Date Set

I've set on a physical date for this years holiday party. The 9th annual Holiday social will be held on Sunday, Dec. 10th at appx. 6 pm til whenever.

I'm debating on the theme still. I may stick with the traditional semi-casual setting or I may stray this year and go with a Hawaiian motif.

I will set up a menu shortly and generate invitations to you guests. Due to security reasons I obviously won't post any information here. If you are invited, you will physically receive an invitation from me in person or by mail.

So go ahead and get that day off! Prepare yourself for good times, good food and assorted debauchery! Stay tuned!

Passing of a soldier

Sunday morning, as I was on the road driving to north Scottsdale for a planned fun day of friends and football, I talk to my parents on the phone and learned that my Uncle Gus had passed away that Saturday night. He had been suffering from a variety of ailments and had been put in a hospice a few weeks ago. After a series of seizures, he passed.
Gus was a hearty and typical male from my mom's side of the family, the LaFrance's. They all grew up and lived around the Providence, Rhode Island area for most of their lives. After Dec. 7th 1941, the men of the LaFrance family joined the war as a call of duty devoted to their country. Gaston was an Army radar operator stationed on Normandy during WWII, and was more than likely one of the few who knew how to operate the fledgling technology during the second great war. Opon his return to the U.S. after the war, he joined his wife Doris and had a handful of children who fell in line with family tradition and joined the armed services. He was a man that held qualities that many do not possess or understand in these modern times- strong family values, a hard work ethic, undying love for his country, honor, honesty, respect. We was one of the most well traveled souls that I have met. From Europe to the Pacific, to the frigid Alaskan north, to the sunny shores of Mexico, the man traveled and embraced the journeys he had, even after losing his first wife and then re-marrying our current aunt Annette.
Heartbreaking news to my Mom, who never got to say goodbye to her brother, and who also, after just getting out of the hospital, will not be able to attend his services in a week. If the opportunity shows itself, I may be able to go back east to represent the family.
He will be missed greatly.



The soldier stood and faced God, Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining, Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, you soldier, How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek? To My Church have you been true?"
The soldier squared his shoulders and said, "No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns, Can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays, And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent, Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny, That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime, When the bills got just too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help, Though at times I shook with fear
And sometimes, God, forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place, Among the people here.
They never wanted me around, Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord, It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much, But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was a silence all around the throne, Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly, For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you soldier, You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets, You've done your time in Hell."

Oh damn!!!

There is just something about that October air isn't it?? The faint briskness in the morning, Sunday morning football games, all the Holiday crap out in the stores even before the Halloween stuff is out...and oh yeah, that means its just about time for THE 9TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY SOCIAL!!!!! WOOO HOOOO!!!! Nine years! That's almost a full freggin decade of memorable parties! Ah the food, the booze, the debauchery!!
Anyways, just a quick update on the party info.
No date is set yet, but I'll be shooting for the first week of December, as usual. I'm going to start planning a menu, the date, theme and guest list within a week. I usually give out invitations about 3-4 weeks in advance, so that people can get time off if needed. It may be 2 fold this year, with the party being on Saturday night, and continuing onto Sunday morning for a football party with the leftover food and booze...If y'all can handle it!! Anyways, keep your eyes and ears glued open as I'll be tossing out frequent updates in relation to this.
Peace out party-goers!!

The master plan

Yes, Shameus is a freggin lush, then again aren't we all? Well, after my breakup with my ex put a royal cabosh on the whole surprise birthday party in Hermosa Beach that included a surfboard, we needed to settle on plan B. If we had a plan B. Turns out that the cancelled Cali trip may have been a blessing in disguise seeing that now, most of us are a little tighter on the wallets, especially with the holidays coming.So, after discussing things over with Chris the other night, and a bottle of vino later, we decided on a semi-usual October camp trip. Its cheap, user friendly for everyone, provides a local enough escape that isn't too far, and is generally a really freggin good time.

