marcusharwell.net » family

Zoe’s First Birthday

Marcus — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 03:12:33 +0000

Waaay back at the end of June, we attended my first-cousin-once-removed’s birthday party. I’m not much for infants getting parties, since they won’t remember, but my cousins definitely needed one, and the adult human contact it provided.

Although, I was a bit surprised at the amount of booze.

Cousins galore showed up, as did my parents.

Morgan had a good time yakking with all, while I consumed the last alcohol I’d imbibe until after the film. Solely for the calories, not for any weird artistic reason.

Zoe seemed to enjoy what she could understand, but especially liked the cupcake she got, most of which ended up on her face, not in it. She started feeding her father some of the mashed-up crumbs after she’d mangled the top of the thing, in the cutest birthday moment, ever. So, naturally, I failed to get a shot of it.

And then we were exhausted and called it a day.

Quick Vegas Trip

Marcus — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:27:13 +0000

We took a quick drive up to Henderson, ostensibly to visit my parents, but a big motivation to go was to visit the dog, who was taken by my mom the last time she came through L.A.

It’s more than a little disheartening to think that she likes being with my parents more than being home. Grandparents syndrome?

Hanging With Your Parents

Marcus — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 06:46:39 +0000

I know most people aren’t down with the idea of hanging out with their folks. But I kind of like it. We stayed an extra three days in Vegas (well, Vegas-adjacent) just to spend some quality goof-off time. My parents are pretty great, and always have been. They support my dreams and my creativity, they encourage me, and they’re there when I need them. I regretted that my final breakfast was my last meal for a while there. Which, I suppose, is how you should always leave someone else’s house as a guest.

Xmas: The Road to Consumption, pt. 3

Marcus — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:19:12 +0000

Awoke to a bit of snow still on the ground and 34 degrees. I got yer White Christmas …

It was a terrific haul, though. Plenty of goodies to go around, and I think the pragmatism prize went to my lovely sister-in-law, who probably got a bit more “need” than “want.” Not that they’re mutually exclusive.

My brother began dreaming of next year’s revelry almost immediately.

His friend, Tom, and wife’s cousin, April, joined in.

I, looking like I’d been ridden hard and put away wet, then rolled up and left in a drawer somewhere, hypnotically goofed with my iPhone when we needed answers to trivia, wondered what the weather was going to be like, and as the Xmas text messages rolled in, en masse.

Even Moxie got a present, from the softies at the local coffee shop. She unwrapped it herself, the little shredder.

It was a pile, and chaos once again reined supreme among the torn paper and sealed boxes. Oh yeah, that is indeed a PS3 on that stack, bitches.

Night brought the most beautiful cityscape I’ve seen from the house. The Luxor Pyramid light blasted up through the clouds, which reflected back the glorious excess of The Strip.

Merry Happy to all!

Thanks

Marcus — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 17:42:24 +0000

This is the day for it. Not that we shouldn’t be thankful the other 364, but today, we’re forced. So, Morgan, I am thankful for you. you’re stoic, resolute, funny, caring, talented, forthright, capable, and a million other adjectives I admire. If I take you for granted sometimes, I’m sorry, but you make it easy, even when times are tough. I’m glad you’re my partner in love and in life.

Mom, you gave me life, which I appreciate, sure, but you also encourage and support me. You inspire and amaze me. You kept my spirits up during hard times, and you let me choose my own path in life, never demanding that I knuckle under to the status quo or to be anything other than my true self. Your steadfastness and creativity seem infinite, and you enjoy life more than anyone I know.

James, my brother, you show me the value of stability. Also diplomacy. I like to argue, and you sometimes drive me up the wall with your extreme measures to keep the peace, but we have more in common than we have differences. Grandad was right thirty years ago: despite an adversarial (sometimes mildly violent) relationship when we were little, we’ve become the best of friends as adults. Plus you like a lot of the same goofball humor I do, and having someone to laugh with over something no one else around finds funny is pretty great.

Family, you made it a priority to stick together, to appreciate differences, and to recognize that there is strength in diversity and in humility.

Friends, I love you and I need you. Friendship is what is most important to me in life, and I get attached and vulnerable. But the risk of being hurt sometimes is well worth it. You rock.

As for the rest? Music, books, the internets, urban centers, science, the British, Jon Stewart, office supplies, movies, guitars, iPhone, Matt Mahaffey, aircraft, comics, rain, sketch comedy, cooking, beer, animation, Duke Kahanamoku, California, beneficent bacteria, humanity.