Updating...

[jay]

The kids are giving Les a handful, especially David, whose daily routine has been interrupted...

Pat sounded better and expects to be released from the hospital tomorrow morning. I had written down her room and telephone number this evening, and then left it on the coffee table at geekchick's house. Sigh. Lots of cell minutes used this evening... OTOH, while over at Cathy's place, I saw an episode of "South Park" for the first time (rather... gory and foul-mouthed and 2-D?).

I'm going to check in with Pat tomorrow morning -- if she's mostly OK and is being sent home, then I'll stay here. Otherwise, if she's either an invalid or being kept in the hospital longer for whatever reason, I'll cut my trip short and head home.

[update: found it, she's in room D38A, 650-498-3018 if anyone wants to call her]

Comments

[dangerpudding.livejournal.com]

Ack. If Les needs help in the morning, or Pat does, even if it's just someone to clean up the house, let me know?

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Okay... Les has a better idea currently than I do from out here. Thanks.

[tenacious-snail.livejournal.com]

Dishes were washed, all but James' plate from breakfast. Floors were swept and given a half-assed damp mopping in the kitchen/foyer/dining room. Small pile of dirty socks was assembled in the living room and moved to a more suitable location.

Kids have a minimum day today, and Pat is due home early this afternoon. I know that the kids (David especially) will be thrilled to see her, but I suspect that she may need some assistance given that they will be really high energy and she's recuperating.

(I was supposed to give you a call, but work has been busy and phone battery is really low).

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

(adoring look)

[tenacious-snail.livejournal.com]

James did tell me that I didn't need to do the cleaning, and pointed out that you have a dishwasher. I think he finds it utterly bizarre that I like to wash dishes. Besides, I hadn't brought a book along. (Or toothbrush, or meds, or clean underwear or even my PDA).

I have people pretty regularly observe that I do acts of service. I think I *do*, but they are all things that relate to hospitality/hosting activities. It works for me. Besides, who wants to get home from the hospital and face last night's dinner dishes?

[tenacious-snail.livejournal.com]

David was fine once we talked to you...and then negotiated the "do half the homework tonight, watch half the TV tomorrow". James is being an utter trooper. I am really impressed by him, and I think we're working well together. I'm glad I can help out...taking today off was a good move for me.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

James sounds bored and droll and beleaguered over the telephone... glad that he's helpful there. Thank you hugely for watching them, dear... (hug).

[tenacious-snail.livejournal.com]

I think he feels like he ought to be able to take care of all of his younger siblings' needs. I presented *my* need to be there as a "in case anything awful or unexpected comes up...like something you need a car in order to deal with" because I wanted to support his authority and sense of responsibility. But the reality is that while he *may* be able to take care of their needs, something too big for him to handle *could* arise.

OTOH, I let David go to school without socks. Not a fight that seemed worth having. So even the grownups provide imperfect supervision.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

eh. half the time he goes without socks anyway... I warn him that his feet will be colder and smellier, but he chooses otherwise. (shrug)

James has a tendency to feel *too* responsible for his age, IMO.

[dangerpudding.livejournal.com]

He's the oldest. It's the way we work. :)

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

I know. :)

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

Yeah, South Park is something of an acquired taste, and your reaction to it would depend heavily on which episode you saw. (Which one was it?) Some are gorier than others (my least favorite part), too. The 2D thing is actually quite brilliant--they started doing this using construction paper cutouts! But it does look very raw and unfinished if you are expecting something more sophisticated.

The thing I adore about SP is that they are vicious in their lampooning, but utterly even-handed. EVERYONE is grist for their mill, and I do mean everyone. They've made fun of Republicans, Democrats, Greens, neo-cons, liberals, Starbucks, Goths, UFO-freaks, Dead-heads, Sally Sruthers, Barbara Streisand, Neil Diamond, Paris Hilton, parents, teachers, gays, straights, the "just say 'no'" campaign, Clinton, Bush, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, porn, hick-town greed, big-city greed, rich people, poor people, the middle class, cats, dogs, dope-smokers, scientists, Jesus, Saddam Hussein... and that's just scratching the surface.

South Park

[gloriajn.livejournal.com]

I will say, though, that the episode they did right after 9/11 was nothing short of brilliant (at least, that's what I thought). Osama Bin Laden was depicted as a Looney Tunes character, and it was hilarious! I thought it was amazing that they were actually able to make viewers laugh during such a dark time.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Hope that your carolling went well!

I saw a Christmas episode, that featured cut-out Satan-worshipping animals and a AK-47 wielding Santa...

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

Ah, not the best episode to start with. That one is sorta rife with in-jokes, and not as funny as some, IMO. We should show you the first one about the Underpants Gnomes sometime. Or one of the episodes this season that have been so hysterically funny.

Carolling was... OK. Most everyone was late, so there wasn't as much music as I'd have liked. But I got to sing somewhat more than last week, so that's a plus.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

More singing is healthy for you, especially under your current stresses. I'm glad that you could sing more.

[geekchick]

I had written down her room and telephone number this evening, and then left it on the coffee table at geekchick's house.

Are you sure about that? I don't see it anywhere on the table or on the sofa.

Yes, South Park is normally at least that foul-mouthed. Not always so gory (but one character dies in some horrible way every time he's in an episode). Not a good one to have started with I think.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Thanks for looking! I was out of it last night... the slip was in my jacket pocket (blush).

And thanks for being available to sit quietly and for hugs, dear :).