Domo-Kun

Domo-Kun
Originally uploaded by riblet.

Ira's top ten of the year would go something like this:

10. Chasing cats. They run every time!
9. Oranges. He asks for "More orange? Mooorange!"
8. Sausage. His go-to food. Wakes up starving and says "ausssage!"
7. Dad's shoulders. He can see everything from up there.
6. Bowling set. My dad got him a little plastic set of pins and a ball. He plays it and says "Thank you Grandpa!"
5. Rock and roll. Picking up random things and rocking them like guitars. Rocking air guitars, too.
4. Mom and dad.
3. Cake! Eating cake, pretending to make cake and eating it.
2. Train Museum, featuring the big Thomas the Tank Engine play area.

And Ira's number one thing of 2008?
1. Our jack-o-lantern this year, Domo. He talks about it at least every other day and Halloween was how long ago? Serious. The story of the Domo pumpkin lives on in our house.

My favorite

I am not afraid to say that Heylove is my favorite in the house right now. She's the only one who still does what I say.

Phew! Haven't been here for a while. What can I say? Job hunt is still going on. I have decided to use my cover letter to start addressing the reason for my 2+ year gap in employment history. At this point, I figure it can't really hurt me more than potential employers thinking that I am so unemployable that no one has chosen to hire me over the past two years. It was probably a mistake not to explain it on the million or so cover letters and resumes that I've sent out over the past few months. So there I go. Slight change in strategy, moving full speed ahead!

Ira has been pretty funny lately. He's decided that I am Dora and he is Boots. These are characters from a kid's show, in case you aren't following. We slip in and out of character when we remember. It's kind of precious to see him develop his imaginary play. It even cracks me up how he remembers so much. Last weekend, Leon got pooped on by a bird in a tree. Ira kept talking about it and laughing. "Mama, dada head poop mess! Twee, tweet, tweet [makes the sign for bird], ftttt [makes farting noise]!" Then he laughs. He is still the funniest guy he knows. He also had a little social break through with meeting new people. He's started introducing him self to other kids. He says "hi, kid!" pats his chest and says "Iwa. Iwa, Iwa, Iwa." It's sweet to see, but he alternates this with a smack, shove or throwing sand. I can never tell which it's going to be. I know the hitting is a phase and it will end someday, but here in the thick of it, it feels like it's been going on forever!

Been making food. Scratch that, been making soup. I made a spinastrone soup (minstrone + spinach) and we had it all week for lunch or dinner. In my imaginary America's Next Top Housewife show, the judges will review my soup and its cost per serving very favorably. I also made some spelt crackers to accompany (for mere pennies) that came out disastrous at first, but the second batch were beautiful. Baking ain't nothing to be effed with. That is why it's important to follow recipes.

Mmm, slice of life!

Slurp
Originally uploaded by riblet.

Lately, for reasons of unemployment and the subsequent seeking of employment, I have found myself in several, how should I put this? Okay, I'll say it: "slice of life" situations. This is where you have people from all walks of life, varying economic classes and cultures. A real stew pot, not unlike a typical DMV line. I'm not uncomfortable with my fellow job seekers in these situations, it's the people with the upper hand that I can't stand, like exam proctors, program managers and such. So often these people address the groups I'm in like unruly children. They shout, they're terse, unkind. Come on, I want to scream, we already feel bad about not having jobs! We are doing something about it! Don't make us feel worse.

This morning I took an exam for a job I am not even sure that I want. As requested, I arrived 20 minutes early for the exam. A sign on the door of the building asked the 50 or so of us test takers to wait outside until called in. It was cold this morning and they didn't even let us in until 30 minutes after we were asked to be there. Never mind that there was a warm, comfortable reception area just through the doors. No, just wait outside like dogs until we say you can come in. It was so unnecessary.

That's it. I just want to complain. Wahh!

WTF

Yorba Linda Fire 00288
Originally uploaded by mikekrueger.

I'm mildly obsessed with the fires in Southern California. Leon has some cousins close to one of them and they evacuated from their home on Monday. We haven't heard much about them since then, so we assume everything is okay. One thing I love about Flickr, is that whenever something is going on somewhere, someone is taking a picture of it and it's probably going to end up on Flickr. I did a search of some photos tagged with "yorba linda fire." This picture is one of many that turned up.

And I say: WTF? Is this guy updating his facebook status with his iphone? "Segway Douche is watching his house burn." I'd be running to the nearest shelter.

Okay, I think I'm just jealous of people that have Segways. They're ridiculous, but I want to ride one. Just once.