Michigan: Four Children, Five Days

These are snapshots from a whirlwind five-day visit to Michigan. I stayed at Mom's for the first two days, then ran up (drove, actually) to Ann Arbor with Julia to see Margar, and saw (An)Drew in K-zoo on the way back to VA. I apologize for formatting problems with this post--I'm just too beat to try to clean it up right now. In these first picutres, you see me and Julia, me and Mom, Mom and the flowers Nancy Marie sent--the tree, the creche...I think that's it.







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Thom and his fellow-communists (that is the term, right?) are in the process of moving to recently acquired house. Here, at the old duplex, we watched South Park: The Movie and generally, uh...communed. Pictures are of Thom, at ease and at the computer, his amazing Lincolnesque fingers, a portrait with his maternal gene doner--and a nice picture of his longtime friend Corey.








In Ann Arbor: here is Margaret Kathryn in her apartment--pensive, in a directed moment of mad jollity, and with SCO (Significant Canadian Other) Jason Bell, who is visiting from Vancouver, for reasons both personal and mathematical.











Andy lives in a great narrow old house ("white house, new driveway, blue Lincoln Continental in drive") on a steep street in Kalamazoo's atmospheric student ghetto. Here, he burns a copy of his Rocket-Powered Armchair Sled exploit to disc for me, and rehydrates in front of gigantic self-portrait. Guitar is a work in progress...

The Christmas Party, 2006

On an unseasonably warm and clear December evening, the Clan gathers. It was crowded, it was loud, it was festive and amazing. Thank you, EVERYONE: Lisa H. is resplendant in red velvet; Deborah works her Ava Gardener mojo; Nancy brings her professor friend, Esther, and braves 45 miles of Highway 95 to see how the Other Half lives; Kip and Sherri make a return appearance and class up the joint; Mike Johnson works the crowded room (while Sharon dodges the camera handily); Stu displays the Ruark savoir faire; neighbors Big Rick and son Ricky dropped in; Doug Reneire adds an electric and sometimes downright puzzling presence (what are you doing with that chair, sir?); Jim and Charlene Robey are an edgy Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and Anne brought an amazing Victorian Christmas decoration and another decorative touch: her beau de jour, Dave.
Chad Kelso came and brought his amazing punch bowl, but opted for a nap rather than a photo op (thanks for the marbles!).

Kip and Sherri

Kip and Sherri Seymour visited us on Sunday, at sunset, in their white Mercedes, like a big chromey swan. Here they are. Kip is a photographer (filmmaker, gardener, editor, etc. etc. etc.) and he would have managed to finesse away the flash reflection in the painted cabinet behind them--think of it as reflected Aura. Enjoy the way Sherri curls into Kip's shoulder for a photo op. They are lovely.

The Cold Front

Stan displays his varied and infallible strategies for dealing with the sudden onset of winter: head for the couch! Stay on the couch!

Nancy Marie & CJ at Yesterday's Rose

Shopping with Nancy Marie at Yesterday's Rose in Fairfax (great thrift shop!) --and dinner afterward at the Vietnamese restaurant next door, where we laughed 'way too much (guaging by the sideways looks we were getting from fellow diners). We were remembering how, in high school, we used to hit the 35 cent photo booths at Seven Corners for commemorative shots like these...

Stan

I ended up working on Stan's picture sub-Stan-tially this afternoon, so I gotta repost it. Here is the latest incarnation. Ever since I switched over to the *NEW* improved Beta version of Blogger, I've been needing to make two or three assays before pictures print. On the other hand, since acquiring high speed cable service, it all still goes five times faster than formerly.

OkayOkay--It is Now Officially Christmastime (and Stan's Portrait Update)

I put

the little Christmas trees up this weekend. They look better in my eyes than they do in the photos, I must admit--I think they'd look better if we could get all the detritus--the plastic ornament bin, busted-up boom box, telescope, for Christ's sake (yes, all for Christ's sake in this blessed season!)... but Stan is looking pretty good so far.

Archie Holland-----

--childhood friend and computer savant came to visit on the day before Thanksgiving and gave us one more reason for gratitude--he oversaw and troubleshot (trouble-shooted??) our transition to high-speed cable internet. Here, he delivers his "I drive an hour from my Mom's place to see you guys and WHAT do I end up doing (as usual??)" look. Thanks, Ashtu!

Betsy, Etc.

Photos from visit and shopping with my baby sister Betsy last Sunday: here you see the Woman herself(we were experiencing mediocre-verging-on-alarmingly-submediocre fish'n'chips at TGI Friday's), cat Schoodie and the wonderful wall o' jadite.