Since T and I joined our CSA, we’ve been trying all sorts of fun, new-to-us, veggies.  I think after the season is over, we’ll still be on the hunt for kohlrabi and bok choy at the grocery stores.

We’ve found that cooking with unfamiliar ingredients brings on a few challenges.  I don’t think we could have gotten as far if we didn’t have two “new faves” in the cookbook department.  From Asparagus to Zucchini: A Guide to Cooking-Farm Fresh Seasonal Produce and Simply in Season.  They have rightfully earned a place on our countertop next to the ever-present Better Homes & Gardens cookbook, our church’s cookbook, and my binder of saved recipes.

What’s your favorite cookbook?

Go congratulate our Calliope!

My life has been reduced to bulletpoints.  Observe:

• T’s motorcycle safety class begins tomorrow evening.  After that, I’ve told her that she can now commute to work on the bike.  Oy.
• I’ll be stag all weekend, due to T’s class.  Anyone want to come hang out with me?
• The automotive ballet has reached its graceful conclusion.  Da bro and his bride bought a new-to-them Kia.  This makes, out of 5 vehicles in our family (us, Mom, bro, bride), 4 are Kia models.  The assimilation will soon be complete.
• Tomorrow will be our last day in the hotel and on Monday, my department will return to the office downtown.  I will once again have a phone at my desk.  There are plusses and minuses to that.
• In honor of my graduation, I’ve rewarded myself with a new iPod (classic, silver, 80g).  Of course, this made T jealous, so she had to get a new one too (nano, black, 8g). 
• Life seems clearer, so we’re going back into the pool.  Again.

Some of you may notice a new “sign-off” on some of my comments to your blog.  If I comment on your blog, and you don’t see it, do not be dismayed.  It could just be that I’m acting my haircolor, or really tired, or both.  For explaination on the sign-off, read here.

In other news, T honored her brother Friday night the way he would have wanted: by drinking more than her fair share of beer, and having a good time with friends.  No, she does not drink that often, and I don’t think she’ll drink that much again for many months.

After the events of the last several weeks, I’m feeling a real need to pamper myself.  I’m thinking about getting a massage very soon (like tomorrow, if possible), and maybe even a facial.  I think my wife, my mother, and my sister-in-law-to-be all need the same thing, too.

How do you pamper yourself?

Excuse me while I put on my Pa.ul Har.vey disguise.

• The automotive ballet has eased somewhat.  Bro’s car has been totaled, and he and his fiancee are car shopping.  Meanwhile, her father is loaning her one of his beater cars.
• Which is good, because I’m back to work.  Not at my office, mind you, but in a hotel conference room.  Not the most ideal situation, however.  My job requires a phone line and there is no phone to be had around here.
• Bro’s wedding in Oct was supposed to be at one of the museums in town.  The one that flooded.  The one that’s being gutted.  You know…the one that has cancelled all facility rentals through the end of the year.
• Daniel’s memorial is tomorrow.  Of course, T’s niece screwed up T’s name, and although T asked that I be listed, my name isn’t there.  Frankly, I don’t care.  Just par for the course with her.
• Dad’s visitation and service were wonderful.  He would have loved it, especially the food.
• Um.  I thought I had more to post here.  Guess not.

Today was Dad’s memorial.  Below is what I said during the “Family Rememberances” portion of the service.

On behalf of my family, I want to thank all of you for coming today.  Dad loved a good party, and he would have had a great time visiting with all of you.  And I know he would be honored and touched by all of this.

He was known by many names:  He was Tommy, Tom, Mr. ****, and to two very lucky people, he was simply Dad.  He was a father, a husband, a brother, a cousin, a nephew, a co-worker, a fantastic cook, and always a friend.  But one of our favorite titles for him was “storyteller”.  How many of us have been regaled by his tales of history and humor, or even endured his many jokes?  In your bulletins today are blank cards.  When you get a chance, please help us continue telling his stories by writing down your favorite “Tom Tale”.

As for myself, I could tell countless stories about Dad.  Like when I went off to college and he told me that he wanted me to get drunk, just once, because “everyone should have that experience of worshipping the porcelain god.”  Or I could tell you about his little red scooter, and how he would use it to go grocery shopping, or to the drive-up window at Burger King.  Or maybe we could talk about how that last hymn, “Beulah Land” was one he’d play on the piano when we were getting ready for church.  We could also sit and talk about how he was my first best friend, and about that wonderful bond a little girl has with her father.

But what I want to tell you today is that as a family, we rarely say “goodbye” to each other.  Instead, Dad would always tell us “seeyoubye”.  Not “see you, bye”, but all one word.  He would always call it out to us as we would leave the house.  It meant “be safe”, “be well”, “I will see you soon”, “God be with you”, and “I love you with all my heart”, all in one word.  “Seeyoubye.”  We could always count on him saying it to us, and us calling it back out to him.  During those last two weeks in the hospital, even when he wasn’t saying much, he would still be able to say “seeyoubye.”  “Be safe”, “be well”, “I will see you soon”, “God be with you”, and “I love you with all my heart.”  So instead of saying goodbye to him today, we all are saying the same thing. 

“Seeyoubye.”

Right now, we’re wading.  Not waiting, just wading.  Wading thru life, thru our days, etc.

We just got back from TX for the memorial that hasn’t happened yet for T’s brother.  Don’t ask.  Trust me.  But we’re home, and I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to be home.

Thanks to everyone for your emails and comments.  Your support right now means the world to me.  What am I saying?  Your support ALWAYS means the world to me.  Thank you.  I’m blessed to “know” you.

It is with a painful heart that I inform you that my brother, Daniel, passed away this morning at 11:45 pm.   He was a loving son, father, brother, and more often than not, husband.  Daniel came into this world on October 22, 1955.  (Now, in the last 10 years, he’s been trying to say he was born in 1956, making himself younger.  But he’s 10 years older than I am and I’m not ever going to let him forget that fact.)  He passed from this world on June 27, 2008.

He was an avid motorcyclist and bass fisherman.  The bass fishing took a back seat later in life as he began to focus more on riding his bike.  He was a proud member of “Biker Tr*sh” - I never knew such a thing existed til I saw his tattoo two weeks ago along with his customized chopper for which he won a trophy. 

He was a simple man who made good in life but lost most of it when he and the love of his life divorced.  They had a true love/hate relationship so I know there was always passion there - not always a good thing, trust me.  She is mourning him as much as we are.

I will miss my brother, but will rejoice knowing that he and our mama are reunited and having a ball!!  He took her passing the hardest of all us kids so I’m glad he’s the first one that gets to be with her again. 

Until then, Daniel, I love you!  Give mama a hug from me…and Blondie!