So, Kickboxing is Out...

We attended our first kickboxing class tonight, and within the first 15 minutes of aerobic warm-up (during side-kicks, which makes me chuckle, because I think of Bruce Campbell as Coach Boomer in Sky High), my left knee popped out of joint.  Suddenly I remembered why I don't do impact aerobics, mostly because my knees have looked like this since the 8th grade.

As I wrapped my right foot around my left calf and extended both legs, popping the left knee back in place (a handy little maneuver that always produced a very audible pop and makes Raechelle shudder in horror), I was taken back to a scary time just before Sam died, when I was confronted with the fact that I was way over my ideal weight, and not doing anything to remedy it.  Fortunately I'm already in the active mindset - I just need to be... differently active.  Low impact aerobics: walking swimming, recumbent bike.  The stuff I was doing back in '05 and '06 and '07 that allowed me to slim down and not pop my friggin' knee out at the slightest provocation.

So, kickboxing is out.  Wii boxing is in.

Sigh.

Back to it, young man.

Angels and Geekery

I'm working on the Ordinary Angels series production bible, and I'm learning more about angelic lore than I ever thought I would.  More than I knew existed.  There's some cool stuff in the various apocryphal books of contemporary biblical-era lore.  For instance, bet a lot of my readers didn't know that King Solomon was given a mystical ring that gave him the power to bind and control fallen angels, and he used them as slave labor to build his great temple.  That's some straight-up D&D action right there.

That's right.  The Temple of Solomon, built by demon slave labor.

Who knew??

Speaking of D&D, this ran across my Facebook filter today.  I find it funny because I'm a gamer who loves football, but finds fantasy football somehow geekier than RPGs.

© 2010 Jason "Danger" Block | All Rights Reserved

Talk About a Throne Room

Mrs. Downing sent me this from work today.  It's an actual modern toilet, just made to look like a Renaissance era privy.  Talk about some serious period decor for your castle...

I joked that at the price tag of twelve grand, it should not only wipe and polish in back, it should be sure to give you a happy ending in front.  Too much to ask?  I think not.

And just why is my wife sending me photographs of vintage-looking expensive crappers?  It may have to do with the plan to build up next year, adding on a master suite.  And the girl needs to plan way in advance.  Reason #467.2 why I love her.

UPDATE:  This premise was apparently potent enough with the missus for her to do her own blog post on it.  Well, not "on" it...

Back in the Saddle (or the Ink Well)

It's been a crazy year, but I'm finally starting to get my groove back.  It's probably not surprising that it's taken this long to recalibrate life, new house, new marriage, new projects, distractions of summer, etc.  And there's something about autumn that brings me back to a creatively balanced place - distinct from the vibe of any other season.  For me, autumn is perfectly encapsulated in David Sylvian's "September" from his 1987 album Secrets of the Beehive, which remains one of my all-time favorite albums in all of forever time.  Sorry for the overstatement.  I've been watching too many Larry Blamire films recently with my ocular face holes.

Speaking of Larry, I just picked up his two most recent films: The Lost Skeleton Returns Again and Dark and Stormy Night.  Lost Skeleton is the sequel to the original The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra, and takes us to the darkest unexplored reaches of the Amazon with the same core characters (or their twins) as well as a host of new ones.  Of the two, Dark and Stormy Night is by far my favorite.  The production value is quite high, and rivals Young Frankenstein as a genre parody, this time of the "spooky old house" mysteries of the 1930s.

The situation with Tyler has improved immensely, and that has led to a direct decrease in marital stress between Raechelle and myself.  It's been a couple very tense years and a lot of work, but we have a much better, more productive, more intuitive direction.  It's good.

We're in the last quarter of development work for the Ordinary Angels television series.  Our deadline is January 1st to have the full pitch and all related materials done.  I've been delving into a lot of research, and really finding some cool stuff to use.  Between OA and new Deep7 material, I'm getting a lot done.  It feels good.

A Life Remembered

We awoke early on Saturday morning, dressed in our Sunday best, filled up the gas tank and the tires and headed north to Bellingham.  The immediate family gathered at St. James Presbyterian Church to remember and celebrate the life of my grandfather, Jack Tyler Brown.  My mom's cousin Judy and her daughter Kat (with whom I'd grown up) had flown out for the event, Kat coming all the way from Florida.

It was more formal than my dad's memorial had been, or Samantha's for that matter.  But totally appropriate for Jack.  I was holding it together pretty well until the bagpiper played "Scotland the Brave" as the processional - which had been used as the recessional at Sam's & my wedding.  So that was a kick in the gut.  There were hymns and scripture readings, and a duet of congregation members who play ancient instruments played "Amazing Grace" on a concertina and hurdy gurdy - which unplugged the dam and let loose the waterworks.

