Voodoo Child v. 17: Welcome to the One Woman Show

Today we took Ms. Bambina on her first fun field trip: the California Academy of Sciences. As a child, I grew up on trips here when my parents were on vacation or when we had guests from out of town. It's always been a magical place for me to see the animals, learn about critters, plants, and such. See the animals in habitats (my dad always told me they were plastic and/or robots). It's a place full of fond memories, and I love it.

I haven't been there since the renovation. I didn't go to the Howard Street site, well, because it's not the academy I know. So I went ahead and waited. Got a a family membership when Bambina joined us (natch), and headed out today for the first time. I debated between joining the MoMA (I used to be a member here), or De Young, but this felt more natural, since Husbandido is a nurd of sorts.

So holy moly, I thought it wasn't going to be crowded but oh lord was it ever. We arrived there around 10:45ish after looking for parking (the garage was already full). The iine for ticket holders (LONG) was deep on JFK drive, and the line for the Members was about 1/4 that line, and holy crap, we still had to wait a few to get in. I had to nurse young Ms. while standing, and OMG she's heavy now. 14 lbs or so is what we're guessing.

The place was rampant full of kids. I shoulda busted our family out earlier, but it was so warm in bed. Can you blame us? I am so kicking myself too because I didn't anticipate it being so cold, and we sort of underdressed her. Not that she was in a onesie, but it was just a warm, we thought, thick jumper, so we kept a blanket on her the whole time we waited outside, but it was still cold. Husbandido had her in the Bjorn, so at least they had each other. I felt like a bad parent, but that's just me.

I loved the exhibits but what was more exciting was her reaction to the exhibits, especially the fish. She got up close and personal with a penguin, and she jumped. It was really cute. We didn't stay too long, but we were there long enough to know that we were going to come back and come back soon so we can see everything again. I'll most likey renew my membership there next year.

We had lunch at B-Star, but Bambina wasn't having it. It was near her nap time and we kept waking her up to get out of the car to eat, to go to Best Buy to pick something up for Husbandido's busted computer. We had such delish food: triple mushrooms, fish and fries, tea leaf salad (holy god it's so good), samusa soup, won ton soup (it was a soupy kinda day), and I had a lychee mint smoothie. We came home and took a nice nap. Speaking of which, it's time for me to sneak off to bed.

A note about breastfeeding: I am really happy to have had a positive experience so far. I guess, it really was hard starting out, but it's natural enough that I don't have much of a problem doing it when I need to do it. I'm just trying to brace myself for being away from her in less than two weeks. At any rate, had to do it quite a few times today, in the academy, at the restaurant, whew. I'm thankful that I'm in a progressive enough city that people don't trip off of it. Even knowing moms will see me and give me that "shit i shoulda brought my cover with me too." Yep. It really did help!

Okay kids. Be good. Get out of the house, but god's sake, dress the kids up warmly!

Voodoo 

 PS: pics are on facebook or on bambina et. al.'s page. email me for deets.

Posted by Voodoo Child at 12:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Meet La Bambina. Special thanks to Gary at Amaze Studios for his amazing (heh) work.

Voodoo

Posted by Voodoo Child at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I put the wedding pics in a link over on my personal page. But here's the pics you're all waiting for. Please note, Husbandido and his bros put the comments on the pics. Typical.

And then this:

Funny, 

Voodoo 

Posted by Voodoo Child at 09:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

So, yah.

Let's start with last night. Last night, my father was washing dishes, when he started coughing. I was in the office, getting my ass handed to me by a computer at a game of scrabble. Husbandido was in the living room watching television, and my mother was with him. I hear a feeble, "Help," from my dad. It didn't sound normal at first, and I stopped what I was doing. Husbandido, closer to my father, got up to check on him. Holding a towel to his mouth, he was coughing blood. A lot of blood. Husbandid, just having gone through traumatic events with his father, met me in the kitchen where I saw my mother helping Dad wipe up the blood. There was a lot. Husbandido said, "he's coughing blood, let's go to the hospital."