Here's the catch though- we don't know which site we are going to go to yet. Why? Because at the time we are slated to go (Oct 26-29th), it may be late enough in the season that our number one choice up on top of the rim at our usual site, may be closed with rain or snow. That leaves our second choice, Camp Geronimo, also may be closed after this summer's fires blew right past them and may have resulted in the closure of the roads. We won't find out until the next weekend at least. Next week Chris and I plan to make a day road trip up to check conditions, talk to the ranger station staff and to scout around for some possible new areas that we may want to try.

Either way, we plan on going and doing something, so here's some simple rules. We want as many people as possible going on this trip. We are inviting EVERYONE! I mean everyone (well 90 % of everyone, some people just aren't our friends anymore). Stay as long or as short as you want, come and go as you please. We got breakfast food covered, but bring your own snacks and late night meals. You wanna drink, BYOB. We'll share some hard booze and mixers, but we aint your personal bartenders, sorry, but we don't have the cash to buy booze for all this time.

Expect chilly weather, bring warm clothes and clothes that dry easy, its been known to drizzle.

This is an undeveloped camp site, which means no showers, bathrooms, cabins, gift shops, etc...be prepared for it. We have developed an elaborate bathroom tent system that works wonders- its private, dry, with a sit down toilet. So if you are stressing about that shit, don't. We've had people come on the trip that were adamant on this issue and then changed their ways once they saw how convenient it is.

Lastly and most importantly- NO FREGGIN DRAMA! No fighting, plotting, rumoring, jealousy, trash talking, all about me attitudes, or other displeasantries, especially on a trip that (not to be greedy) is to celebrate my 30th bday. There may be mixed company there, so be prepared for a mingling of new and old faces. Can't handle it, don't go, take a hike (literally- the closest town with a phone is 10 miles away). This WILL be a fun filled, stress free trip where we all have a good time by golly!!!!

I'll get invites ready soon with directions, info and other shit as soon as we lock down a site. It may be cutting it close, but once you see this and are interested in going, pre-arrange the dates off and be prepared to go and do something!

Remember- October 26-29

I'll actually go out on my birthday night, Tuesday October 31st to celebrate, so if you can't make it on the trip, at least come out and join us on Halloween!!!

Updates as they come....stay tuned.

Am I a superstar?

Aftermath & Reflection

It will still be at least 2 weeks of rehabilitating recovery for Mom to be back to partial or full functionality. It is just a unfortunate way to get a realization of things that are or are to come in the future. Am I prepared for a departure of one or both of my parents. I'd like to think that I am, but you never truly are. Needless to say, I nor I think anybody is looking forward towards that day. It's disturbing, awkward but unfortunately necessary to find out what their final plans are. What they want done, where they want to be taken care of, what the fate of the estate will be, the fate of the family.
Looking back on what this event has given insight to so far is that lessons should be learned as to what happens when you get that old. How should one postpone the inevitable? I'm turning 30 in a month. There is no more time to waste thinking that I am invincible. I'm no longer a spry 19 year old in college that has plenty of time to ponder my future. I need to stop being so self-destructive to myself, because as I see the rest of my family age and have their health problems arise, I see what I am susceptible to. Cancers of all types, diabetes, Parkinson's, heart failure, high blood pressure, gastric problems, bone and joint conditions (which, as a bad sign, I'm already starting to feel effects of- guess I should have never played illegal tackle football in Jr High and broke my arm). I seriously need to take my diet and weight into consideration. I know I can still eat like a 16 year old, but soon enough, my body will take a bad turn in reacting to it.
I know I can't sit down and eat almost a whole package of oreo cookies with a half gallon of milk. Not that I have done that recently, those were the college days. Hell, I haven't had an oreo cookie in I think 2 years. I suppose I'm not doing that bad. I can't tell you the last time I ordered fast food, its been that long. Not that bar food is much better. At least a good portion of the bar food I've been eating is light enough and or grilled not fried.
I'm entering a strange transition right now of aging, family decisions, re-entering the dating scene with different people and future job security and career choices. Before I had some form of guidance. Now there is no solid master plan. Things have the possibility now, as per example from the past few days, that my life has the potential for an unconceivable path change in an instant. It's scary that I may have to give everything up that I have made for myself as a life here in order to take care of my family again. It would be something that I need to do though. I owe everything towards my parents and what they have done for me. After all, after being unplanned and unexpected, I shouldn't even be here today. Instead, they embraced it and changed their entire life to dedicate it towards my future. It's the very least I can do to respect what they have done.
At the very least it should be a realization that all things are temporary over a long enough time frame. We're all just visitors here. Maybe we should enjoy it and try to stay as long as we can or are welcome. I suppose then at the end, it would seem worth it.
Carpe Diem my friends.

