The Meat Puppets

I like this interview and I don't know how to "follow" this blog- so I will post a link here:
http://decemberschildren.blogspot.com/2009/05/meat-puppets-have-seen-and-been-through.html

Here is a photo of Chris and the Kirkwood brothers:

May 6 2009 -

This time last year I was chalk tagging Nancy's house. I still managed to tag Doreen's for her birthday, but I didn't even take a photo.

17 years ago today my Mom died. Her death was sudden and I was left alone to take care of everything- from identifying her body to planning the funeral.

I found out 2 nights ago that my friend commit suicide. He left behind 2 young boys and his high school sweetheart. I've been his friend since we were in my very early 20's- I first remember watching him skate down my hill when I was 11 or 12. We first spoke when I was that age- he had the first backyard ramp I ever attempted to skate at that age.

I was angry about his death for a while and then finally sad and now just really missing my Mom on the anniversary of her death. I feel like I am walking through quicksand today. My body is heavy. My heart is heavy. My life is heavy. Duke stayed with me today and for that I am grateful. But- he can't be my Mom.

I need so badly to have a Mom figure in my life. My Mom did not lie, or gossip or manipulate. She did not diet or discuss her weight. She was an amazing cook and seamstress and business woman. She did not take any crap, but she could take honesty. She dealt with everyone on a professional, considerate, human level. I do not have any grown women in my life like that. I feel a huge deficit in my life right now.

I am 41 years old and the thought going through my mind and heart today is I WANT MY MOMMY.

The Presidential Inauguration

Yippee!! WE have a new president!

I listened on the T.V. whilst prepping chicken for my family's dinner. I felt excited. Then I went to the living room and saw on the screen something that made me worry for our country. I felt embarrassed for our country.

When people who travel all the way to the white house to witness the inauguration- why would they leave trash lying on the ground as they go?

Was I the only one who noticed? (I do have compulsive tendencies when it comes to litter)

Didn’t our new president urge us to take personal stock in our environment? Didn't he just give a speech the other day about- "If there is an empty dirty lot with trash in it and dangerous things- don't sit and wait for someone to clean it up, get off your couch and do it yourself?" So, why, after this historic event, did people just walk away and leave trash on the white house lawn? I witnessed the "presidential trash pickers" and wondered how much WE had to pay them, and do they recycle?

How do we litter the white house lawn while the whole world watches?
I wonder when we can start being all that we see in Obama and less apathetic and entitled Americans?


Well, I will try to suppress my O.C.D. and just feel hopeful for our new beginning here in the U.S.A. It is a historic day!

Who needs action when you've got words?


Wednesday night I went to see the Meat Puppets. Yes, they are back and rocking like they always have. When I found out about the show, I tried not to get too excited, like when my favorite book was made into a movie and by the time production was over, I knew it was gonna suck. I'm just a 40 year old punk rock mom; the first non-nursery rhyme song my son learned was Iggy's "Now I wanna be your dog" and the next was the Meat Puppets "Lake of Fire" . In fact as my son started to learn to play guitar, that was one of the first songs he learned.
I recently had neck surgery and shouldn't have been out in a crowd but just couldn't resist. After all- like most of their fans- I never thought I would get to see them play again and when I found out I could, I was driven by a force greater than my self-preservation. I was warned to wear my neck brace to the show, but couldn't bring myself to do it and instead just positioned myself next to the stage with my friends surrounding me like a human wall of protection. The only time I felt my neck was in danger was when a guy kinda jumped off stage and did a half-hearted stage dive thing and landed on the girl 2 bodies away from me. I feel sorry for that girl, but grateful the gods didn't land him on the girl who has metal plates in her neck and cadaver bone that needs to fuse.
I had no reason to minimize my expectations- It was possibly the greatest show of my life! My face hurt from smiling. It felt like Christmas morning and each song was another gift to open. Each song was like unwrapping a big wheel or jewelry box with a spinning ballerina or today's equivalent of an Ipod or Wii. There was never a disappointment- no new underwear or socks in the box- just amazing music and so many memories of my teens and early twenties coming back to me, as well as forging new memories by bringing Duke to his first Meat Puppets show. As we drove home he told me that it was probably one of the two best shows he has ever attended as well. Now he understands me deeper- he has listened to the Meat Puppets for years, but it is something different to see them live. Now we are fans together. Meatheads. I can't wait for the next one.
Who needs action when you've got words?

Cool Plants

Isn't this shrubbery art amazing? The cheeks are actually rounded like you'd want to just pinch them.


It's really quite huge- in fact, the boy standing in front of them is 4 foot 2 inches!


Little big man


This is my little boy- being a big boy- comforting me in the hospital. He has been amazing- very nurturing, doing all he can and reminding me that I have to sit and heal- so I don't get scar tissue in the area that was operated on. He tells me: Mom- I still have scar tissue from skating lances pool on my leg- you don't want it to be like that! Well, he did have a terrible "goose egg" on his shin from skating that day:

My boys- they are taking such good care of me. Even Duke learned how to french braid my hair for me- because I can't wash it and felt dirty and gross. See that french braid in the photo above- Duke did it himself.

And my friends- so sweet. People bringing food and picking up my boy for school and bringing him home. Friends loaning me movies and keeping me company on the phone and praying for me.

This is the week I usually mess things up- when I feel just a little bit better but a whole lot more guilty about making my boys do everything for me. I sit on the couch and learn more about nothing while I ask Duke to wash some clothes and ask Chris to bring me an icepack. They don't mind, but I do.
I'm going to be a good girl and sit- just like Chris told me to- so I don't get scar tissue. So soon I can take care of them.


Thanks to all who have helped me.