OakMonster’s Den

We have been busting out our credit cards a little bit too often these few months.  But all for the things we do need and we’re willing to eat Top Ramen for a while for.

First was my commuter comfort purchases.  My lovely red briefcase got here today.  I’m going to adore its candy red shell for a few more weeks before slapping on one of my Emily the Strange stickers.  Hehee.

Then was the birthday party.  Instead of me cooking, we ordered a party pack from Naples Rib Company.  To our surprise, for $100 from Naples can feed about 15 people easy.  While a visit to the restaurant with 3 other friends might have cost just about the same.  Next time we crave barbecue, we’ll have to get a group together to be worth it.

Brandon’s birthday present is also an online steal.  He desperately needs a new office chair.  His back pain alone is worth every dollar I was to plunk down to get him the chair.  We found one at Staples and I came home to comparison shop.  I managed to find the same chair on Staples website with $50 off and no delivery charge, plus an online coupon that roped me 10 Arbor Day canvas bags for zero dollar.  That’s right.  10 bags for free.  I have enough to supply everyone I know back home with a “Gift of the U.S.”!  (And it’ll be made in China…I’m sure.)

And speaking of Thailand, the big daddy of them all are the prices of our tickets home.  Brandon and I will be in Bangkok the week of Thanksgiving with Brandon returning the Saturday after Thanksgiving and me the Friday after that.  With his bad knee, we have to get bigger seat of Economy Deluxe on EVA.  But then again, regular Economy on Thai already costs more than that even if it’s a real direct flight.

Oh, and good job on Thai Airways in luring people in.  On their website, it lists the flight I want at $903, but miraculously there are fees that makes the ticket in the $1600 at the end of check out.

Flight costs are going to be crazy, people.  It is already unpretty out there when even China Airlines hits the $900s to go to Bangkok when it’s all said and done.  And I thought I was clever for buying the tickets now.  Should’ve bought them in March or something.

Happy 36th Birthday, my darling Brandon!

This year marks his 3rd cycle, as Thai people call it. He was born on the year of the Rat, and it’s the year of the Rat again. Hence, 3rd cycle.

Here’s what they say about the Rat.

People born in the Year of the Rat are one of the most industrious and hardest working in the zodiac.

Forever busy in pursuit of an ambitious personal goal, at times they may become difficult to work with since they are born perfectionists. Rats must ensure that every “i” is dotted before completing an assigned task. As a result, they are often successful financially, and are good providers for their family and those they cherish most dearly.

Loyal and loving, Rat people inspire loyalty in others who are close to them. They are essentially honest individuals and loath to betray a confidence. However, their quick wit and restlessness can sometimes lead to chattiness, and they can often be relied upon at large social gatherings for a good story or a juicy bit of gossip.

Their energy levels and expert organizational talents are such that it is a rare thing to see a Rat person sitting idly by with nothing to do.

They may even sometimes be viewed as opportunists who cajole others into helping them accomplish a great ambition. In their careers, Rat people can find much success as business leaders or politicians.

Rats are most compatible with : Dragon (That’s ME!!!), Monkey, Ox

Famous people born in the Year of the Rat : Charlotte Bronte, Truman Capote, Catherine I, Prince Charles, Sasha Cohen, Eminem, Peter the Great, Mata Hari, Scarlett Johansson, Wolfgang Mozart, Plato, William Shakespeare, Leo Tolstoy, George Washington.

I’d better get cracking. We’re…well…I’m throwing a party, don’t you know.

Zut, je suis bon!

Frenchy can correct what Google Translate told me to say. Foux du feh!

That’s Brandon’s birthday party invite. He’s a rat. This year is his 3rd cycle. Important to me, not much to him, but given the past few months of emotional roller coasters on his part, this boy needs a good party.

It was hot as hell at AIDS Walk Long Beach. But we did it.

Yey, us!

