Hi! Yes, I’m alive! A rare state these days. (Insensitive, much?) I can’t really remember what’s been going on these past couple of days because, apparently, there are no news except for Michael Jackson’s death. Nothing else is happening! ACCORDING TO THE MEDIA, THAT IS. I don’t know if it’s always been that way and I am just now realizing it but, holy crap, news media just jumps at things like this, don’t they? And twenty-four hours later you feel bad because you’re tired of the same damn thing over and over again, shame on you, you say to yourself, you’re an asshole for being tired of hearing about MJ’s death. But really, they are assholes for milking it beyond good measure. I’ll say it: I’m tired of this circus already. However, for the record, yes, like everyone else, I grew up listening to his music, and yes, I can appreciate his super star status and his revolutionary style both musically and as far as dancing goes – but really, Michael Jackson always just weirded me out completely.

Still, I’m sad for those of you who are fans, and, certainly, for his family.

Moving on. Did you see the irony in me writing about how much I’m tired of everyone writing about MJ? It’s always a slippery slope with those kinda rants.

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We got my grandmother settled into her new apartment. It’s cool despite the cruel heat wave we’ve been having, it’s just big enough, it’s brand spankin’ new, and she’s totally okay with it. To which I say: she better be! No one else in this family has that big and nice a space just for themselves! (But then, she lived in her old house for forty years so it would be understandable if she was experiencing some homesickness.) We’ve been slaving away for days now, and finally most of her things are at the new place. Tomorrow the new kitchen will be delivered and put in, something I’m ridiculously excited about. Seriously, I’m A Housewife From The 50s Caught In A Young Feminist’s Body. Coming soon to a theater near you.

Also! My dad has to give back his company car early tomorrow morning. His contract with the old employer ends this month, so of course the car has to go also. He’s devastated about it because he has to give up his beloved Saab. Never mind that he’s already bought a new, perfectly fine Volkwagen for a new car and that we still have the Saab convertible sitting in our driveway (that my mom is usually driving). That’s the kind of thing I don’t understand: cars as status symbols, or any status symbols for that matter. Why would you give a shit? But alas, my father does care, and so I have the wonderful job of consoling him after he’s giving back the Saab tomorrow and listen to the whole All Is Gone Now: The House, The Car, The Job speech. Awesome sauce, yes yes yes.

Truly wonderful, though, is the prospect of the upcoming two-week family vacation on our favorite little island. We try to go there once a year, although in recent summers it didn’t really work out. We went once in the fall, I think, which was equally awesome because I love that cold wind at the raging North Sea. Love it more than the summers up there, actually, but here is what summer looks like on Texel:

And! In other news, my mom and I just bid on a beach chair on Ebay – an early birthday present from the family to her. She’s been doing research on this for, I kid you not, far over a year. She’s been stalking sellers and buyers, and tonight, finally, all that paid off. I was her cheerleader, if you will, constantly yelling to go higher, beat that motherf-, go higher! And rejoice, everyone, we’re expecting that thing to get here soon-ish. We got it at The Best Price, too. Beach chairs are part of most beaches at the German coast (and other countries’ coasts, of course) but they’ve become very common in backyards and on patios also. It’ll be the most comfy place for summer reads in the future. Hurray! I’m crossing my fingers for our first Ebay adventure (!) to turn out a success, and for the beach chair to actually look nice and be of good quality.

So. Writing’s been coming along fine, although I’ve been in a crappy mood for a couple of days. I think I may miss Maastricht and my wonderful apartment there and most importantly my cherished solitude but also my grandmother’s move is just taking for-ever, and I wish we could talk about something else for a change. Meh. I’m just… dreading my father’s official last day at his job tomorrow; hoping sincerely he won’t be crying because I don’t know how to handle that.

Early day tomorrow, I’ll catch y’all later.