summary

I made a to do list:

• Fix Roof
• Finish attic
• Change AC Filter
• light Bulbs
• Stow bag of outgrown clothes
• Line son's Floor
• Fix door frame
• Return pool
• Install TV
• Shop TV adaptors
• Air in Tires
• Fix the truck's floor
• Declog tub
• Caulk Tub
• Fix toilet
• Cut the grass
• Paint son's room
• Wash sheets
• Wash daughter's clothes

Which now, a week later, looks like this:

• Fix Roof
• Line son's Floor
• Fix door frame
• Caulk Tub
• Paint son's room

I finished the attic a few days after my family came home. There was a henge on the door that had broken. It's really a project that needs at least 2 people. One to open and close the attic. The other one to be up there to re-attach the spring. Otherwise you end up like Clark Griswald in Christmas Vacation.

Anyway, all but 5 things. I'm kind of proud of that. I coulda done it all, but I couldn't resist taking Friday off.

Day 14 - Saturday

I wake up at 5 and touch up my son's room. There are a few spots that were a bit uneven.

I get clean and go to Office Depot for a few DVD-Rs. And then I swing by the Game Stop to sell a few games that are never going to be played. On the way through the parking lot I get a call from the family... they're packing up and getting ready to hit the road. I do the same.

The drive up is nice. I put a bad copy of Day Watch in the DVD player. It's hard to watch your favorite movie and drive at the same time, but somehow I manage.

We meet at 351 (the halfway point). My mother in law has a birthday coming so we let her pick... she wants Shoney's buffet. What a strange buffet... Sort of a breakfasty meat fest. I go for a salad, brown rice and something not unlike pepper-steak. We give my mother in law her gifts. We buy her lunch. We ask the wait staff to sing to her.

And then we go for home.

I'm finally alone with my family. It's a thrilling moment. I can't take my eyes off them... except for the fact that I'm driving. They are beautiful. My oldest sin seems 10 years older. My daughter seems 10 times cuter. My youngest son seems so sweet. My wife is just a fox. I drink her up.

The kids watch Brother Bear. Someone makes a joke and the two oldest laugh and laugh and I realize that I haven't laughed or heard anyone laughing since they left.

That says it all really.

Day 13 - Friday the 13th

It's Friday. It's a payday. I get to leave early. It's Friday the 13th. It's raining.

There is not a movie scary enough to capture my joy right now.

I go with Army of Darkness and the new Futurama. Futurama wasn't as good as the last one... Shoulda watched Evil Dead and Army of Darkness.

Day 12 - Thursday

I was getting ready for the morning and I heard something in the hallway. One of my cats is on the ground. He's sobbing, panting, trembling and has lost control of his bowels. I'm not sure what happened but it looks like he may have tried to climb one of the doors.


I can't get him to focus, but I don't think he's concussed... he didn't throw up. I check his legs and ribs and everything seems okay really. He stops panting and crying, but is still unfocused and breathing rapidly. I wander off to try to find a box or something to put him in for the trip to the Vet. When I get back, he stands up and walks away. No limp. He hides under the bed. Takes a nap. I call in late to work... I need to make sure he wakes up okay. Which he does. He stays under the bed, but seems fine. So I go to work exactly one hour late. Traffic is great. I've had time to drink an extra cup of coffee. It's a much better pace really. I'm going to try the hour late thing again sometime very soon.


It's sunny and hot outside... until 4:30. I get home to thunder and lightening and light rain. The rain is pretty light though so I decided to see if I could at least cut part of the front yard. As soon as I start the mower, the rain and lightening stops. I got to cut the front yard. It starts sprinkling again... I decide to see how far I can get in the back. I run the push mower back and forth. The rain is picking up a bit. I finish. Stow the mower in the shed... and the rain stops completely.

It's getting dark outside. I paint my son's room while watching a really bad copy of Day Watch.

I forgot to eat dinner. Noodles.

The List

• Fix Roof
• Finish attic
• Line son's Floor
• Fix door frame
• Caulk Tub
• Mop under the house

Sean Astin

Dear Sean Astin,

Thank you for Goonies. Thank you for Rudy. Thank you for Harrison Burgeron, the Lord of the Rings and the Color of Magic. Thank you for your appearance on Monk... if you knew me you'd know why I found that one particularly delightful. Thank you too for Memphis Belle and War of the Roses.