Part 6, going home

I woke up Friday morning thinking I was back in high school. It was 8 am, and my old bedroom was still dark. It's like that all the time back home. The fog in the bay area doesn't clear up til 1pm, so it stays dark, unlike Arizona where its bright and blinding at 5 am. September had that chill in the air. I sleep with my window open back home, right above my head. That cold sea chill that invigorates your nostrils on each breath and makes you not want to leave the warmth of the blankets. That was probably why I had to rush to school enough times back in the day, didn't want to get out of bed. I lay awake in bed under the covers for a while. I remember times ten years ago. The smell of fresh brewed coffee and toast find their way once again into my room. I wait for the tell-tale ting a ling a ling of my dad's spoon stirring a scoop of sugar in his coffee. I can hear the pigeons cooing in the backyard. I'm already homesick and I haven't left yet.
I get up and dressed and eat some linguica and eggs for breakfast with dad. We decide on taking separate cars in case I have to leave for the airport straight from the hospital. Dad leaves and I take a quick shower. Before I leave I grab my camera and take a few snapshots of the yard, including the above pic of Dirty Ryan's old house. It's still his house, but its not the same. No more front porch, no trees in front, different paint, different feel.
I pack up my suitcase and toss it in the car and head up.
I expected that the doc would have come by now to give his opinion by now. I should have known better about the hospital system in this country. He was supposed to be around in the early morning, but being tied up in surgery made him come by at noon. Mom is frustrated, hungry, tired, uncomfortable and wants to get the hell out of there.
The doc says that she will need to keep the drain tube and bag in until Monday, but she can go home today. The nurse breaks down the discharge procedure for her, tells her about her meds, what to eat, drink, her activity levels, etc...simply put, soft foods, liquids for a bit, no activities besides walking for 2 weeks, and stay on your antibiotic cocktail til the script runs out. The nurse calls for a transport out of the hospital (stupid California law # 10943- no patient in the state of California can leave the hospital in any condition under their own power, they must be wheeled out by hospital staff). Lame... We end up waiting another 45 minutes for one guy to wheel her down the hall, into the elevator, and out the adjacent door to the sidewalk.
We put her in the car and head out. I drive to the house while dad drives mom to the pharmacy to fill her script. While they are there I grab a few of my dad's apples and tomatoes and pack them in the suitcase.
They come home and mom is instantly in a better mood. I have a bite of lunchmeat and a small roll with coffee before I leave for the airport. Mom is able to eat some of her homemade applesauce. She wolfs down the small bowl. It's the first good tasting thing she's had in three days, let alone anything solid.
I feel bad leaving, but I have to get to the airport. I say my goodbyes, tell mom I love her and as per tradition, my last view of home is dad standing out front exchanging waves goodbye.
Rest is standard...gas up the rental, return the car, shuttle to the airport, board a full plane, sit next to a VERY nervous Arab-American man, which makes me equally nervous. After the stressful 3 days I've had, that's just what I need, to be caught up in another air tragedy. At least I knew that if shit went down that I would let some stress out and do a whole lot of damage to this poor man before it ends. But I'm over-reacting. I think he's nervous thinking that I'm thinking that he's thinking of blowing the plane up or something. Fuck it, I'm too tired, I doze off with one eye open.
Get to Phoenix, pick up the truck and call my boss to tell him that I'll be in work at 8. Home sweet home, for 45 minutes at least. I call up a pizza order to thank the crew for covering my shifts while I was gone. Pick it up and deliver it. Ironically the main guy I wanted to thank started a diet the day before so he didn't eat any of it. So did I, so I couldn't touch it too. People ate it though, so no waste.
It's busy enough at work, but I'm just drained, physically, mentally and emotionally. I'm an empty shell at work that night that just wants to go home.