Quickly gathering ourselves out of our downtime clothes and quietly making sure we're all okay, we are out of the house in five minutes. The drive to the hospital is a blur of speed, and a quiet lecture by Mom to my Dad who I can hear wheezing behind me. Shit.

We get to the hospital, and my mom is clutching a just opened roll of paper towels, just in case. Just in case. I drop them off, and walk quickly back to the ED, and on the way run into a couple fighting, "Why you gotta bring that shit up agaaaaaaaain." Uh, I'd really like to watch this, btw, but I head up the hill to the hospital. It's fucking cold.

Text messages to and from my brother and his fiancee help keep them abreast, and we wait in the ED lobby for my dad to be called. He goes in, and my mom follows. The next hour or so that follows involves a hearty discussion on the germs that are all over the lobby, the magazines, and the crappy Hillary Duff movie that is playing on the television. It is a nice television. Must be nice to be "for profit."

We are brought back with my mom to see my dad. Stripped down and in a sexy gown, He's strapped up to a machine, oxygen tank, wires here and there. He smiled. I feel better. Mom, unsure of what to do next, wants to send us home to rest; she'll stay overnight. THe room is small, and I noticed right away he's in isolation. In my mind, this means he could possibly have something going on that is not exactly a good thing...something that's passable. The isolation unit sticks with us for the next day as well. And we are forced to wear face masks during our visits as well.

EKG. EEG. CT. XYZ. LMNOP. He gets all the tests. His BP is high, too high, really, and he has an irregular heartbeat. He is in good spirits. Hates hospitals, and hates even more being in a hospital as a patient. My brother is texting me back and forth and I know he's not taking this too seriously. Part of that stems from my dad, him not liking the whole hospital thing. I can't blame him, but it can infuriate me.

We are sent home, and I want to come back to bring a change of clothes for my mom, but she brushes me off. She wants us to get rest. It's amazing how much they put themselves aside; as we're leaving, my father tells me where the keys are, and to not forget this and that...all from behind his mask. It's okay, I tell him. I'll take care of everything.

In short, we were there today, and he is still in good spirits, he's hating his confines and being doted over, but we're all glad he's slowing down to get rest. I couldn't sleep at all last night, but seeing him in a good way helped me be okay. I feel like I can sleep tonight.

So thanks to everyone who called, everyone who texted, everyone who emailed. I really appreciate it, and I'm sorry I couldn't get back to all of you, but you're in my thoughts for reals.

There's one more thing: I was reading a horoscope that said, stop hiding out. It makes people more suspicious than they already are about what's up your sleeve. SO here's what's up that silky sleeve: I'm pregnant, 15 weeks pregnant, big ol' pregnant. The morning sickness never really was (except when I smell shrimp, and I HATE that smell anyway). I crave fruit. Fruit fruit fruit! Things that taste like FRUIT. 7-up. Gummi Bears. Sorbet.

I've been debating for weeks on how to tell you all, but this is the most bang boom way to tell you. Just say so. I'm thrilled, Husbandido and Mom and Dad are thrilled. Bros thrilled. Bird still unawares. He'll figure it out eventually.

We have an amniocentesis scheduled next month, and that's largely been stressin' me out, but I'll go into it like I do any other test. With a smile, and some chocolate to get me through afterwards. We don't know if it's a boy or girl yet, but we'll find out next month as well. This is a big month for us coming up, so I'll keep you posted.

So there you have it. Dad is doing good. I am doing good. Hope you are doing good too.

Peas,

Voodoo 

Posted by Voodoo Child at 09:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Hey Team Voodoo, take a moment to read this and pass along to friends and family. Let's bring Nikki home. -Voodoo 

Hi All,

My sister -- Veronica Ruiz (sister of Maricris Ruiz)-- has been missing since Monday, December 3rd (perhaps you may have seen her story on the news lately). On that morning, she went for a run near her home in Mill Valley, possibly in or around Mt.Tam.  Unfortunately, she never returned that day, nor has she been heard from since. The authorities and media were notified soon after, which resulted in a massive search and rescue effort. Along with ten agencies (such as the sheriff, various police depts, special units, fired dept, feds, etc), family and friends participated in locating her, namely within the Mt. Tam vicinity close to her home. Trails were hiked and flyers were distributed in Mill Valley, Sausalito, Tiburon, and the surrounding area.  Two sightings were combed thoroughly - First sighting Blithedale entrance at 11am and West Point Inn at 12pm.  After two full days, the authorities have decided to indefinitely suspend their search efforts. Naturally, those closer to Nikki want nothing more than to continue the search. We have faith that she's out there and want nothing more than to see her return home safely.

