May Day

Cinco de Mayo weekend (which I hadn't realized until that following Monday), we decided to take a road trip with our dear friends the Red Sultans to the town of Locke, "the only town in the United States built exclusively by the Chinese for the Chinese." We love this charming, quirky town!

At the end of this street (pretty much the main street), there's this smart, hilarious note describing a store's hours -- not your usual time/day schedule, but a paragraph that amuses the chance passerby with a convoluted explanation of why they may or may not be open at this given point in time. It's prose at its best, and humor at its highest.

We had the good fortune to meet the amazing Ming Hou, resident artist extrodinaire, whose work has recently been the focus of a PBS segment. The artist is humble and congenial, a pleasure to meet, and most evidently in love with his wife. One of his works entails lumber (think 2x4s and 2x6s) arranged in the shape of giant heads, boulder-sized in diameter and almost as tall as me. Unfortunately, all photographs were prohibited, but no matter, seeing them in person will only make the appreciation greater. So if you get a chance to stop by this lovely town, please visit the Ming Hou Art Gallery. You'll be glad you did.

Afterward, we headed to the chinese restaurant (only restaurant?) in town. The food is delicious, the proprietors are very friendly, and the candy section is a treasure trove for the asian palate (think chocolate covered peach jelly and white rabbit chews). Plus, they have this cool altar. Definitely worth checking out.

Since the last time we visited (a year or two ago?), they converted one of the lots into a cute sitting-park.

You know how the bees have been disappearing though? Well, I believe some of them are doing just fine down there in Locke. That building with the slatted screen in front behind Tia D has them in their exterior wall.

As a matter of fact, BedHeadSid (BHS) was stung on the palm shortly before entering the chinese restaurant, and I had to whip up a poultice on the spot! The proprietors were kind enough to lend some baking powder -- a really effective remedy for bee stings if applied immediately after the sting.

In fact, there were a couple of buildings in town infested with bees. The old chinese school had them buzzing in the walls! I saw the entry at the top of the 15+ ft walls but could hear them buzzing at the bottom! That usually means a big, big colony has established itself.

So I guess the town of Locke is so alluring, even the wandering bees have decided to stay!

So much to do, so little time!

Yes, it's been so long since I've last blogged that an entire month has gone by...

Usually something comes up that I feel obligated and compelled to share, fawn, or gripe over with all of you (all two of you, that is). However, this last month has been a hell of a ride as one event has followed another so rapidly and unmercifully that I have not had time to post. I know, un-fucking-believable! We have a life! So much has happened lately, where to begin?

Well, I've heard the bees are dying, so I must pontificate...It's Dubya's fault: like everything else fucked up, I'm sure it's Shrub has something to do with it. Plain and simple.

Next, we have a next to new bathroom - complete with new sink, tiled floor, and recently relocated, new and improved crapper. It only took a week longer than promised and a grand more than expected. Pooks is in the midst of painting it, and I am in the process of redecorating it. I feel ever better about our home. I want to curl up on the bathroom floor and lounge on it. Our next home improvement project entails a repaired roof and new landscaping and fence. Pray for us.

Is it un-maternal that I gush over property improvements before our own son's birth day celebration? Maybe. Maybe not. I'm still grateful that BedHeadSid (BHS) graced our lives. I'm just skipping the big birthday celebrations now. Money is better spent on family instead of his school mates, I've decided. I figure that an intimate party with family and our best friends is the route to go. Fuck the other ragamuffins.

BHS had a wonderful birthday. He started out with a surprise visit from Halabogi (that's my dad, Grandpa K). Too bad the surprise was that we weren't expecting my father and his wife and they didn't know it was BHS's birthday. I ended up waiting for them until midnight the day before BHS's big day and as a result, couldn't bake the muffins for BHS's classroom celebration. As it was, I had to stay up until 3 AM making the classroom party favors. Thanks Dad, it's always great seeing you...

