Lordy

Man, it's been awhile since I've posted! I blame Blogger; they went through a format change for their system, which, in theory, qualifies as an improvement, but in practice makes it a bit more difficult to navigate through their system, at least relative to the older version.

So, I was in the position of either learning to wend my way through a new CMS or just not blogging, and, obviously, made my choice on that. Ha!

It's frickin' cold these days, but am glad that the radiators have been on. Still, it seems like there'll be precious little Fall this year, relative to an onrush of Winter. Since last year's Winter was comparatively mild, I guess we're due, but still, BRRR!

I got a new laptop, which has been nice; I've been sorely in need of one after dropping my last one years ago, and not being able to justify getting a new one for years (at the time, I'd just gotten a new PC in the wake of me getting Exene out of my hair, and couldn't really justify getting a new PC and a replacement laptop in one swoop!)

But I'm really enjoying having a laptop again, since it lets me write wherever I'm at, obviously.

Anyway, onward and upward.

6 to 8 Inches

Winter finally decided to show up properly in Chicago! We're getting a snowstorm right now, supposed to deliver 6 to 8 inches of snow. The city's grinding through it, as ever, but traffic's a mess. Our first real snowstorm of the year. Makes me glad I did my big grocery run last weekend, since it means I can just hunker down and not sweat the weather. And the new sleds I bought for the boys came in, just in time! I'm really happy about that; the timing couldn't have been better. They'll be super-stoked to try'em out tomorrow. Actually, I will, too! I'm curious to see how much we'll get, but it looks like there's already 4 inches on the ground. It's really coming down quickly.

Chillin'

Man it was damned cold today! Beautiful light, but just COLD. I'm not complaining, just stating the facts of it. I'm pretty resistant to the cold, and even then, I still felt chilled by the winds nailing the city. Brrr! Still, less annoying to face the cold than massive snow and the cold; usually, when it's super-chilly in Chicago, we don't get much in the way of snow.

Getting the Sled Out

I'm going to take advantage of the momentary snow on the ground to take the boys sledding today. They've been waiting for a proper snow for the past month or two, so I'm going to make the most of it, since I don't know how long the snow will last, honestly. But for the moment, there's enough, so we're on it!

Oscar Grouching

I enjoyed "The Artist" the second time around, although, having researched it a bit, I was kind of peeved that the leading lady in it is the wife and/or squeeze of the director. They have a couple of kids together. That somewhat tarnishes her otherwise great performance, in my view. I never like when the squeezes of directors get plum roles that way. But she does a good job in her performance, so I don't complain much.

The attendance was very good, too. I was glad to see that. The movie should win some Oscars, but we'll see how that all shakes out, politically. It'll probably snare the Foreign Film category, maybe Costume Design or Cinematography or something. We'll see. It likely won't win Best Picture, compared with some of the others it's likely to go against. But it should win some Oscars, to be sure. And more than one. I mean, you'd have to be a total asshole not to enjoy this. Even John Goodman's very well-played producer asshole loved it! Baha!

It was frickin' cold last night! Outside, anyway. The apartment is toasty as ever, but outside, bitter cold. It's like the area remembered that it's winter, and Old Man Winter came in with gusto. Many months of this ahead, of course. I'm cool with that (get it? Winter? Cool?)

Snow, Man!

Finally got a winter storm! Can't believe this is our first one -- that we're nearly into mid-January, and this is the first proper snow we've gotten! Amazing.

The boys are stoked, of course, hoping to take the sleds out. We'll see if we get enough snow (and if it stays -- supposedly the temps are going up again).

It certainly looked pretty, though.

New

So, now it's 2012. Woo hoo! Nothing much exciting to say. It's frickin' cold out. Winter is finally, properly here, at least for the moment. True to form for Chicago, it'll likely hang on until March. We'll see if we get another mega-blizzard like last year. I think the pattern of the warm(er) temps and accompanying moisture in the air raises the risk of a big-ass snowfall. We'll see if it happens.

