You're so Vain, You Probably Think this LJ is About You

Have been out of touch because my life is both busy and humdrum. Not that I mind...I used to crave constant change and now...eh, not so much. I guess in my heart, I love ruts.

My mom and I went to Houston last weekend to see the ballet. It was Romeo and Juliet and the dancing was sublime! I love the balcony scene and also the death scene in the tomb. Romeo dancing with the unconscious Juliet is so sad and beautiful. *sob*

Mom and I stayed at the swanky Lancaster Hotel, enjoyed some cocktails, and generally had a smashing good time. The company sent me a coupon to get tickets to their next show for 50% off, so I think we will go again. It's Madama Butterfly, which I love as an opera, so hopefully the ballet will be just as wonderful. I will use the discount and spring for better seats because we were in the balcony six stories up, and mom got wicked vertigo until they killed the lights.

This weekend, we went to my cousin's wedding and it was a typical Tafoya experience. My dad scared the Hell out of us driving to the venue in the Hill Country. All the winding, tiny roads are not meant to be taken at 55 mph. Then, the ceremony was outside and it was so hot, one of the bridesmaids passed out. Down like a ton of bricks. Then my sister got into it with not one, but two of the wedding coordinators/staff. To be fair, both were incredibly rude and trying to hustle a bunch of old people around, including some of our relatives. So my sister let them have it. Otherwise, the event was lovely. The lady who owned the mobile bar recognized me from my friend's wedding two weeks ago, where she was also set up. So embarrassed because everyone was like, "Of course the bartender recognizes Melissa!" >_<

And finally, just wanted to give my dad a Father's Day shout out: he is the best father a girl could ever have. He doesn't always agree with the choices we make, but he always supports us. He sacrificed so many things for our family and has always taken great care of us. My sister was remembering the best piece of advice my dad ever gave us: always walk away from a fight if you can, but if they back you into a corner, throw the first punch and hit them so hard they can't/won't want to get up. LOL - oh, my dad...

I'm back. And exhausted. While on "vacation," I spent about 1 hour relaxing and the rest of the time running around trying to round up family and check on my parents and keep the Kid and his wife company since she wanted to see and do everything on the cruise ship. Still, I'm glad I did. Now I plan on doing a whole lot of nothing this Friday and Saturday.

I've been trying to catch up on the flist and I'm almost done. It seems like some of y'all have been having a rough time and I just wanted to pass out hugs to iammine and ryoneko and also give my condolences and the biggest squeeze ever to sardonicynic. Thinking of all you ladies as I sit among my unpacked suitcases, grateful to be home and just a little disoriented.

My little one-eyed kitty Kyo nearly died while I was gone. Thank goodness JP was here - he took Kyo to the vet and cared for him so well that I could barely tell how sick he had been. The vet wasn't sure what was wrong, but apparently Kyo's digestive track just shut down. The vet gave JP some vile, all-purpose meds and somehow they seemed to work. That cat has defied the fates again and again.

I haven't uploaded any pics from the cruise, but I thought I would leave this on here - I bought a piece of artwork on the ship (I am weak when it comes to any kind of art, whether it be a cel, a painting, or a giclee print, which is what this is):



Oh noes, no more wall space!!!

I was a multi-tasking mofo at work today. Seriously, I can't have another day like that or I will go completely bonkers. So tired. It doesn't help that winter allergies have set up their yearly taiko drum symposium in my head. The constant pounding on my right temple and behind my right eye make me want to punch my own face.

Blargh.

Okay, meme!

Day 17 → An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)

Lily Martin Spencer, painting in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. I just thought it was purty. Sorry about the glare.

So, in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, I dragged my ass out of bed and JP drove us to the middle of Darkest Texas so we could watch the Leonid meteor shower. We didn't see a whole bunch, but we saw a few impressive ones. Very, very beautiful. Cold as hell. And spooky because it was very dark and very lonely. But totally cool.

Afterward, we returned home and I trudged off to work aka The Longest Day EVAR on roughly three hours of sleep. Joy! Then I came home and instead of resting, JP and I went to the San Antonio Museum of Art! Yaaaay!

Backstory:

The weekend before last we actually went to the museum to see Frederik Schodt talk about his latest translation effort, Hayao Miyazaki's Starting Point: 1979-1996 (reminder to self: go pick that up). Anyhoo, it turned out kind of awesome because duh! anime and especially Miyazaki! And also, JP and I brought some of our cels and afterwards we set them out on a table in the lobby and garnered quite a bit of interest (well, JP did - you know how I looove interacting with people, LOL). Anyway, it turned into an impromptu lesson on animation art and I actually had a good time mingling (after I helped myself to the free! pinot noir and snackage that the museum had on hand). Everyone was really polite and engaging.

Er, front story?

Well, in addition to this, the museum was also planning on showing some Miyazaki movies which is why we went again on Tuesday night (to see Laputa in the museum auditorium....nice big screen, stadium seating). And while the crowd was not particularly large, there were some blowhards one aisle back who were maniacally laughing and talking throughout the movie until JP turned to them in a quiet moment and said, "Hey, guys the soundtrack would sound so much better without you adding to it." And if this wasn't awesome enough, some guy right behind us said, "Straight up." I couldn't help but laugh. JP is my hero! Anyway, the assholes shut up and we enjoyed the rest of the movie in relative silence (with the exception of the toddler who was asking questions towards the end because BABIES CAN'T READ SUBTITLES, GENIUS PARENT!).

Ahhhh, that felt good to get out.

Work sucks, no surprise there. I am feeling particularly put upon and it's depressing. Woe.

Okay, just two more days, people and it. Is. On. Thanksgiving Vacation 2009. WOOOO!!!