b.rox

Here’s a note I sent to my neighborhood discussion group.

Neighbors,
After much soul-searching I have decided that I will not be seeking another term on the board of the Mid-City Neighborhood Organization. This is purely for personal reasons: My wife and I are expecting a child in early March (if the Good Lord is willing!) and [...]

Just found out the sex of our impending child, via text message from Xy. However, I’m not posting it here. We need something to announce in March, right? Also, I need to sort out just how much of this child’s life is going to be subject to my compulsive communicating. And finally, it’s another opportunity [...]

Congratulations to my parents who both scored medals at the 2007 Senior Games.

Ray & Ruth Everson, Mooresville, competed in the Summer National Senior Games in Louisville, KY. Everson’s events included the 1500 meter track race walk in 9:31 earning him a Bronze medal in the 70-74 age group. Two days later he contested the 5K [...]

I hope my dad doesn’t mind me sharing this update he sent via e-mail yesterday:

A few years back, Ruth and I visited the Munch museum in Oslo, Norway dedicated to the artist of a famous work called The Scream. It showed a little man screaming.
I was reminded of that painting yesterday when I went in [...]

My dad recently discovered he had prostate cancer. It was “low grade” and slow-growing. More men die with this sort of thing than of it. Among his choices: watch and wait, or get radiation treatment, or just cut the whole thing out. He chose the latter, and on Monday afternoon, he had his prostate removed. [...]

My parents came to New Orleans Monday, but I didn’t see them for a while. They spent the week at Camp Restore, helping to gut homes in New Orleans East.

Finally they came over to our place on Friday. Today we went to the Barataria Preserve at Jean Lafitte for a hike of the Bayou Coquille [...]

Why is Captain Picard of the Starship Enterprise talking about my mother?

Some members of my extended family have been playing one of those “getting to know you” e-mail games, where you answer a bunch of questions, some serious and some silly.

Elliott and Elizabeth had to put their old friend Slim to sleep Wednesday. He was almost 14.
Also on Wednesday my Aunt Suzanne passed away at St. Vincent‚Äôs hospital in Green Bay, Wisconsin. I’m not certain but I think it might have been a stroke. I don’t know her age, but I’m guessing she was around [...]

We got an insurance payment for the flooded contents of our house months ago, but we can’t refurnish until the renovation is complete. So I’ve got some extra cash on hand, and I wasn’t sure what to do with it. I put it in a savings account for safekeeping, but I figured it might be [...]

My parents are here for an absurdly short visit. Yesterday I gave them the Mandatory Misery Tour. First we drove to Lakeview. Then to Gentilly. Took a gander at a breach on the London Avenue Canal.

Then we headed down to the Lower Nine.

Wow. I’m still blown away every time I go there. It’s absolutely heartbreaking.
My [...]

A tip of the hat to my brother-in-law and his bride. They’re getting married today.
Xy’s in Bloomington for the event, doing something she never does — taking time off. I had wanted to go myself, but I couldn’t, because all my vacation days were hosed by Katrina. Plus, after all the layoffs, I’d feel funny [...]

On Sunday Xy and I drove out to my parents’ house, and then the four of us drove to Naperville, Illinois for a surprise party. My aunt and uncle’s 40th wedding anniversary was a couple months ago, so I think it’s safe to say this party took them by surprise.

The party took place in an [...]

Just got word that Xy’s brother’s girlfriend has successfully given birth (via C-section) to a healthy baby girl: Ella Dee Paxson, six pounds and a few ounces.
I thought it was odd that the girl got her father’s last name even though the parents aren’t married, but I guess that’s patriarchy for you.
Anyway, cheers to Ella [...]

We’ve just about fleshed out the itinerary for our upcoming trip, and I realize now that we’ll be at my parents’ house on Sunday morning.
As a rule, this is something I’ve tried to avoid in recent years, as it brings up the sometimes awkward matter of going to church — or not going to church, [...]

Last night I dreamed that my father was building a grow room in his house. Seems he’d become a marijuana enthusiast. Anyone who knows my dad knows this is about as likely as Lucifer ice-skating across the Lake of Fire.

Getting there was hellacious. We faced two major traffic blockages and two major downpours. We were rear-ended — just a tap, no damage. We ran over a large mysterious object. Our windshield wipers stopped working midway through the second downpour.
And, quite frankly, Xy is not a great travelling companion. We had a number of arguments, [...]

On New Year’s Eve, 1963, my grandparents’ house burned down.
They rebuilt. Their three daughters (and their husbands) came from around the country to join them in Fort Wayne, Indiana for Christmas, 1964, in their new, three-story farmhouse. I hadn’t been born yet, but I think one or two of my older cousins may have been [...]

I called my dad to wish him a happy birthday.
Turns out he had a bunch of guests there for a big party, so I called back a little later and caught him just when the last guest had left.
Turns out it’s not just any birthday party… It’s his 70th birthday.
I had no idea.
I’m a bad [...]

Mike finished his 30th round of Scrabble yesterday. His final standing for the tournament: He’s ranked #118 in Division 1, having won fourteen games and lost sixteen.
That’s all for Mike. He and Susie hit the road back to Bloomington this morning. I enjoyed their visit. Of course XY found it a [...]