December Rain

It's raining outside. One of those dismal December rains that really would prefer to be snow, but it's just not cold enough for that, anymore, which sucks, right? I mean, we're nearly mid-December, and have only had one day where there was even a whisker of snow. Not to say that things won't get rolling in deep winter, say January or February, but still, sheesh. My boys look forward to sledding, and right now, that's nowhere on the radar. I remember when we would get actual winters in Chicago.

Walkin'

Walked home from downtown tonight, just because the weather was relatively nice, compared with what it has been. Fun to see downtown light up for the holidays. Of course I snapped a few photographs of window displays and what-not.

Amazing that Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means Christmas is that much closer. Lordy.

Snow Foolin'

First snowfall of the season -- no accumulation, but snow came down, regardless. Big, thick flurries. Today was oddly unsettled -- rain in the morning, then clouds, then snow, then sun, then snow. Now windy. I biked to work today, although, clearly, my biking days are numbered. The winds are picking up, and it's getting sloppier. Makes it something of a liability to travel. I actually fell over on my bike today, something that hasn't happened in years (not even when that wave swamped me). I was at a light, waiting for it to change, and went to put a leg out to step on a curb, but I misjudged the distance, and went right over, like a tree falling over! Whoopsie! Pedestrians, to their credit, came over to help, probably thinking I had had a stroke or something, the way I just went over. I thanked them and helped myself back up. I wasn't even embarrassed, although it was certainly embarrassing. It was just one of those things, like slipping on the ice or something. Gravity reminds you who's running the show in moments like that. I was just glad I hadn't torn my slacks or messed up my shoes or anything like that.

The boys are super-stoked to have so many Daddy Days in a row. They are loving it! I am, too!

Old Man Winter, on the march

Halloween past, Autumn has definitely given up the ghost, and Winter is well on its way. I'm near the end of my biking season, just because it gets too sloppy and crazy as Winter comes on the scene. Yesterday I had 30 mph wind gusts hitting me on the ride down and back, which makes for a challenging ride (given that my top biking speed is about 12 mph!)

I have the boys the next two weekends, because of Exene's running obsession err, hobby. I'm fine with that, and the boys are fine with that; they love "Daddy Weekends." B2 always hugs me lots when he first sees me again, says "I love you, Daddy! I missed you!" which is always touching. When they found out they had a cluster of Daddy Days, they were stoked.

Exene is actually going out of town next weekend, on a trip with one of her "gal pals" as she puts it. Running another race. I told her I'd be fine with watching the boys, so long as I get equivalent "comp time" at some point. Not that I have any travel plans, but I just always have to be sure for reciprocity, where Exene is concerned.

Anyway, as biking season nears an end for me, it'll mean taking the CTA, which is fine, but it'll be an added expense I have to factor into my already-packed budget. That was the nice thing about the biking -- free transportation (and I worked my exercise into my commute). As Winter kicks into gear, it'll mean X expense, moneywise, and me having to block out more time for exercise. Ah, well. Not complaining, just aware of the options ahead of me.

Of course, I never actually complain about the weather; it simply is. And since Fall/Winter is prime Writing Season for me, I welcome it, honestly. If I lived in Hawaii, I'd never get a damned thing written, would just drink rum and walk the beach, collecting shells, or hike around the volcanoes and in the jungles. But living in Chicago, the bad weather is an incentive to create, honestly. And so, I will.

Olive Park, right near Navy Pier.

Hello? Daylight Savings?

Man, I really wish they'd shift the Daylight Savings Time date back to what it was before GW Bush set it for; it sucks to have everything so dark in the morning. It makes it hard to get the boys up and at'em.

