Thanksgiving Weekend
Well thanksgiving has come and gone and tomorrow I will head back into the office. The 4 day weekend would have 
been better had I not been sick for 3 of them. I decided to do some cleaning, but was cheap and didn’t just go buy a new filter for my vacuum. Instead thought I could knock out some of the crap and get a little more life out of the current filter. That pretty much created the mushroom dust cloud in my living room that set off WWIII in my sinuses.
I have been working on a song for The Cesspools for a little over a week now and should be ready to record the 2nd guitars and vocals for the demo soon. It doesn’t look like I will have much time this week to work on The Cesspools, but next week is looking brighter! The paying job and school will keep me busy for the next 7 days!
Memories and John Hughes
My weekend is coming to a quick end and I’m not particularly thrilled about that. I’m trying to enjoy what’s left of the summer, but have so much going on that it’s only going to get more chaotic as Fall approaches. We did make it out to the lake house over the weekend and had a great time swimming and tubing behind the boat. I’m very sore today and have had to ice my shoulder that I’m trying to rehabilitate so that I can drum again for a longer period of time without my bursitis kicking in.
I managed to catch up with a few old friends on facebook over the weekend which was amusing. Catching up with two in particular really triggered some funny memories that I have no idea how I forgot in the first place. I was able to scribble a few thoughts into my comedy journal. I have an incredible memory but it’s funny what and how others remember from their perspective of the same experience. This is encouraging me to write more, but also hook back up with my writing partner so that we can put funnier stories together and get some of the short films captured and posted online. I really think people will enjoy them.
I was sorry to hear about Writer/Director John Hughes this week. I’ve always been a huge fan of his work. I’m not sure what else to say about him at the moment other than he set the bar high for anyone trying to write the next great coming of age story. I can remember when I was growing up, I watched John Hughes movies over and over and was constantly quoting them with friends. To this day I can still quote a John Hughes movie in just about any situation.
RIP John Hughes
My Assisted Living Lunch with the G-parents
Today I took a break from working and the Michael Jackson coverage to meet my grandparents for lunch at their assisted living home. I’m reminded every time I eat with them why I usually don’t go for meals. I realize I’m going to get old and probably be in the same boat someday, but by that time I hope I’m not aware of anything around me and it really won’t matter.
I’m not going to do into much detail other than to say how disgusting most of the grunting and hacking is while you’re eating. My grandmother doesn’t really talk unless you speak to her first and then all you’re likely to get is a monosyllabic answer. My grandmother suffers from dementia and the Alzheimer’s is probably a day or two away. My grandfather is 92, sharp as a razor, but blind as a bat from his macular degeneration. At the end of the meal he said…”watch your grandmother, she’ll take an hour to eat some meat and vegetables, but that desert will be gone in 2 minutes…he was right.”.
Once we got up stairs to their apartment, we were sitting in the living room and my grandmother immediately fell asleep. After about 10 minutes she rips out the biggest fart and opens one eye and looks at me without any expression. I said “why thank you!” She replied with “huh.” My grandfather laughed and explained “all these old women around here always fart after they’ve settled in to a chair or relax. There is a lady that sputters past every morning when she gets up from the table at breakfast, I guess we should call it breakwindfast. (then he laughs and repeats it…I said we should call it breakwindfast!) My grandmother cut the cheese several more times while I was there and would die if she was aware of what she was doing. IN her day she never would have been caught picking her teeth at the table, or spitting out food she doesn’t care for in the plant next to the dinner table. She’s still the love of my granddad’s life and a beautiful woman. I’m glad I live close enough and make the time to go out for a visit when I can. Mentally my grandfather hasn’t lost a thing, even at 92. We talked about Michael Jackson”s death and the break dance contests the grand kids would put on for the family at their house over the holidays when we were little.
I’m not convinced my grandmother really knows who I am when I visit, but my granddad is always up to date with the economy, his investments, and current events. They are approaching their 70th anniversary! I’m afraid he has set the bar too high for the rest of us in the family.
Topping off the farting and other random comments during my visit, as I got up to leave, my grandfather said “look at your grandson, isn’t he a big boy?” My grandmother looked up at me and her eyes got big as she nodded her head and she answered, “FAT.” Thanks gramma! 
Meet the Father's Day
Hello Readers! I hope those of you who are fathers had a great Father’s Day. I’m not a father, but I did call mine today and wish him well. I went to the lake house this weekend that belongs to my girlfriend’s family. It was perfect lake weather. It’s already setting in and I’m pretty exhausted and actually don’t feel that great tonight, but I’m writing anyway.
I got to sleep in a little today and that was nice before heading out into the heat. We first went out on the pontoon boat for a couple hours and soaked up the sun while checking out the other houses that were for sale on the lake. There were plenty, but I’m sure very expensive. One of the neighbors out there has a pontoon plane that he flies in on and keeps it in a a hangar right on the water. Pretty cool, I would have taken pics but forgot my camera and left my phone at the house. We’ll probably be back next weekend or the following after that.
My girlfriend’s parents and a few other extended family came out today. Although I have not yet had the big “ask” with the parents about marrying their daughter, they know it’s coming…which keeps me in the “Meet the Parents” awkward situations. I went out on a limb today after we ate dinner and went out on the ski boat with her dad and older brother. The brother went first, then my girlfriend had a turn, and finally…it was yours truly. After acting as the spotter I decided that I should take a turn on the tube. I got on the tube and was about to take off, when the future father-in-law looks at his daughter and just grins…knowing damn well he had the upper hand in this situation.
I will say that he was much kinder than I’d ever be to any guy that is dating my daughter, or even my
niece…after an extensive ride on the tube I felt my time was coming to an end. The boat sped up and I was spending about 5 of every 15 seconds airborne for about 2-3 minutes and realized I could either continue trying to hold on and put myself through the physical pain…or I could chalk this up as one I’d never win….I’m competitive, but I’m not stupid.
After a nice 10 minute tug on the tube…I conceded and took the 40 foot skid across the water and plunge gracefully.
I think an ibuprofen and a large glass of water is calling me now.
In the next day or two I should have the blogs published that I’ve been working on, but haven’t finished yet. So add me to your RSS feeds so you won’t miss them. I’m finding some funny stuff on line and will share my thoughts.
Thank god my last name isn’t Focker.
John B. Flushing