Therefore, we've decided to take it upon ourselves and organize our own search and rescue mission. Volunteers are needed! The attached flyer contains all of the search information. If you are unable to  join us in the search, then please forward this email to as many people as you can. We all know that this is a small world and one tip may lead us in the right direction. A website is also in development and will be up very soon. Please refer to the upcoming site as it will contain updates and information pertaining to the search for Nikki:

www.HelpFindVeronicaRuiz.com

P.S. If you are able to hike with us, dress in layers, wear the appropriate shoes, and bring bottled water. Thank you again for taking the time to read this and please keep Nikki in your prayers.

-- Family and Friends of Nikki

PS: Updated all BRL sites with the correct(!) addys, stalkerati my twitter updates, and put the brl clique back on the page. Sorry I've been really busy. I'll be back soon. Promise.

Posted by Voodoo Child at 11:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sorry to be so MIA. Last week Husbandido came home after staying in Sacramento for the good part of two weeks. Knowing him the way I do, I understood the challenge of being in a small house with so many people, plus the stress of being in a situation of inbetween life and death, waiting, and feeling guilty for having a good time while someone is not well.

As an update, Dad is doing well, pulled through surgery with flying colors. It is my hope that this experience has him doing what he needs to do to stay well. Including doing some of the things he might not like (drop the crispy pata) and things he'll have to get used to (drop the crispy pata). I see in the lives of his sons, one of which is my very own, changes that they have initiated. I hope these changes stick with them as well. And no, you cannot help Dad by eating all the remaining chicharron in the house.

Since his return, we've been going out a lot, spending quality time on dates. And by dates I mean real dates. Going out on Thursday night, we went to see Bourne Ultimatum. Pretty good, I must admit. Love the throw down, Kali-style. Someone's bound to correct me on that if I'm wrong, so be it. Go see it if you haven't. Well worth it.

On Friday we headed out late because I had to work until pretty much 9:30 in the PM. My summer program is at the end, and we had to stay late because of an intervention we needed to have with a student. I can't get into the situation, but at the age of 18, a young woman is just coming into her own, after everything she ever dreamed or wanted for herself. She is starting her college career. Her mother wants her to come back home. As in pack your shit and let's go home. This student sat in my office and cried, fear in her eyes that she must return home after she's just started. Parents can be fucked up like that sometimes.

After I got home and decompressed, I dragged Husbandido out for some late night food in North Beach. I half expected to see my Freshmen there inebriated. Luckily it was not to be.

Yesterday we went to see Superbad (see, date night galores). You'll love it for the humor, the music, and the relationship between the two stars. It was nonstop hilarious, and had me laughing loudly at parts. Go with good friends and crack up over it, will you?

Today I'm off to work. I have presentations up the ying yang, but all will go well, I hope. Here's to the start of the new school year, and to the road ahead for everyone.

Voodoo 

Posted by Voodoo Child at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I was sitting in the waiting room, immersed in my Harry Potter book (done, by the way). I started feeling a crick in my back, and I stared at the wall opposite to me, and my eyes adjusted to focus on the crinkles in the wall. I closed my eyes and felt them burn, that searing burn that, after reading too many microfiches, I used to feel when I was working on my dissertation. My eyes watered a bit, and I gave a big exhale and opened them up.

I looked at the eyes of the people around me, red-rimmed and watery with old tears. They stared off into different directions, silent, sniffling and quiet. People walking by looked into the room, and seeing that there was clearly no space, moved on and looked for other places to rest. I return to my book, and reread sections  I know I've seen but don't remember. I wonder how much I've sleep-read since I was here two days ago.