I've never thought about it before but, you've worked with at least two of my five favorite writers: Kurt Vonnegut and Terry Pratchett. You've done one of my all time favorite kid-adventure movies and one of my all-time favorite sports films. You've done my all-time favorite WWII flick and my all-time favorite spouses trying to kill other spouse film.

I don't know that I always give you the credit you deserve, but if nothing else I want to say... Thank you.

Gratefully yours,
CitizenBuck

Day eleven - Wednesday

I have a headache, but my heart is in the right place today.

I say good morning to all my co-workers. I get started on my in box. I'm happy to be at work today.

At 10Am I interview the candidate for the assistant position. I need to hire her. My boss is going to hate this.

The rest of the work day drags by.

On the way home, I pick up a Gyro. I place my order and wait outside... I enjoy the sound of thunder. Rain is coming and I still haven't cut the grass. I race home to start before it hits. It's sprinkling... I change clothes quickly. I get a call from the missus as I'm putting on my shoes. She's had a blue day and is on her way to my parents house (which never helps a bad day ever). She's overwhelmed by Father's day and her mother's birthday. We talk. We get a plan. I keep one eye on the clock. An hour goes by and I note that I could've been done by now. We say goodbye.

More thunder and now there's lightening, but still no rain. I don't know what to do. I eat dinner (Gyro, hummus & rice) (my favorite) watch two episodes of the Family Guy and wait until the rain starts. I feel released now even though I coulda done the yard in the time it took to watch the Family Guy. That lightening was close though and I didn't want to take chances.

I pack up the pool and head to Wally world.

They take the pool back. and I pick up painting tape, a few father's day cards, a dr pepper and the DVD for Day Watch. But I feel bad about the Day Watch thing and put it back... Reminding myself that I've got a budget. That wasn't easy I tell you. I truly love that series.

Then I go to Office Depot to recycle some toner cartridges and pick up a pack of DVD-R's.

Back home to get ready for Thursday, but I get a call from my wife who really needs to unpack her day. My parents will do that to you.

I get off the phone after 11. Take some pills, make some coffee and lunch. Put in the Color of Magic and tape up my son's room so I can have it ready to paint when the time comes.

I have no idea when I went to bed.

Day X - Tuesday

I don't wanna wake up. I want to watch TV. I want to drink coffee & play sudoku. I want to make a film about the Tinies and run errands and sleep and dream. I want to watch a movie that doesn't suck. I want to make a movie that doesn't suck. I want to get a new CD. I want something else. Something better. Something easy and extremely difficult. I want to make something.


I arrive late for the first time in months.


Families greet me ready to sign some loans. Fuck them.


My father sends me an email letting me know he had my grandmother's ring appraised for me and it was worth over $10,000. Fuck.


My mother emails to ask for a phone number.


Fuck it all.


I don't want to be here today. I cancel my appointment for the Chiropractor tonight.


When I get home, my mood doesn't get much better. I clean the pool and get it ready to return. It's raining. I heat a potato for dinner. I do some laundry. I take out the trash. I go to fill up the truck. I'm bored.

I'm lost.

I decide to sit and finally watch Casino Royale. It's not the kind of movie I was in the mood for, but it's new and I can't find my copy of Evil Dead. Craig's not as fun as some of the other Bonds have been, but he's pretty amazing never the less. That dude can act. That dude can take a punch. That movie was pretty impressive all in all. The crane fight was the best... which make the rest of the movie feel unbalanced in a way... but there's enough everything else to keep the ole attention. Good job.

I make some calls while watching the film. And I make a Tinies thing...

I'm not why I felt that needed to be made, but I suddenly don't feel as restless. I'm inspired to move on to the Dangerous Alphabet using my own art work.

I'm starting to feel better. I realize that the thing that's bothering me is the lack of "them." I'm lonely. I miss my wife and kids. The day was busy and the payoff was a lonesome house. I turn the radio up really loud. I get ready for tomorrow.

The List

• Fix Roof
• Finish attic
• Line son's Floor
• Fix door frame
• Return pool
• Caulk Tub
• Mop under the house
• Paint son's room