Despite a few other surprises, BHS's birthday went relatively well. BHS saw his SoCal grandparents before he went off to his special class celebration. First he donned the special birthday cape and crown. Next we all sang him a birthday song then wished him a personal "wish," each time dropping a stone into a special pounch that he could go back to and recall the well wishes. Afterward, his teacher Mrs. Sweetpea handed him book of birthday pictures made by each classmate as a keepsake. Then she lead BHS to the birthday candle stand at the center of the great circle where he lit his first birthday candle and where she recited (from a form we previously submitted) special events from every year of his life as she and BHS walked the circle, lighting a candle on the stand after each year's story. Finally, Mrs. Sweetpea lit the last candle (a replacement since I had forgotten his special candle at home in our rush), and BHS blew them out, so ending this school's Waldorf celebration. It was heartwarming, and BHS was understandably moved.

After school, we took BHS out to Roundtable's for pizza and fun. Then we headed out to the movies for Meet the Robinsons (highly recommended!) and crazy amounts of popcorn and candy.

We arrived home to the sad news of BHS's birthday camping trip being cancelled due to rain, but we went to Halmoni's house instead on Friday and took a detour to the Black Oak Tree Restaurant, the Fairfield Outlets and the Nut Tree Family Fun Center.

We had a blast! The boys, Halmoni, and I went up on the "hot air balloon" ride and while BHS and I hooted and hollered 20 feet above the crowd, Halmoni and StinkyHeadMonkeyToes (SHMT) grew anxious so we cut the ride short. We had fun over at the peek-a-boo billboards, and while Halmoni and SHMT recovered on terra firma, BHS and I rode the bumpercars. We spent some quality time at the arcade then took a leisurely ride on the train. Our last minute road trip ended with a splash too! While sailing the cool model boats, BHS fell in which marked the end of our sojourn at the Nut Tree but not the birthday fun. The boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves and we decided to head over to Halmoni's for more fun.

The next day was more kiddie fun at Chuck E. Cheese with Halmoni, Grandpa R, Auntie P-Chan (Mejii-MIL was in Japan), and our best friends the Red Sultans. Lots of noise, fun and adrenaline -- for the kids. I hate that place. I'd go insane working in that place. How do the employees keep from going on shooting rampages after work? Really, I hope they're paid well, because working there has got to be a form of birth control....

I just saw some pix that show us at Funderland too, so I guess we went there too. I dunno it's all blurry after a while. In all, we took BHS out of school for two days and just goofed off, partying, watching TV, eating out, and just enjoying the time with family and a few good friends. I hope BHS had a good 7th.

Next...less than a week later, there was Uncle R's wedding (that is the Uncle R that I'm barely Speaking to). I know very little about his newly wedded wife Auntie S, but I'll tell you right now that she seems like a very nice person and I couldn't be happier for my brother. I hope they enjoy a blissful life together and have a happy, healthy family.

We drove down for the wedding and spent the night before in Bakersfield. It was a fun road trip with Pooks, but we had our moments. I think Pooks must have been stressed during trip taking in his childhood/past, because we've almost always fought while travelling. It's been one of those things that I've not liked to admit but it's there. During this trip, we had to stop and discuss the issues because I got tire of his yelling at BHS and me. It's weird, he's usually calm and cool about most things, but going places seems to turn him into this tyrant. I hope it changes because at this moment in time, I don't like to travel with him anymore. I can take my sons on trips without Daddy Dearest, if I have to.

Pooks' temperment was better after our talk, and the rest of the trip was pretty uneventful. Halmoni looked fabulous in her new cream suit. She stunned everyone. BHS was handsome in his grey spring suit and called to be the Ring Bearer, a role he wanted yet dreaded. He fulfilled that responsibility with innocent charm and made us all very proud. He was well mannered for the most part and the waitstaff pulled me aside to let me know he impressed them with his good manners and sweet demeanor and that he was by far their favorite of the wedding party children. SHMT captured the heart of the photographer and sat in her lap playing with her camera after hours. Pooks and I took the time to enjoy our family and savor the fine food and wine. The Four Season's was a treat and a memorable place to hold the wedding and reception.

As for the bride and groom, they were beautiful. What wedding couple isn't? Hearing Auntie S's vows, I was so happy for Uncle R. Hearing Uncle R's vows floored me. I didn't know my brother could express such devotion. I was moved and cried for my brother and his new wife.

More to come...