JZ, how did the service for your granddad go?

It was lovely -- the priest didn't know my grandfather, but knew my uncle (his oldest son) well and had met all three of his children and talked with them at some length about him; it was very short, simple and ecumenical: just all of us out in the backyard holding hands, with the only nod to formality being the priest requesting that we put down our coffee cups before we started. Each of his three children did a short reading, we all held hands and just thought quietly about him, and then the ashes went into the ground and we all filed past and crumbled a small handful of dirt on top of them. Then a young spruce tree went in, and then we all filed inside for croissants and scrambled eggs and 5 1/2 gallons of coffee.

Later, my sibs and their partners and Hec and I went miniature golfing, and then we went to the state line and I gambled for the first time ever (put in $5, won $4.75 on my first quarter, and cashed out immediately; I'm a big pussy), and then came back, collected my mom, and all went out for Mexican. It was an oddly lovely day.

Thanks for asking. You are the kindest Teppy ever.

How is your dad lately? Taking a brief break from scaring the holy shit out of you (as he damn well ought)?

No, it's that dull.

Oh, JZ, that does sound lovely. A nice level of ritual, if you know what I mean.

No, it's that dull.

Heh. My classmates had me thinking it was good.

I could be soured by my dad having it on all the freaking time for a while there. Stranger things have happened.

It's -- well, it's very good spinach.

Thanks for asking. You are the kindest Teppy ever.

I was thinking about you this weekend. It does sound like a lovely, calm way to pay tribute to your granddad.

How is your dad lately? Taking a brief break from scaring the holy shit out of you (as he damn well ought)?

For the time being, yes. In fact, we had lunch today, which was 100% angina-free. Woot!

He probably has to have his gallbladder removed in the imminent future (next 3-6 weeks), b/c the last time he was in the hospital, they did a CT scan b/c they couldn't determine the source of his pain, and the scan showed gallstones (they weren't *looking* for gallstones; the CT scan just happened to go that low -- luck break, eh?).

Apparently a lot of the symptoms that gallstones can cause are symptoms that mimic cardiac symptoms, so it's possible that the past couple of hospital trips have been due to gallbladder symptoms. Which would be nice, as odd as that is to say.

I'm still just bitching about having to watch two specific movies to write 1-2 pages. Worst assignment ever. Even if they're good movies.

KAT! Is it the Denise Richards Ellen??

Go gallstones?

The song they are using in the Jarhead trailers sucks me in everytime. Probably the chanting/orchestra thing. Reminds me of Christmas in Sarejevo which kills me everytime I hear it.

Go gallstones?

I know, right? How weird is that, to be *glad* your dad has gallstones? Beats a (5th) heart attack, though.