Monsters

We work in a frenzy; but the frenzy usually subsides before we have got everything back into the cupboards again.
-- Katharine Whitehorn

Saturday, November 3, 2001
One year ago: Pride and Prejudice
Three years ago: Dog of a Day

I put a bit of pressure on Jack and H---- this morning. I didn't want to go out on errands or to a movie until the cleaning stuff was done. (We'd skipped this last weekend, and I didn't want it to go another week!) We ended with me doing the kitchen, dining room, and living room, while H--- did the bathroom. Jack was busy doing laundry.

She asked me for directions and what products to use; I think I want to get the speed cleaning book again and make copies of the summarized instructions.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *    *

There was a call from Spruce Street crisis center for Jack. His older daughter A---- was in custody there. She's been on the streets in Seattle since midsummer (and has been running away repeatedly since the spring of 1999). Jack talked with the social worker there, filling her in on some of A----'s history, then talked with A---- directly. This deteriorated quickly, since A---- started screaming when Jack wouldn't come get her directly. The facility called back after that; they'd had to do some kind of restraint thing on A---- after she took a swing at a worker there, and wanted to let him know about it.

It's possible that Jack might have to go get her. He tried resisting this before, but as long as she's under eighteen (a few more months) he's legally required to pick her up when she's released. I don't hold up any hope for her staying unless she actually gets drug treatment and detoxes before coming here. Very worrying, the whole thing!

*     *     *     *     *     *     *    *

I have books on hold at the library, huzzah! So we stopped there on the way to the movie. I do want to build the habit of requesting books online, to be picked up at my local branch. Jack and H---- didn't check anything out! how shocking!

When we got to the Southcenter theaters, Monsters, Inc. was sold out! So we bought tickets for the first available show. I suggested we just walk around the huge strip mall -- I knew that H---- needed a coat and there was a Ross Dress for Less in this shopping center. Shoe Pavilion was first, though. H---- spotted some shoes she liked and they were only twenty bucks -- white sneakers with red stripes.

At Ross we weren't successful. "They only have ugly clothes!" declared H----. This was frustrating for me. H--- just never does find anything at stores like that; we shouldn't even try. But price is a factor, and actually there are plenty of reasonable coats there. Argh!

We all got hot drinks at Starbucks, then walked back. (I personally testify to the goodness of the gingerbread latte!) We didn't have to wait in line too long. There were lots of kids in the theater (understandable at a kid's movie), but they didn't misbehave much; I was more annoyed by the woman next to me talking. I'd have moved if there were empty seats close to me, but I didn't see any.

The movie was fun, but the twists and turns of the plot might have confused tiny kids. I enjoyed the depth of the monster world. I read a review that accused them of cheating a bit, since we don't really see the monsters scaring little kids much.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *    *

Jack had intended to to stay home with H---- this evening, but finally decided to come to Vanguard, the Seattle monthly fannish social gathering. It's difficult -- she's unhappy alone, but felt untrusted when she knew that Jack would have been staying home just for her.

Tonight we were asked to bring a box of books; I only picked up one and brought a good sized box with me, filled from my Capitol Hill bookshelves over the past few days. Somehow the smoke in the smoking section was getting to me tonight.

Ron Drummond has quit smoking! I hope he is successful. Cigarettes are so bad for you, and expensive! Andy Hooper talked to me about an old British comic radio show called There's That Man Again (?). He traces The Goon Show and Monty Python as descending from this tradition. I talked with Luke about the Fremont Haunt; he confessed sheepishly that he'd only worked on the haunt for the first weekend.

I'd intended to stay only an hour or so, but it ended up that we stayed until eleven thirty. Jack was in a coding frenzy, and stayed up very late.