Double Wall-E

Starting in July, we've paired back Greer's time at the Y to three days a week. Given my recent freedom, it's a good opportunity for the two of us to have some time together. Whether it's at the pool or playing in the park, Thursdays and Fridays are reserved for us.

Given Greer's love of movies, we occasionally make our way to the Eastport 16 for a matinee of whatever's worth watching. At this multiplex back in 2006, Greer saw his first film, "Eight Below" - which he promptly walked out of. Good choice. He did the same with "Happy Feet", his second attempt....an act that gave me hope, as musical penguins are not my thing. It wasn't until the two-hour epiphany of "Cars" that Greer finally found something worth sitting for. His little bladder was about to explode, but he refused to move during the entire feature. This patience would be repeated many times at home, with Miyazaki's amazing Japanese animations, all things Wallace and Gromit, and my library of old Harryhausen Sinbad features.

Flash forward to 2008. "Wall-E" is the order of business.

As with other Pixar efforts, Greer was an easy convert. Although nothing has surpassed "Monsters Inc." or "Cars" in his mind, the "little robot who could" made for an enjoyable distraction. So much so, that he didn't mind it when we caught it again at the Newberg 99w Drive-In. Dressed in his PJs, and full of questions about how long it would take, we packed into the Bug and made the 30-mile trek. The wait until dark can be daunting when you are corralling a Greermonster. Even though he was guaranteed a second big-screen experience with Wall-E, the boy twisted in his seat. An agonizing 2 hours passed before dusk arrived. Slipping away to the bathroom felt like a vacation. Alex had almost gnawed through her lip - and Greer....well my boyo must have set a new record for "asks" as we waited for someone to spark the bulb.

Such are the joys and sacrifices of the drive-in devotee.

Time away from time

The early part of my unemployed 'work' week is usually occupied with project work around the house. The basement full of film cans and more personal history detritus than one can fathom. A pantry in need of reorganization. Layers of yard sale fodder unfound and unloved. All of it waiting for me. I usually find myself avoiding all of this by ducking out to lunch with a friend or catching a matinee. Occasionally, an agency will call to offer representation on a contract - but all in all, it's quiet....and vaguely desperate.

The week following our July 4th visit to Olympia, I managed to slip out to lunch with my bud Dave to catch a evening screening of the new Hunter Thompson documentary, "Gonzo". While a fair amount of the film was familiar, there were a few new tidbits that I hadn't seen - and moreover - it was just good to see the Doctor again.

Later in the week, Greer had the opportunity to see is grandparents again, so Alex and I could have a little time together. This coincided with a request from my folks to help purge the remainder of personal crapola that I haven't had the decency to remove from their house. After delivering boyo and spending the night, I piled boxes of old photos, childhood mementos, comic books and beloved dust bunnies in the Bug and headed home.

When Greer is gone, there is a palpable vacuum. Instead of waiting for the next shoe to drop or fielding the ever present "why" floating in the air, we are blessed with silence and the perception of freedom. The whirlwind of the Greermonster is elsewhere, and we are free to roam about the cabin. This time around, we escaped to the Bagdad Theater and the comfort of dinner in front of a big screen. While Prince Caspian wrangled the remains of Narnia, we sat back in a love seat and drank in the moment together. Time away from time. With cheeseburgers.

After we picked up Greer from the folks, we found ourselves with an unfettered Sunday afternoon. This lead to stop at Bonneville Dam - and the a visit to the gliding prehistoric bulk of Herman the Sturgeon. Located within the maze of fish holding pens and rhododendrons that make up the on site hatchery, Herman is a sight to behold. Behind submerged, thick glass, we eyeballed the ancient monster. A grey log of fins and cartilaginous skeletal ridges, this sturgeon is truly an amazing thing. Greer was transfixed as his 11-foot frame cruised by, occasionally flashing a look with one of his milky, 70-year old orbs.

During upcoming week, I had planned to take Greer out camping with Papa and Baba, but held back due to an unknown evil within my car's engine. A sudden, uneven loss of power on the road - like the fuel wasn't making it all the way. In short, I had received bad gas.....but my fear got the better of me. As with many dissolved plans, the backup options gave way to outside influence. In this case, apathy and a lack of air conditioning. Summer heat forced us into the basement - where the three of us laid low and sweated through the weekend. That Saturday afternoon was the apex of laxity. Three DVDs - followed by an evening visit to the multiplex.

Kung Fu Panda never felt so cool.

Down South...and back North for 4th

Some say that you can't go back. That's true for some, but for a while on Thursday - it was as if I was back in grade school - on a visit with some old buddies from my private school days in Salem. Don and Eric were close friends growing up, so it was a real pleasure to catch up on a sunny afternoon near the very school grounds where we did our time.

Most of afternoon was spent at Don's house overlooking the McNary golf course....not far from McNary High School, where we discovered the shocking difference of public education. Don and I lived near enough to each other back in the mid-80s that we found plenty to get into trouble with. In Junior High we both had a facination for movie special effects and makeup - and spent many a Halloween making my house a morbid testament to our bloody talents.

One such incident lives in infamy to this day. We had put together a fake body with a knife in its back - and placed on the lawn of former teacher who lived next door to Don. As we hid back in his shed to watch the whole thing unfold, a passing motorist noticed the scene from the road - and decided to alert the authorities as we watched in horror. Suffice it to say, the police, fire department and an EMT unit rolled up and quickly debunked the moment. Perfectly timed, the teacher whom this had been prepared for arrived not long after - and had a little explaining to do.

Ah memories...

The forth saw us heading back up north to Olympia - and another family gathering around BBQ and the usual neighborhood apocalypse that ensues. Just so he wouldn't feel too left out - I picked up some non-flying ordinance at a nearby tent. In the fading hours of Friday, as we fought through the BBQ sleep that came after a late lunch - Greer got his shot at a little fire and smoke.

A couple sparking tanks, smoke bombs and a few fountain/blooms later - the boy had been officially drawn into the love affair that boys have with things that go boom.

Coffee talk

Such are the trappings of the recently unemployed.

It's been almost a month since I wrapped up my contract at Regence...and...I know this probably sounds silly, but I've finally done the inevitable. I'm blogging from a coffee shop with wi-fi.
Wooooooo! I know, I know...cutting edge stuff for a guy like myself. I feel like a cro-mag emerging from my hole. The last adopter of blogdoms everyday right-of-passage.

The customers are coming in now - old and young - and the bar is busy at Space Monkey. Art hangs on the walls and some tribal popbeat is rolling out - performing as a platform for the caffinated tenor behind the bar. I'm on my second cup of the morning.....a black mug of organic whatever. It tastes like coffee, that's all I care about.

Alex bought Greer a new mini-suitcase for his big trip up to see Crumpa and Gamma. He was so excited, that I found him in bed with it last night....has hand wrapped around the pull-out handle. A young man and his new rolling travel companion.

Tonight I'm taking Alex out for dinner and movie. Yummy food and "Iron Man" are on the docket. We don't out much, so it'll be fun to reconnect. Greer will be visiting Uncle Chris and Aunt Windy for a spell...

Tomorrow, I'm down in Keizer visiting my old jr. high school buddy, Don. He'll probably goad me into jamming with him - after all these years. We started playing together when I was 13, and he managed to keep up with it. It's been more than a little while since I picked up the guitar, so we'll see what comes. If I remember my penatonic scales, I should be ok.

That's a big if, though.