I had weird dreams last night, like stuff with a ventriloquist's dummy (never a good sign in a dream, right? Sheesh) I can only remember some of it, but it was like being in the basement of this place with this guy with a dummy, and somebody walked up and muttered to me "You know, the DUMMY is the one doing the thinking, here, not the GUY." And then when the guy was talking to me, I was wondering that, and was keeping an eye on the creepy dummy.

Had some other weird dream that flowed from that one, but I forget what it was, now.

Gonna pick up some pumpkins today for the boys and me to carve. They're stoked about that.

Fridave

I have the boys tonight. They are very happy to have a Daddy Night for Friday. They're watching "Wall*E" at the moment, all snuggled in with blankets and what-not, keeping warm.

Autumn chill is definitely here. I'm in a sweater and some flannel jammies, keeping warm. Brrr!

I may catch "The Thing" prequel tomorrow at a matinee. Will let you know how it is.

Fall always gets me in Writing Mode in earnest. I get antsy if I don't work on something. So, obviously, I will!

B2 likes to mix and match Lego Minifigures. Love to see what he comes up with.

Falling Leaves

Went ambling through the city last night, since the weather was so good. Lots of people out, enjoying it. Already nearing the end of September, with October nipping at one's heels. This month flew by. I need to buckle down and get into my autumnal writing groove. I've got so many pieces to work on, it's going to be hard to choose. At this point, I'm tempted to just do them alphabetically, but I know that'll never work with me. I'll need to do them based on either how soon they can be completed or else which ones inspire me most. I just know how I am, especially for first drafts -- I have to go with inspiration, first, just to get that first draft done. Then the discipline part kicks in with revision.

Did you see that stuff about neutrinos? I am hoping it's corroborated, because that'll be awesome, will pull the rug out from under physics for generations, which'll make for a lot of excited/perplexed/enraged physicists. We'll see. Science is fun. Haha!

Brrr

Brrr. Cold this morning! Definitely flannel jammy weather nowadays!

I asked the boys what they wanted to be for Halloween. B1 wasn't sure, yet; B2 wants to be a gremlin, planned it all out, wanting a green shirt and green pants and what-not. It was cute, watching him plan it all out. Hard to believe it's a bit over a month away. Once Halloween hits, it's like the Holiday free-for-all, the rush to the end of the year. Amazing how 2011 has come and gone. And next year should be insane, with the whole presidential election stuff, and the 2012 Mayan Calendar crazies going loopy. And turning 42. What the hell is that all about?  Ah, Entropy, you blithering bitch goddess!

Punkin' Pie

I hit Target today for a bit, got the boys some fall/winter supplies, like hats and what-not. The weather is autumn-lovely today, that cool-but-sunny thing going on, very pretty. Good sleeping weather, really.

I had an idea for another story pop into my head, quite out of the blue. Well, really it was something I was mulling over for awhile, and then, while at Target, it just clicked, and one of the characters really cohered for me. That's a great feeling, although it sometimes happens when one hasn't any pen or paper handy! D'oh! That's when the iPhone is a real blessing -- the Notes function on it is useful for that, even if the Tic-Tac tap-buttons on it are so tiny, it's cumbersome if you have hands larger than a leprechaun's!

They have Pumpkin Pie Pop-Tarts at Target! I had to try them, and they actually were really good. Limited Edition, naturally, but damned good. See?

Falling

I should be writing this morning, but am enjoying the early-morning quiet too much right now. Fall is already here. The chill is in the air. The city smelled curious -- apparently there are wildfires in Minnesota, and the smoke from that is wafting into Illinois. There is a faintly smoky smell hitting the city, like the smell of burning pine. I noticed it yesterday, and did some searching to confirm it. Kind of amazing, really -- I didn't even know they were having wildfires of that magnitude in Minnesota, let alone that we'd be downwind of them.

Just a wrinkle in city living for the moment, I guess. Pine-scented apocalyptic smog! It somehow adds resonance to the change of seasons. That wood smoke smell feels so autumnal to me, anyway, and that it is derived from massive wildfires adds a macabre element to it, which also fits well with the season.