We went to see Kung Fu Panda with Erik on Saturday.  (I only have one word for you, “Skadoosh!” I’d see it again a million times!  Do sit through the credit for a little cute snippet at the end.)  Then I left to surprise my friend Amber at her little sister’s graduation party at her mom’s house.Amber’s mom is a genius.   First she got me, who fetched Nora.  Then she got Michael, Amber’s best gay and my prom date.  Nora and I arrived late when both Mike and Amber were already buzzed.  The look on Amber’s face when Nora and I came through the door was priceless.

After most guests have gone, we even got to have a beer with the conquering graduate with a few swear words thrown in for good measures.  We finally welcome no-so-little-anymore Alicia to the adult table.  Haha.

Alicia graduated from that other university across town.  I promised not to stir any rivalry pot when I showed up and someone would start picking on me a bit.  And I would mention the truce and we all had a good laugh at the expense of the lone Trojan in a bruin’s den.

I later showed Alicia what I stowed into the fridge as her graduation present.  It’s a little puke blue and pale yellow tote with pockets.  I’m sure the real intention was for a new college student to carry their stuff to the shared dorm showers.  It just happens to perfectly hold a 6-pack of beer in paper carrier.

I happily fit a 6-pack of Red Trolley in it.

“Now, that’s grown-up beer I bought for you,” I told her.  “You graduated from college and therefore graduating from college beer.  Enough with the Miller and Coors and Corona crap.”

Alicia laughed.  “I still can’t believe you actually bought a UCLA tote.”

“The cost of my Trojan pride had better be the best damn present you’ve gotten today, little one,” I looked up at Alicia.

Yes.  Up.  This “little girl” who used to hang around with us back in high school is damn near 6 foot tall now.  The next thing we’ll know is Amber’s little girl Brittany, who is 9 and bigger than me, will be graduating college in a few blinks of an eye.

I had a fantastic time with Amber, Michael and Nora.  I played some piano and we sang a bit.  We joked around and walked down memory lanes, laughing our butts off.  I am once again reminded of the value of true friendship.  Across states and continents, and across time, when you have it, you have it.

On the contrary, today is what Thai people call a “Just Grandpa-Grandma” weekend.  It was just me and my B.

I made breakfast. He ran the laundry.  I put it away.  He let me hawk the couch.  I let him play his game.  We started on Lego Indiana Jones game, and went to see The Incredible Hulk.  (Very entertaining, by the way. Not as much fun as Iron Man, but I did like it.  Oh, and you don’t have to sit through the credit for this.)

Low key.  Low stress.

…which doesn’t explain why my head hurts and my skin is sensitive.

I think I’m coming in hot with a fever.  And I didn’t even do anything that would warrant it this weekend!

Hopefully it’s going to contain itself overnight.

How was YOUR weekend?

Woke up feeling the blues and didn’t want to put on the happy, personal mask for the day, I stayed home and worked on designing web pages for work.  A combination of homesick, having talked to my dad last night and emailed with my brother this morning, feeling the odd sense of loss, and missing Brandon quite fiercely.  As it was proven, it was really good to be alone today.

Ate leftover pasta for lunch on the couch, watching re-run of Firefly on Sci-Fi channel.

Ran to Fresh & Easy to pick up single serving of rib eye steak, a little baggy of salad, a thing each of chocolate mousse, rattatouille and mashed potatoes, and other groceries.

Made steak and egg dinner with a little salad.  Had a glass of wine.

Watched…and watching all a girl would want to watch when she has the control of the television: Steel Magnolias, Sex and the City re-runs (I mainly watched the Aiden period), and, naturally, Monty Python and the Flying Circus on BBC America while waiting for Dr. Who and Battlestar Galactica.

Can you imagine what it was like for me when I was single and without cable?  LOL.

Sunday. Justin graduated from medical school and Olaina finally became a doctor’s wife.

Monday. Brandon set off to Pennsylvania.  It was his dad’s birthday.

Today.  Brandon’s grandfather passed away.  It is also Brandon’s little niece Cheyenne’s birthday.

Tomorrow. Brandon’s niece Lauren graduates from high school.

