Post Turkey Day Update.
December 8, 2006
Filed under:The Number Nine
A brief update to let folks know how we’re doing and all.
Work is… not terrible. While it’s always stressful dealing with the incompetence of co-workers my commute has improved and I’m now an old hand at catching the train. And by “old hand” I mean “I’ve done it successfully more than twice.” So there.
My boss is away in Kenya and has left me in co-charge of the shop, not that it makes much more of a difference in our workdays, but I get yelled at on the phone a lot more because I’m an easier target than the guy that actually promises clients things and then doesn’t follow through. Don’t ask me to explain, just know that my forehead hurts frequently and I hate, Hate, HATE answering that goddam phone now. Bleah.
I’m learning more and more about SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) though, and I’m actually starting to formulate plans on possibly running my own business doing this kind of thing from a home office. I’m good at it, and there’s not very many out there who are, so it’s being toyed with quite heavily in the Dreamland Mind of the Exley Family.
Damon’s last day of school is today and then it’s SUMMER! He’s been joined recently by his cousin Bianca (Beanie) as the Bowden Clan is back from Albany, sans DocSam who had to stay behind and finish his doctoring contract. It’s awesome having them back and making one big family unit again, even if Beanie does have the power and tendency to make both of our kids retarded most of the time.
Georgia is growing up and up and both her and her brother stack on about a CM or so every month despite the fluctuations in their eating habits. Her behaviour no longer has us pulling our hair out every night… just every week or so, but we’ve got to mark our victories where we can. She does, after all, take after her Auntie Roni (heh, I’m SO getting smacked for that one).
Little Jade continues to run low on room in her mum’s belly, and is more active than ever with little hand and feet imprints shoving out the side of Jo sometimes. While it’s a “miracle” and a “joy” and “gift” and all that, I still put my hand on her while my face lights up and just go “Coooooool!” Then I whisper stuff to the baby until she chills out. It’s quite a rush. Seriously though, she’s getting so big that we’re wondering how we’re going to make it another 2 months. She’ll end up coming out and being too big for all the hand-me-downs we’ve been saving.
Thanksgiving was a huge success, with most of the food being done at my crazy mother-in-law’s oven and the extremely tasty and popular items being done by me and the Missus. She created, for the first time ever, a magnificent Green Bean Casserole a la T-day tradition, and I made two pies, Pecan and Pumpkin. The pumpkin was made from real ones too, as you can’t find the cans of filling here (or at least I can’t) and they’re actually called “Jap Pumpkins” and are quite yum.
I was as amazed at the beauty and flawless delivery of our first Thanksgiving dinner as I was at the resemblance to a swarm of locusts that Jo’s family has whilst dining. Seriously, there was One. Half. Piece. Of. Pecan. Pie. Left.
That’s it. Nothing else. Everything, EVERYTHING got eaten up. We had a few late additions to the meal, accounting for the shortage of food, but everybody got a healthy first helping and many had seconds. Especially the pie. Seriously, these people eat like Americans (or Texans even. Ha!). It was quite the event and the start of a nice tradition. Filling my home with people I love that happen to be my new family was priceless, and made me truly thankful. Even when they teased me during my heartfelt speech for my voice choking a bit. They rock.
I’m actually at work now, and writing this during a brief break from that godawful phone. I’m sure there’s more news, but that’s all I can think of for now.
Oh, along the same lines as starting my own company and all that, me and Jo are eventually going to chuck this Rat Race BS and settle into abject poverty while I write my book.
Yep, you heard me, The Book. I don’t know when and I don’t really even know what yet, but it’s going to happen sometime within the next 12 calendar months and I gotta admit, I’m pretty damn excited. You’ll all receive autographed copies, of course, unless I get lazy again and then I’ll just send you pictures of me holding the book and writing your name on some paper. Hahhaaaa… I kill me.
Love to all this holiday season and don’t forget that I need your addresses for stuff that I may or may not send. Wilbur and Torey, that’s you, and Anu Venu, and others that I forget right now.
Take care.