I love autumn. My favorite season.

How random, right? B2 wanted me to take a shot of the orang with the toy gun in  its hand. Haha!

Swingline Windchime

Hotter than hell today, and looking to get toastier as the days progress. Tomorrow's high is supposed to be 95!! And that's up here in Chicago!! I can't imagine how hot it'll be for folks living south of here.

Had something amusing happen tonight: a Swingline stapler I had on my windowsill (actually, one of the boys put it on the windowsill for some reason), anyway, it turned into a kind of a windchime this evening. The wind was blowing through the window, making this agreeably soft clanging, and it took me a moment to isolate where it was coming from. It's been clanging all evening as the wind blows, and I've enjoyed it, the serendipity of it, the Zen stapler...

June

I'm kind of amazed it's June already. Summer's nigh upon us! I'm very aware of the long days, perhaps more than I've been in a long time.

I am tempted to catch the new Terrence Malick movie, "The Tree of Life." It's a whisker over two hours long, which is always a deterrent for me, where movies are concerned, but his style of movie-making is very singular and would play out very well on the big screen, so I may catch it when it rolls through town. Haven't decided, yet. I thought that with "The Thin Red Line," too -- wanting to see it on the big screen, but punting it, then catching it on DVD, and thinking "This would have really been great to see on the big screen." We'll see where it's showing; it's coming to Chicago tomorrow.

They finally drained those underpasses. I'm grateful for that, although they shouldn't be clogging up to begin with. The city needs to stay on that. The US has been lagging for over 20 years on infrastructure development, shamefully behind our supposed peers in the First World; that takes its toll around the country. Bridges, roads, sewer systems, all of that. It's going to take some major collapse of something critical to likely shake off the ignorant torpor that the Right inflicts on the citizenry for that kind of stuff. Infrastructure matters (and it's one of the few capital investments that can't be offshored -- it actually yields multigenerational benefits here at home).

I keep thinking about scoring myself a ticket to Next, the avant-restaurant of Grant Achatz fame. The theme of it changes every few months, and right now it's Paris, 1906, so I am tempted to go and try it out. I'd probably have to fast before attending such a thing, as they pile on the courses, there, from what I've heard, and it's all very rich. What's kept me back so far is the irritation of having to buy a ticket to go. But what tempts me is that I've had Achatz's cuisine before, way, way back when he worked at Trio, a top-notch restaurant in Evanston, and he is a wizard with food, he truly is. That meal I had at Trio was sublime, so I know that his approach at Next will be as thoroughly awesome. So, I have that to consider, as well. I have to see how long it's still the French cuisine, before it changes, and decide from there.

I'm all thrown off by the Memorial Day Monday; today feels like it should be a Friday, but it's so not! Haha!

Springing

Beautiful day; the first truly beautiful day of the year: mild and sunny, just lovely. The city is waking up, as ever, and lots of people are out and about. I love when the city revives from its wintery hibernation. Everything's fun and possible and joyful.

I sent out another tightly-targeted query to a literary agent. Fingers crossed, as ever.

I have the boys for the next couple of days, and with the good weather, am looking forward to getting them to the playground for some quality runaround time. It's kinda funny -- in early spring, on the good days, the parents with boys are always the first ones at the playgrounds. Gotta wear out the lil' scamps! B1 and B2'll love that -- instead of pounding on each other, they can be running around in circles and what-not on the playground. I'm a firm believer in unstructured time for kids -- not one of those hyperscheduling types. One of the joys of childhood is being able to enjoy that kind of free time. I think a lot of the hoverparents who overschedule their kids are seeing them up for breakdowns in adulthood, as you get these people who've never known a real transition from childhood to adulthood, and are just accustomed to constantly living "on the clock." Sucks.

My boys understand about chores and getting stuff done, but I always try to give them room to breathe and just play as they like.

57,000 words.