallor over a really good guy. He'll be missed.
Last but not least, I've booked my flight home to California to visit my firends and family after nearly three years here in Atlanta. I come into LAX on March 4th, and will come back here on the 11th. A week should be enough time to visit with the people I really want to see, and to soak in the sunshine and smog again. It's not like I miss L.A. but it's time to go home for a visit.
It's been a busy week of remembering and reflecting. Now we move into Black History Month....another four weeks of reflection, especially here in Atlanta! Good times are a comin'...woo-hoo!
Happy Birthday Uncle David...
Today is my brother-in-law's 46th birthday. 46, CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??? Yes, our fourties are coming up fast for Ken and I. When I turn fourty, Jack will be 3 and Deanna will be 17. Feeling old yet?
We took David to a terrific Thai joint about three miles from the house. For those of you here in Atlanta, Thai Star on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard is incredible, and extremely reasonable to boot. For three grown adults (Jack's dinner was prepared and brought to the restaurant...we're thinking ahead here!) who had a few appetizers and several dishes and drinks, we walked out for $53.00, and that includes the 25% tip I left the server because Jack flirted with her the whole time we were there. It was a great experience, and I'm glad that David liked the food as much as we did. Ken and Dave are extreme chili-heads, (I lost my taste for super-spicy while I was pregnant with Jack), so their food was rocking hot, and my salad was spicy (which is a good thing actually) and tastey too! I give this place 5 stars, and I believe every word of the reviews that I read, having now experienced the place myself.
Jack was great tonight. It's so much fun being able to go out to dinner with him. He's people-friendly, he's a flirt with the ladies, and he doesn't make those insane messes that other little kids make. I guess if it involves food, Jack's no dummy. Why waste it when eating it is so much more fun. David and Jack played before we left the house for dinner, and even though it was nearly Jack's bedtime when we left to go eat, he held his mud...he was terrific. Of course he had his bath and went straight to bed as soon as we got home, but he was really really good. Yes, I'm a proud Mommy. I remember the days when we had to take food to go because we couldn't get Jack to stop crying in restaurants when he was still an infant. Jack, you've come a long way baby!
We bought David a new video game for the computer, a license plate frame from FSU, and last but not least, we Stooged him! Explaining the "stooging" is a post all it's own, but it's a family joke, and this time we got him! It was a fun night, and I'm glad that we all have such a good relationship with one another, especially for Jack's sake. Ken, Jack, David, Smokey and I are all we have family-wise here in Atlanta, so getting together for holidays and birthdays is a really fun thing to do because it's not too over-crowded with too many family members (I come from a really big family, I admit it...) and everyone gets along; there's no drama in gathering as a family here. Back in LA, it's a totally different ballgame. I'm glad to know that Jack will actually be raised with a sense of functionality in opposed to dis-functionality, when it comes to the family.
Happy Birthday David... I hope you had a nice birthday. I'm just waiting for the phone to ring...when you've been Stooged, there's nothing left to do except call and groan into the phone and think of a new way to return the Stooges to the person who stooged you! Good luck Dave...I'm ready for ya! ;-p
I'll explain the whole Stooge thing in my next post, so everyone can be in on the joke as well!
Into the Great Wide Open...
So 20 days into the New Year and all is well so far.
Jack seems to be really happy, more active than ever, Ken's still loving his job, and I'm the same old me...I think I need to take a cooking class or something because I'm bored so far with this year. Don't get me wrong, I'm in a happy, loving marriage with my soul mate, and we're having a terrific experience raising our growing son. I'm just wintered out and am looking forward to Spring already.
I don't work half as much as I used to, and I'm home with Jack most of the week, but he's going into daycare a few days a week, and Ken works a four-day-fourty-hour work week, and I work my three days...it leaves a lot of time on one's hands.
We're buying a new living room set, and we're re-wallpapering the kitchen and painting the living room, but that's only a few things that I want to do this year. Should I take a few refresher courses at Georgia Perimeter, maybe Asian or Italian cooking classes, macremae, ceramics, interior design, scrap booking...what's a girl to do? I know...softball! I still have to wait for spring, unless I'm into bowling, which I'm really not unless it's with Ken and a bunch of beers.
I am happy to say that we've had no disasters, and that our families are in good health, and that we both still have good jobs and a nice roof over our heads and two decent cars to drive. All the bills are paid, and now I'm waiting for my W-4 so that I can get our taxes off. I guess all things considered, we're having a good New Year...Thank God!
Is it college football season again yet?
Happy New Year...
And so we begin another year. What will 2006 hold for the world? While 2005 was a trying and often sad year, I can only hope that things get better this year.
On a personal note, The Head family had a great year, one that showed positive changes, growth, (in more ways that one!) and showed the strength and character of this family. I hope everyone that we know had the same good fortune, and that they continue to have that same good fortune in 2006.
To all of our family and friends I say this: Happy and Healthy New Year to you all! May you all live through another year with love and good fortune, and we hope that you all find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, whatever that may be for you! Much love and best wishes for a wonderful year to everyone!
There are no resolutions this year; the weight will either come off with diet and excercise or it won't, we'll either make more money or we'll stay where we are financially, which is pretty good, we'll take a family vacation this year finally, we'll spend more time playing board games this year and less time watching television, we'll take walks on nice evenings as a family, and we'll continue to work on keeping our family tight-knit and loving, but these are NOT resolutions, these are facts everyday givens. I hope everyone has the same "givens", or something similar.
Happy 2006.
