title

The previous entry which was upon consideration a love letter to Ruth (and deep deep down inside to Logos) was originally going to be an update on my small but spread out family.

In no particular order: (And in light of an upcomg Clint Eastwood comic devoted to the Man with No Name we begin with:

The GOOD: That would be Ruth (aka the Long Suffering Spouse or Wife whichever name the carpel tunnel types out first). She is on day three tomorrow of college quarter finals. 1st test was a C, today's a B and she's doing some extra credit work. We both believe she can do better and for me the best news is she's taking responsibility for herself and striving to do better. She showed me some stuff that indicates she's very good on the practical side--needs work on the study(?) side. This mirrors my Air Force career. Okay on the day to day activities--horrible on test taking. Ruth is studying to be a Medical Assistant. They are the chirpy ones trained to tell you the real pounds you weigh without splitting their sides in laughter. I have spent many a time studying the facial expressions of the weigher in of the truth and they generally have their bedside manner down pat. Live, die, writhe in pain it's all good sir. And did you bring the co-pay payment??

The BAD: The idiot nephew Stephen is still in jail but his chances of early release are dwindling. Prior to the present incarceration he was procrastinating on getting an attorney paperwork involving the domestic dispute that effectively ended his 'til death do us part marriage with Julie. I still like her but I'm disappointed. I really did think she had staying power and knew WHAT she was marrying into. My nephew is more like a little boy that needs mothering then a man that's a responsible leader of the family. Not that I'm great shakes at it too but I least memorize my lines better and can find the chalk mark.

Anyhoo he won't be released until the dispute charge has been up for THAT trial. He's in for a wait. Now Stephen and I share one thing in common. We love our comics, films (remember son James was named for a Brit named Bond) and Stephen adores Indiana Jones. There is a strong possibility he won't get out of jail to see the new movie coming out. Already mad at God for wrecking his marriage. Yes we have discussed this dubious bit of the usual when in denial blame God but he's still using God as a crutch to clean up his messes. He asked me once where I thought he would go if he died right now and I gave him the short answer. This did not bring the wake up call I had hoped instead was given a bunch of reasons why God just isn't getting it. I assure him based on my life I wonder about ME a lot. Sigh. At least I kept one promise. Told him I'm a phone guy--not a letter writer. (Time now for my one Logos approved joke per blog now that I know I have her blessing on things--L--are you listening--phone not e-mail--much more fun.)

As to his marriage Julie shows no sign of ever coming back and is actively pursuing the divorce. Stephen's stuff is back at my sister's and Elaine gets a letter from Julie asking to come over to 'get' her stuff. Elaine ignores it. Julie was ignoring some of Stephen's legitimate requests during the breakup period. I still want reimbursement for that wedding reception I was a prisoner at for six hours. To have suffered so much boredom and a meal I couldn't eat to have it all tossed in 18 months. I used to assure Stephen and Julie it takes at least three years to see where the battle lines are drawn in a marriage. Elaine wants Stephen here when he surrenders anything Julie didn't take out of the house. One item I do think he needs to give up to her. The hope chest. On a good day he thinks it's the lure that will bring her back long enough to talk her into falling in love with him again. On a bad day he wants to use it for firewood. I have told him that will be a mistake she'll remember forever and just give it up. But hey he does me lip service. Mind you I'm his favorite uncle and a hero and all that stuff. I know two ladies on Litnet that show their admiration for this whited sepuchre by actually listening to some of my advice . It's not all bad. They know who they are.

The cyber space gods laugh in delight knowing there are five ladies out there KNOWING he's refering to THEM. It's been awhile but needs repeating. Mtpspur is shallow.

The UGLY: There is a bit of a cloud over son James and Loretta's life just now. There is a tumor at the base of upcoming Granddaughter's spine (to debut in July). At first spina bifida was suspected. But the doctors are narrowing it down to and I may get the wrong word here as I'm using a medical dictionary I bought Ruth awhile back but the one I think James said was sacrococcygeus ventralis. The meaning made no sense to me. If not the precise words he used--it's close. They are naming her Alexandria L. (and the mind went blank on me but I think Letticia. I of course told Jim I would be calling her Al. Humming a snatch of "You can call me Betty" brought no jog to his memory until the dinosaur mentions Chevy Chase and Paul Simon. I hate when my musicial/literary/comicbook references go completely over my kid's heads. Even Jim knew I watched VH1 for awhile until they decided they didn't want to do videos anymore then three hours a day. As bad as MTV which I used to sample to prove I was a hip parent. Yes fell right into that useless cliche with the usual non-results other then scorn. But I do scorn fairly well.

So when Al is born she'll be airlifted to a hospital 300 miles way for an operation. Jim is stationed in Death Valley at Fort Irwin presently for at least another year I believe. He and Loretta are facing this prety well as a couple and I'm watching Jim mature at last. I once told a church friend I wanted to win the war with the kids not just a battle here and there and God is blessing my faith and slowly but surely giving their hearts back to me.

They will always be my beloved guttersnipes. I fancy Dickens surely used the term in at least one of his novels if not all.

And that's it for this time.

NEXT: The lawnmower of doom begins to awaken from winter hibernation.