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That is the thankless position of the father in the family -- the provider for all, and the enemy of all. |
Wednesday, June 23, 1999
One year ago: Get a Grip
Two years ago: Shake, Rattle and Roll
Jack was very pleased with the entry I wrote yesterday for his birthday. He wrote me, "Perhaps just what I needed right now, but I am certain you stretched the truth a little in talking about my good points." I disagree with this, though. I didn't say half enough! But there are limits in how mushy I'll get in a public place like this.
We'd planned to go visit Jack's parents this weekend, in Eastern Washington. Jack hasn't seen them since Christmas, I think, and I've only been there the one time, last Thanksgiving. But Jack found out today that his older daughter (fifteen, and she's been on the run for a month this time) had been picked up by the police in Denver and was being held in a juvenile detention center. He flew down there tonight and will be trying to sort out what should happen next, so those plans probably won't happen this week. The whole situation is really tough, and it doesn't look like it will get better for a while. What to do if she refuses to admit that there is a problem?
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I found Weird Aunt Kate (my friend Kate will perk up at that, like I do when Dave Van mentions his sister-in-law), I was saying, I found Weird Aunt Kate via the No Spring Chickens burb. But that burb list had her old site, not the new one she's been moving to. So I proceeded to bug her about updating the info, then forgot that it's not a webring, it's a burb, and only the list owner can change it. So to make up, you should read her stuff. I like it!
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After I was sure that Jack would make it on the plane (I talked to him via cell phone as they were boarding; if he'd been bumped he'd have been spending the night here.) I went to the U-district to meet with Nick and Jayson, two Cacophony buddies. Cacophony has been having some trouble lately, and we needed to evaluate what exactly we wanted to do about it. At our first stop I had a large mocha, then we moved on when the jazz combo started playing -- it was impossible to talk at that cafe, and that's what we needed. We walked up the street to the University book store, since Nick needed some chalk for the next cacophony event. Looking at all the cool art supplies made me wonder how to incorporate them into something cacophonous. Cacophony Origami? We walked down the street to a different coffee house, and discussed how to make the group fun for us, and not a chore to anyone. We need to balance doing stuff that we get a kick out of, with letting folks know what's happening and bringing in new people. We need a certain amout of freshness to balance the natural attrition you get over the years.
It was fun talking with the guys, getting caught up on their news and thinking about amusing things to do. We need to focus on our own stuff and not worry about what happens with cacophony in other cities. I think we will weather this crisis!
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Speaking Confidentially has updated, with a bunch of entries which is how she usually does it. The story of her trip, examining a lot of family issues, is quite impressive. It's hard to keep track of all the initials, though, when there are so many of them with family and old friends and neighbors popping up at the same time. There is such palpable pain when she speaks of her mother! It's gread reading.
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