Opa holding me in Germany, 1968

There was a time of sharing remembrances, where folks in attendance stood up and talked about my grandfather and what a good guy he was.  And then it fell to us.  My brother went to the lectern and spoke of "moments", a very loving and evocative tribute.  Then I followed with the piece at the bottom of this post.  My stepdad Robert finished up with the tale of his whirlwind courtship of my mother almost 30 years ago, and how he was welcomed by my grandfather into the family.

Opa and me being goofy, circa 1981

Laughter punctuated the mistiness here and there, but when the veteran color guard marched down the center aisle and performed the flag ceremony, all eyes gushed.  The flag was slowly and methodically unfolded and held at a slightly upward-facing angle while "Taps" played and we barely remained upright.  Then they re-folded Old Glory and the naval officer presented it to my grandmother, who had not expected the ceremony at all.

Opa holding his grandson Tyler in Seattle, 1994

The congregation gathered in the reception hall and partook of the buffet while my photo montage cycled on my laptop.  The family then retired to my grandmother's house and shared stories and photos and wine.  Rae and I made a vow to travel north more often and spend some time with my grandmother, as there is much family history I feel I need to absorb.  It seems like no matter how many times you hear the old stories, there's always something new to discover.

Omi & Opa at my wedding to Raechelle, 2009

Anyway, this was my tribute:

Jack Tyler Brown was the kind of guy who made an impact on people.  Whether through his naval service, his teaching career, his church community or his family.  I have no doubt everyone here could tell a story about how my grandfather impacted their lives.  I could speak about how he connected with others, how he never met a stranger, how he thrived in a marriage of almost seven decades, how he served his country, how he was an icon to his students, how he always had a hug and a smile for a visitor.  But I’m going to be selfish for a moment and take this opportunity to tell you about how Jack Brown impacted *my* life.

It was due to my being born on an Army base in Germany that Jack was known as “Opa” to his grandchildren.  When Jack and Dorothy came across the Atlantic to see their first grandchild, they were given the German names for their station.

“Opa” did with me all the things a grandfather should do with a grandson:  He taught me how to fish, and how to clean what we caught.  He taught me how to make homemade ice cream, and how to grow scarlet runner beans and tomatoes.  We built things together.  We explored the beach or the dunes or a mountain trail, and afterward collapsed in a recliner and snoozed in front of the ballgame (something I know my siblings experienced as well).  We were silly.  We were incredibly silly.

Staying with Omi & Opa during the summers of my youth, whether at their cabin in the Sierras, or their home in Florence, Oregon, are some of my fondest memories.  Weekend mornings, the smell of coffee and newsprint, sharing the bed and the Sunday comics section with two laughing grandparents and one of three consecutive dogs.

And while all of these wonderful moments do add up, what was even more powerful is the message he gave to me.  I was smart.  I was able.  I was capable of achieving anything I set my mind to.  And it didn’t matter what that was – as long as I lived worthy of life.

That is how Jack Tyler Brown impacted my life.  I will treasure his memory, just as I will miss his hugs and his laughter, and his amazing pistachio bunt cake.

A Loss.

My grandfather died this morning.  I'm still processing.  You can expect a memorial post when I can string together more than one coherent thought at a time.

Peace.

Augtober

We survived our almost 100-degree heatwave this month with a combination of two new ceiling fans (which made it possible to sleep in the hotbox known as our bedroom) and various cool beverages that may or may not have had fermented and/or distilled spirits within.  We hosted a long-overdue housewarming/summer bash, wherein I made skewers and Rae forgot to pace her intake of aforementioned spirits.  It will be awhile before we host another, but man was it fun.  Lots of friends and neighbors in attendance.

The other news this month was threefold:

Firstly, my 93-year-old grandfather took a fall and fractured his hip.  He underwent a partial hip replacement and looked like he might fully recover, but he developed an infection and his blood-pressure, which is normally low, dropped and he's not a candidate for more surgery to treat the infection.  So he's now in hospice care.  The family, as always, has circled wagons, and are surrounding my grandparents with support and love.  The grandparents just celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary this year.

Secondly, Tyler has made some pretty fundamental changes via professional medical and psychological help, including a revision to the diagnosis given by the UW Autism Clinic earlier this year.  Without going into too much detail, we now have a much more solid diagnosis and a much clearer direction for future progress.  We're all cautiously optimistic.

Lastly, my brother Matt would have turned 40 on Saturday.  Talk about your gut-punch.  Wow.

On the up-side, we finally released Arrowflight Second Edition.  It's been eight years since the first edition was released, but our fans understand I've kinda had some stuff going on...

So now we're in the last week of Summer break, and the kids go back to school as the weather turns gray and cold again.  I can't say the rain isn't welcome.  Our yard looks like a hayfield.  And with that, I will leave you with Upside Down Stretch Cat.