The doctor comes in, nervous, but knowing that the news is better. He says hello to us like we've known each other a very long time. Almost like family, it's quaint and I want to ask if he wants to come over for dinner later. He rattles off situations, possibilities, perscriptions, and mentions locations. The words fly past me. He looks at the one of us (there are ten) who understands medical terms, and says things that are in a different languages.  Measurements, numbers, dates, drugs. I wonder if I should feel insulted that he's not talking to us. The one that understands more medicine looks heavier, his shoulders sink. I know it's not good. I feel sad for the longest time, and it's not the first time today. But I don't know who I feel sadder for: the man in the ICU or the man in the waiting room.

In shifts we go to the room and sit quietly, awkwardly watching television and, covertly, his breathing. Labored. Different. Tenuous. We make small talk. There are so many machines and beeps, my tendency to want to push buttons and tug on things is tested. He smiles, and for a moment I feel okay.

The hardest thing about the waiting is that level of adrenaline that hovers near the edge, waiting for the moment to kick into gear. That moment between action and no motion feels like a dentist's x-ray vest on you. I drove back to SF on Sunday night at 1AM, on the drive home we talked about the weekend...but there were little words to be shared. We drove home mostly in silence, broken only to talk about things mostly unspoken until now.

Voodoo

PS: Bill Walsh memorial this weekend at Candlestick.

PS2: Nice job, Barry. Don't let the haters get you down.

PS3: Is very expensive. 

Posted by Voodoo Child at 08:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I will sum up my birthday weekend like this: my brother got me a cake that said: Happy Birthday Buttface on it.

PERFECT! Picture to follow. Please notice that most of the decorations on the cake were already swiped off. That is SO my family.

Voodoo 

Posted by Voodoo Child at 08:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Good weekend, kids.  A little bummed out about everything coming and going so fast, but it just reminds me that I need to spend more time with my other family. I'm debating about renting yet another Bodega Bay house with the family just to get out of the city for a bit. I went without the intarwebs for a few days (two to be exact) and it was kind of nice to be away from the world at that time. I just wish I had my movies with me or at the very least some device to watch some movies.

AT any rate, no big update to share with you all...but i DID do my first video for the month. I know. Total lagger. I have three more to crank out, and I'm close to putting together my second one. Going back to the Year of Creativity concept (I'm going to write a .pdf on how to make your very own year of creativity). One thing that I think is very important to mention to you all is that each month starts anew: there is NO formal planning or preparing for that month. I did not do an outline of my novel first...then waited for the 1st of the month to start to begin writing. I waited until the 1st of the month to write to actually begin writing. The same went for poetry month. The same went for photography month. And that's what happened this month. I started a little late, but I didn't actually get the concepts for the movies down until last week (I know it's been two weeks since the month started). The reason for this is that I needed for each of the month's activities to be as organic as possible. I wanted to physically start the event right at the moment of birth.

It proved to be two things: good to have a blank slate mindset, so I'd be open to all possibilities, but it also made me feel at ease with each project. THe novel was rough, yo. It made me really struggle with the day to day, but I looked forward to it and thrived from the writing. But it killed me. The creative process now is killing me as well, but I feel more open to things as the day goes through. As I was taking video of the drive home (I used a tripod to attach the camera to the passenger's seat), I became more aware of the drive, what the cars ahead of me were doing, what the light was like, etc. It's surreal to document the day to day, and the minutes and minutes that rush by without a moment's notice.

Continue reading "Back to Work" »

Posted by Voodoo Child at 07:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yay! I get a message from Pops to find out that the truck was found (seriously, only less than 3 miles away and NOT on Third Street). Whew. I'm happy to see that it's back, but I always think it's kinda crap that you have to pay for storage. What kinda weirdness is that.

Anyway, that's good news. My month of photography is almost done, and so far I've amassed 378 pictures. Some of them kinda sucked, so I dumped them. Most of them are of my boring life, and nothing I'd dare to say was 'great.'

