Kicking Off 2012 with Dread

I don't usually like to post about anything personal, but I don't think there's a reason not to mention that my grandmother passed away the other morning.  I'm not going to say anything about that except that I'm very sad about it, but that sadness is mitigated in knowing that she had lived a very long, very rich life.

Needless to say, my brother and I are heading back east (New York) for the funeral.  This is where the dread kicks in.  I've managed to avoid flying anywhere since before Plan C was born, almost two years now.  This isn't one of those flights you can pretend is almost over the whole time, either; it's something like 7 hours from Portland to DC, then there's another hour-long hopper from DC to NYC.  I finally managed to break through my apprehension a little bit this morning and just try to be rational about it, but the fact remains: waking up at 4:45am tomorrow and spending all day doing the thing I fear and loathe the most in the world is bumming me out.

At least I never gave a shit about new year's, anyway, since I seriously hope I'm well asleep by midnight.

Further Notes and Observations

1. Plan C loves to play with the Maglite.  One must be very, very careful while one's baby plays with a Maglite.  
2. Speaking of my kid, there was an explosion of adorable last night when C + J brought over their tiny little girl (P: now 7 months old) and the two babies babbled at each other and stole each other's toys.  
3. I unfairly got a pretty bad hangover from the visit and couldn't sleep.  I ended up curled up on the couch in the basement at about 5:00am.  To repeat an old refrain: insomnia is proof that humans are defective.
4. I work hard for the money, so hard for it honey, so you better treat me right.
5. Band practice was solid last week.  I wrote a song that T suggested be titled "Sleepless in Cialis," but I think I'm going to opt for "Entry-level Position."
6. The slog on the house continues. Right after I finish this, I'm going to try to sort some shit in the basement (i.e. where I'm sitting right now.)
7. My class is done.  Could be the last one for a long time.  We'll see.

Honestly: This is Bullshit

http://www.wunderground.com/US/OR/006.html#SPE

I JUST WANT IT TO RAIN DURING THE WINTER IN OREGON LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO.