Sunday, May 29, 2011

Rockin' the House

OK so let me say from the start that I'm not a West-coast hater -- BC's great, got a bro in Alberta, and the Rockies rock.

But what the NHL is this?  Is this the fighting spirit of Vancouver?


I mean, I guess I can't mock a team that made it further in the playoffs than the Habs or the Leafs (not completely anyway), but then I don't really feel like I have to blindly support a team just because it's Canadian.  Kinda weird IMHO that some of us in the Great White North actually do feel that way -- after all, it's not the Olympics, folks.

On the other hand, with my track record, maybe my cheering them on will be the death blow.  Go Canucks!

In the Beth-news, this past week-after-chemo was pretty uneventful -- less lethargy and nausea than the last cycle.  On the down side, she's already gotten a sunburn on the top of her head and a little on her face from the small amount of sun we've had in the last two weeks.  It could be a long summer...

So how about that season finale of House, eh?

I have to say, not as dramatic as I thought it would be from the promos, but really fitting -- he was bound to crack at some point.  Hilarious and tragic at the same time.  The "two preganancies" subplot was pretty funny too, but not what you'd call a cliffhanger. 

It was so long since we'd seen him drive, though, it did seem weird that Wilson wasn't driving, especially since House was just out from major leg surgery.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xyXBGtly1A
(couldn't embed, so you gotta click)

Brilliant.  And could actually end there if they wanted to, or not.
Almost makes me overlook how everyone's been "glammed up" on the show this season.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Pirates

Ah, the resiliency of youth.

Week three of the chemo now done, Bethany's holding up well and the docs want to have another MRI to see how it's working.  Her energy level and spirits are okay overall, though she does admit that it's getting more depressing that she has to miss blocks of time in the last weeks of Grade 8 and feels tired more and more of the time.  We just pray that it's working.

On the other hand, she's such a happy child in general that it doesn't take much to get her excited about the next fun thing, whether that's the new "Pirates of the Carribean" movie or her upcoming Confirmation (and reception/party afterwards). 


It's gotten lousy reviews so far, but that doesn't seem to matter to kids who haven't developed much critical thinking yet, or "Pirates" fans like our family.

Speaking of people who haven't developed much critical thinking, I noticed that the tide turned pretty quickly in the "men who redeem the gender" category - thanks Arnie and Dom.


If you need captions to know who these guys are, you've been disconnected from all media for at least the last week - which would probably not be a bad thing.  I really regret our trial subscription to the Toronto Star for all it's horrible reporting and front page shock-stories -- I keep out the comics for the kids but chuck the rest in recycling before they get the chance to see it. 

Which also makes me wonder how much media bias there is in the rise and fall of men lately in the news cycle.  Just sayin'.


So now time for a little honest reporting on myself. 
  1. Start a new blog : Done
  2. Take karate lessons : Uh, not yet
  3. Maintain the new blog :  Steady as she goes...
  4. Start investigating how to get my PhD by age 50 : Started, need to do more
  5. Get a Bb Playbook as soon as they come out (maybe even wait in line like the diehards):  Just couldn't do it.  Maybe it's what keeps me from being an "early adopter" in general, but too many iffy reports before the release date.  Still on my wish list, though - no Apples for me. 
  6. Copy those videotapes of our 2005 trip to Ireland :  Kind of forgot about this one.  Step one, set up 2nd computer for all media conversion.
  7. Give my kids more hugs :  Already ahead of last year (and most years)
  8. Say "I love you" more :  Ditto

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Winners

Winner
Winner

Winner














Uh, not so much.















Just when Charlie Sheen had given the male gender a black eye, along came three men this past weekend who really did "live the dream".  And a fourth...well, not so much.

It really was quite an eventful weekend for the news though, wasn't it?  Regardless of your affiliations and loyalties, you can't deny it was a "busy news cycle" as they say.  No need for the news broadcasts to find stories of kitties rescued by firefighters -- not that there's anything wrong with that.


In other news, Bethany's in the middle of her week-after-chemo, and this time the fatigue and lethargy are catching up with her.  Supposedly according to her oncologist last week, the chemo drug really takes effect 5-7 days after she gets it since it affects the production of new white blood cells which aren't fully in the bloodstream for 5-7 days later. 

This means that she's not only tired but very immune-suppressed right about now - and with her mom and little brother sharing the same persistent nasty cold.  Just don't share it with us, honey!


So is there anybody but me that thought that House and his crew looked a little too "made up" this past Monday?  Where was the rumpled hair and slept-in-my-clothes look?  They all looked overdone to me.