Last night, I had a friend I met from the Chicago trip that I went on last month out for drinks. My engrish bad, I know. But I went out to drinks with a coworker and our mutual friend, and we went to the Top of the Mark. It was a nice visit to a place I would otherwise not go to, but hell, when I asked my friend where he'd like for us to go to, he said Old School San Francisco, and in my mind I thought luxury, and off we went.

Beautiful views, and finally, after a few days of weird wind and rain. We could see clear to the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, all the way to the hood. Werd. Live piano music, and wonderful drinks. So good.

Overall, a good day for me as I believe my late nights at work are finally done. The truck is finally home, and I had a good time with friends at a beautiful joint. I get to see Mango Man after the day is through too.

Oh and Lost is on tonight! Yippee!

Designed some new shirts (this is also part of my Year of Creativity!)...please keep checking because new stuff is coming soon! 

Voodoo 

Posted by Voodoo Child at 08:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

First off congrats to Tootles who welcomes a new baby sister to the world. To think...she could have literally joined us in at Rudy's Can't Fail. Also big love to Buff Bagwell and Whitley on their engagement. Congrats...it's about time.

Job fair: sucked. I wish I could have put my finger on it, but at the end of the day, I was not wanting things to go my way. I wasn't feeling like the dog and pony show came to town and I wasn't about to go whore myself off to jobsites. And the Paris school wasn't even there. Ass.

I have come to one conclusion: I have built it. They just need to come. And if you don't know what I'm talking about you need to go Google it. I have literally not put myself inline with where I want to be, that is, I haven't put my heart and soul into my search. If I had, I'd probably be getting more bites, but the truth is, change is hard, and I need to be okay with that before I can move on. I feel like not knowing where husbandido is with his job life means putting my life on hold for now. I have been in that holding pattern for a while, and it almost breaks my heart.

I would love to do this all over and go to new places and do new things, but my heart's not into it. I'll be honest with you, it's mostly my fault, but I can't move until I get my shit together anyway.

I am moving along though, with my photography, taking pictures of mostly things around me, whenever I leave my office and go places. I don't do too much, honestly, but so far I have about 170 pictures to show for it. I think I'm going to work on a new site to catalog all that I'm doing thus far.

Which brings me to my next point: I am going to edit a book for all my BRLers including published posts from all the brl family and the brl friends. it will include photographs, paintings, sketches, whatever my staff has come up with in the last few years. I plan on trying to find a publisher, but I also plan on self-publishing if I can't find one so we can have a catalogue of all the hard works we have put together over the years.

I'll send out an email to my staff and to brl friends/family. if you're interested, and you don't appear on my usual lists, please email me!

thanks,

voodoo 

Posted by Voodoo Child at 01:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I’d like to tell you about, Harrison Leonardo, a two-year old boy who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. His father, OJ Padua Leonardo, is a San Francisco Fire Department firefighter. His mother, Stephanie Isaacson, is a public affairs representative with Pacific Gas and Electric. He has a baby brother named Lucas. Harrison is fighting Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML), a rare form of cancer. He was diagnosed in early 2006 and went into remission in August. He relapsed just before Thanksgiving and is currently undergoing chemotherapy and needs a bone marrow transplant to survive. None of his immediate family members are suitable donors.

Finding a suitable donor is particularly difficult because he is bi-racial Filipino and Caucasian.  There is a severe shortage of asian american donors on the national database. Biracial donors are even more rare. Please take a moment to visit his website  www.helpharrison.com  to see if there is something you might do to help Harrison find his miracle match.  If you are already registered on the national marrow donor database, thank you!  Your gift could save this young boy’s or another person’s life.

I am putting together a drive where I work and would love to have you come out to help with the cause. Just remember, this is not for Harrison, it's for everyone who needs a bone marrow transplant around the nation. email me if you want to come out to the event. you can also order free kits if you're too busy to come out. See Harrison's site if you want to order some.

I'm on the registry already. Are you?

Voodoo 

Posted by Voodoo Child at 03:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)