The funeral is set for Saturday afternoon.

It’s a heart wrenching week all around for Brandon.  I am all this far away and my heart is heavy for him.  I want to be right over there and just hold the man for a little while, the way he was there to hold me when I came home the day mom died.  This is what it means that you want to be with someone so badly it physically hurts.

I did look into a flight out of here, but Brandon insisted that I stay put.  They can’t possibly add another body into grandma’s house at this point.  And another body is just going to be too many cooks in the kitchen.

Please continue to send more love and good mojo to Brandon and his family.  I really appreciate it.

Brandon’s grandfather passed away this morning.  More information coming.

Please send your good mojo and prayer to my beloved husband and his family out in Pennsylvania.

Sad: Dropped Brandon off at the airport this morning. Poor thing.

Glad: Had lunch with Nora in Irvine since I was already in the area. It’s good to return the favor.

Splurge: While waiting to go have lunch with Nora in Irvine, I ended up at the Container Store. Those of you who have been there know that when you go in for one thing, you come out with much more. I went in for two bottles of Mrs. Myers dish soaps. I came out with kitchen wrapper organizer (badly needed), closet organizers to replace my giant plastic tub that threatens to kill me every time I pull off the top shelf, sturdy clear plastic baskets for the hard to reach part of my top pantry shelves, and a travel clothing organizer to keep Brandon’s shirts from wrinkling for his next trip…which is at the end of the month.

Saving: Bought a pair of low heel brown shoes for $25 down from $60 and therefore save buying one new suit.

Fate: Someone tapped Brandon 0n the shoulder to get into her seat on the plane Cincinnati to Harrisburg. He looked up to see his mom.

Planned: Half of the things I want to get done today is done. The other half starts to look every unappealing.

Productive: Got to organizing the pantry less Brandon’s top shelf full of tools. I seriously cannot see what I’m reaching for out there. There was a moment I was going to stack my stepping stool on a chair, but since there’s no one here to call 911 if I fall, I didn’t. Also put together the first set of closet organizer and put the plastic wraps and parchment papers etc. in place.

Procrastinate: Took a break and channel surfed. Still haven’t put the closet organizer in the closet yet. I guess blogging is considered a part of this category. Now that I’ve been watching the cooking shows, I think I need to eat dinner and get started on the cookies.

Dread: 10 dozen of the Weevil Cookies I have to bake tonight.

Anticipation: That’s $150 for AIDS Walk Long Beach right there, baby!

Active: My roller skates totally rocked. I rolled out down the street with Brandon yesterday to the pharmacy and looped around the apartment parking lot for a bit. At least I seemed to remember how to do this. My body is loving a little exercise too.

Inactive: As predicted, ankle swells up just a wee little bit. Not painful to walk on but I wasn’t going to skate today even though the procrastination totally is cheering me on. Besides, the lot is kind of busy today with the neighbors downstairs moving and the other tenant getting all of his crap out of the garage.

Okay. Okay. I’ll stop stalling now.

*sigh* So much to do on my day off.

We’re once again on death watch as Brandon’s grandfather who has Alzheimer is hospitalized.  We don’t really know how many hours, days, weeks he has because, apparently, the doctor has been giving different information to different family members.

With Grandpa’s death watch, we didn’t get to be with Justin and Olaina on his graduation this morning.  Nor will we be at Brandon’s niece high school graduation on Thursday.

Brandon is going to be out to Pennsylvania tomorrow to be with his mom and grandmother.  If the funeral happens then, it happens then.  If it doesn’t, at least he was there to help around the house, and say his final goodbye.

His grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer several years ago.   Brandon said that he and Grandpa had already had their heart-to-heart back then.  He didn’t want Brandon to see him when he lost himself, and they said goodbye then.  However, Grandpa did come to our wedding and he was mostly lucid then.

That was the only time I ever met the man Brandon admires so much.  It was an honor.

With Brandon gone, I’m not going to get any sleep this week.  Heck, I can’t even go to sleep right now.

Neither could he.