Call and answer.

Friends!
Do you have any of those?
I was really sad for a while because I felt like I lost all of my friends in the big move of 2006.
I was so caught up missing those friends, that I did not realize that I had been slowly making new friends where I was.
And the other night I got to be with those people for our first true Thanksgiving.

As a family.
As a relocated Wisconsinite living in New York.
As a New Yorker... I guess.

I don't want to get all mushy, but you know, it just felt so good.
To be with these people, to be an invited guest.

This is all a life that we made for ourselves.
We did not carry it over from Wisconsin.
We made it here, and although there are plenty of times that we second guessed it,
the proof that we are doing a good and right thing was evident at the dinner table on Thanksgiving.

I hope everyone is well, and let's try and make it into the new year in one piece.

lvoemathwe

Little Tooth.

War all the time.
War. All the time.

Oh my lord.
Can you believe that it is my brother's birthday?
Do you know Nathan?
He is my little brother, and he has been a mystery to me for a long time.
But suddenly things have become different.

Suddenly he grew up.

I told T that I have pictures and memories of Nathan since he was born,
so a lot of the time I am looking at Fangs and I am in a time machine...
21 YEARS AGO!!!

I sent him a present in the mail, but it did not arrive in time.
Still, it is alright because I am sure that he will like it so much that
the only thing that will matter is that he GOT it.

I have to go have dinner Garth's house now.
Yeah, you heard me.
Garth.

lvomeahte

Intergalactic Space Cabin.

T is putting the Baby Watson to sleep.
It is quiet.
I think he is asleep.

I went and met them at the Laundo after I got home from work.
It is one of the places I sometimes meet up with my family.
Sometimes it is at Mugs.
Sometimes it is in the park.
Lately it has been in the front room.
What I do is when I walk through the door I listen for where they are. Then I start to make a noise like a loud grunt that I heard Gorillas make. And I bang around a lot. I take off my shoes real loud, and I push shit around and clomp up the stairs...

BANG!
BANG!
BANG!

What the one thing that is always the same so far is the look on BW's face when he sees me.
It is usually a look of him searching his memory, trying to recognize me.
But I prepare him by making all that noise usually, so if I meet them at home, he recognizes me quicker.
Today, though, I met them at the laundromat and he didn't get the preparation.

So I poke my head down over the top of his stroller.
He is playing with a purple rattle shaped like a cat and his cheeks are really big with concentration on his toy.

PSSST!

He looks up at me really slow and his eyes get bigger and his cheeks get smaller.
His mouth opens and his jaw just drops open.
He has very long eyelashes.
When he blinks you can feel the breeze created by his eyelashes.
Then it clicks in his brain and he smiles all bashful.
This is when I snap and I start to kiss his little face and eyes and mouth.
I just grunt and sniff and nibble his face off.

Something about seeing that recognition in his eyes just kills me.
We were at the 'mat so I couldn't do what I do at home which is that
I pick him up and fly him around and then I throw him onto the bed and roll him around
and then I rub his belly and move his arms and legs around and try to tickle him and get him to giggle.

This is what I come home to.

lovvemathwe

THE FUCKING PACKERS!!!

HA!
I don't care about the rest of the season, I just wanted Aaron Rodgers to win against the Bears.
Sure sure, there are still plenty more games to be played, but I think that it was a very good thing for Aaron's psyche to beat the Vikings, Lions and the Bears for his first games against those teams respectively.

I don't care that they lost to the Vikings last week.
I don't care because they beat the Bears this week.

My friend Aaron Renier recently moved to Chicago, and he was one of my best Packer Allies here in New York.

You know, there are just some teams that you need to beat.
And the Bears are one of them.
Especially if you are a Packer fan.

You know that this is the first time in like, 4 or 5 games that the Packers won at home against Chicago?

You know who couldn't beat them at home?

Brett Favre.

Sure, he is leading the Jets in the AFC east or whatever, but who really gives a shit?
Some day I might look back and be happy for him.
Especially if he continues to have his winning season.

But what most of the Jets fans don't understand is that he will not take you to the big game.
He will get you so fucking close, but he will not deliver.
He will choke.
He will choke when he is on the cusp of delivering everything that you have come to expect from him over the season leaving you nauseous and full of tacos.

I hope the best for him, but I know better.

I don't even feel sorry for him anymore.
It is the Jets fans that I feel sorry for.
They have no idea...

Anyways, GO PACK!

And to a lesser extent, go Jets.

lovematthew

The other side of the line.

What do you think?
Have you seen this?
It is hanging in my house.
Have you ever been over to my house?
You should come over!
It is right off the L train!
I made some things that you should see.
Some things like the piece in the photo.
Some things that are different from that.
Some things that I am proud of!

For once...

HA!
Just kidding!
I am ALWAYS proud!

It is the "Indian Way".

And so I am celebrating life, at my house, and you are invited and
there will be drinks and some food and candy.
But feel free to bring something, like some chips, or some friends.
I will also accept presents.
And don't worry, it is dress casual.

This will all take place on Saturday, November 22nd starting at 5 PM.
I will be here until I go to bed, and that time can vary between 10 and 11PM.


If this is something you are considering then please let me know if I should be expecting you.
And please include your name, and the name of all of your friends that will be attending so that
I can get started on the personalized cupcakes.

You can let me know by leaving a comment, or by emailing me through my
website.
Once I know to expect you, I can give you more detailed directions to my house.

lovematthew

Well look at you!

Dang.
I can't believe that Obama won.
Can you believe it?
That is probably the best news I have heard of.

I am very happy for him.

The mood around here is very upbeat.
People saying hello to each other.
It is such a relief.

I am going to take this time to ask the comments from Nader/Gonzalez stop.
Please.

I understand.
I know that things are F'ed up.

I don't really know that you can be a politician without leaving a trail behind you
for people to dig up when they want to take you down.
And Obama might be no exception.

BUT!
I believe that he was the best hope we had to steady the ship.

And to me, his victory opens the door for a lot of possibilities, even the chance to let a third party into the debates.

lovmahrtew