Dec 12

This post is for my brother. Who called me to complain that I haven’t been posting on my blog (okay…maybe I’m exaggerating but it’s my blog and I can do that.)

So, everyone, this is John. (no, not the hot brunette in white…the guy next to me is john). He is older than me by five years but I am waaaaay more mature than him.

His nickname is “Stu”. Because when we were younger we got in trouble if we said the word ‘stupid’. So, one time I started to say it and caught myself at the ‘stu’ point. I didn’t get in trouble and my brother CLEARLY knew what I meant. So…win-win for me.

It still makes him squirm…lol.

All kidding aside, my brother is really awesome. He made me personalized menu cards for my wedding (seriously, check them out. they are awesome) because me and hubby are very big fans of movies.

He also gave me the best present I can remember getting for my b-day. It was opening day tickets to see at Blue Jays game the year after they won the second World Series. (Yes, they went on strike after that but the game was awesome). he made huge signs for us to bring and we got to yell at Pat Borders.

He’s done a bunch of other stuff that makes him an awesome brother (if you’ve been reading my blog you know…or you’re family so you definitely know).

So…this post is for him. This is for John; you stu!

Tagged with:
Nov 18

How do you tell people that you don’t want to do the gift thing this year, for Christmas?

How do you tell them that you actually would prefer not to celebrate the holidays at all this year?

How do you do it without sounding like a jerk? You tell me, which explanation makes the most sense.

a) I never really liked the gifting part of Christmas. The ONE thing I did love, spending time with my family, has been taken away from me this year (a big part of it anyway) so the gift thing really is just a pain in the ass.

b) My Dad is dead and that’s what I’ll be thinking about. Not, “Ooh, thanks for this basket of soap.”

c) I know I’ve been hiding it pretty good for the past month or so, but I’m still really fucking angry with the whole life/death thing. If I have to face a mall and the people in it, I will probably get arrested for punching someone.

d) No, this doesn’t mean that you can still give me a gift. As a matter of fact, that will just make me feel worse. Can we just spend time together?

e) If you get me a gift I will throw it out the window, walk out the door and head to the nearest bar to spend Christmas with other people who are avoiding the holiday.

Luckily for me, my mom and brother feel the same way. So, our Christmas is really just going to be another day for us to hang out. No tree, no decorations, no gifts. I know they both feel the exact same way.

How do I get this accross to the rest of the people in my life? Unfortunately, they don’t all read my blog.

Tagged with:
Sep 23

Some people have the knack for comfort. Some people know when they don’t have the knack and just shut their faces and give you a hug. Then there are some people who have no filters and say the absolutely worst thing for the moment. This is that list of those people.

4. Who is that girl sitting over there?

Remember my friend Maaike, who was so amazing to come and visit me during this crappy time? Yeah, well, cousins of my uncle (Dad’s brother) saw her sitting in the crowd and thought it would be a great idea to try and set her up with their son. So, while in the receiving line, instead of consoling my uncle, they tried to set them up.

I feel very sorry for their son and whoever he ends up marrying.

3.  At least he’s out of his misery.

I wonder if this was ‘lost in translation’ but no one wants to hear it like this…especially my Mom, who spent the last 6 months making my Dad the most comfortable man in the world. She gave her soul to him, trying to help him die in peace and with dignity. And she did help him, more than God ever could.

2. Touching my brother’s forehead and patting his belly.

Doesn’t sound too bad eh? Let me give you some context. A childhood friend of mine and my brother’s was a passive aggressive bully. You know the type – picked on kids younger and smaller but always made it seem like a big joke so that he couldn’t get in trouble. This was that guy and he had it out for my big brother John. It didn’t help that our friend’s older brother ALWAYS stood up for John. Or that his mother always compared him to John. But hey, kids will be kids, right?

Wrong. This guy, nearly 25 years later, walks up to my brother, IN LINE at the funeral home, and touches John’s forehead, makes a comment about a (non-existent) receding hair line and then proceeds to pat him on the belly and gives an evil chuckle.

Really, man? I mean…our Dad just passed away. Really? You STILL need to be a bully?

The ironic part is that our old childhood friend is, himself, a fat, bald guy. He’s only a year older than my brother and he looks 10 years older. I guess that’s what happens to you when you are a mean person. Life just doesn’t agree with you.

I just need to add that I DO NOT have anything against fat, bald guys…but I do have an issue with passive aggressive hypocrite jackasses.

1. You won’t ever get to share your grandchildren with your father now.

Was this the most comforting thing this woman could think of? Remind me of one of the greatest joys in the world and how I’ll never be able to experience it? Yeah? THAT’s what you decided on saying?

Thanks for reminding me lady…I almost forgot how shitty this is.

Tagged with:
preload preload preload