Part 5

We get back in from the hospital and Dad is toast. He crashes out around 1030. I stay up, make a sandwich and watch Dane Cook on HBO. At least his stand up is funny enough to brighten my spirits up tonight. I can't stay awake any longer though and I pass out on the bed close to midnight. The next morning I wake up and dad and I grab a quick breakfast before heading up to the hospital again. Mom is in a slightly better mood than yesterday, although the hospital food they are giving her as well as the the attention she is getting is lax. Liquid diet only, and a diabetic one at that. Dad and I feel a little guilty when we walk down to the cafeteria to grab a sandwich. I field some phone calls from family members, talk to my boss and give him updates as to when I'm coming home and then we head back up to the room.
They are starting to ween her off the morphine and work vicodin instead. She can get up and walk more now and finally go to the bathroom again even though its only pee now.
She wants to go home bad, its starting to get on her nerves. She dismisses us around 3 to go home and grab some dinner.
I leave first while dad stays for a few more minutes. I tell him that I won't be home until 4 because I had planned to go see my old water polo coach at my high school.
I drive down to the school and park the car.

I am Marc's wanton desire to live in the past again...

I walk into the new pool facility, which is nice, very nice, but not the same. On the other side of the fence where the old pool was is a courtyard and trees now. The girl's team is swimming on one side and the boys are stretching on the other side. I barely recognize Frank. 10 years has aged him greatly. He still has the same strong Italian presence though. The face has aged, but the heart and soul is there. That's what I always recognized anyway. We chew the fat while the boys start to warm up. Catching up on old times and updates is a good feeling to have with an old friend. It warms the soul. He leads the gang through warm-up drills as I watch with a blatant smile on my face. Same drills as before. I want to get in so bad. I can almost feel the chilly water on my face, the slight chlorine taste on my lips, the occasional blinding reflection off the water surface. I miss it. As with every visit back to see him and the team, he offers me a coaching position, whether it be an assistant to him, or in this case, a head coaching position for the girl's team. It's really tempting, too tempting. If I could take it, I would in a heart beat. If the day comes that I have to move back here I will. It has already hinted at shaping up that way, in a large way. Eventually something will happen to mom or dad, and I will have to come back.
Dad is considering another apartment building as an investment, with me managing and living in it. That's for another blog though. I say my goodbyes to Frank and leave him with a little inspiration for the kids by joking that if they ask who I was, by fault of me wearing a Air Force T-shirt, that I was a sports recruiter for the USAF team.
I head home and I whip up some broiled fish and potatoes and an acorn squash for dessert.
While I am working in the kitchen I hear a something going on in the garage. I stick my head around the corner to see what's going on.
Most of the year my dad has a problem with possums, raccoons, rats and squirrels in the backyard eating his crops or trying to kill his birds in the coop. In the past dad would call the local animal control guy for larger animals or kill the rats. Today he was flooding the garage sink with water.

I am Alfreds revenge against his creator...

Dad catches a squirrel in a large trap. In what I can only describe as Dad dishing a little payback against the God he does love, he wants a little payback after dealing with 5 years of cancer and now making the woman he loves suffer by handling the fate of one of God's creatures. The cage goes in the water and the squirrel is dead in less than a minute. Fertilizer for the lemon tree.
We eat dinner. Dad is stuffed and happy. Head back up to the hospital and I make the judgment call based on Mom's condition that I should be free to return to Phoenix the next day. We spend the night at the hospital talking about family, watching a few game shows on TV, then the hospital kicks us out after the end of visiting hours.
We have to be up early and at the hospital in the morning to wait for the doctor for a report and possible discharge so we head to bed.