MEETING NEIL IS EASY

Le Bistro

2009-11-11T08:11:00.003-06:00

I'm really starting to enjoy our wedding gifts...

Hammering in My Head

2009-11-04T07:07:00.003-06:00

In which the Lord of Broken Glass returns to Hell...

SLT and the SLP

2009-11-03T06:26:00.006-06:00

A speech therapist is a specialist with training in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of speech, voice, and language disorders who works with people unable to make speech sounds or who cannot make them clearly.

Meeting Neil is Easy is NOT a speech therapist.

Hesitant and halted speech is one of many symptoms associated with Corticobasal Degeneration, the progressive neurological disease my mom is suffering with. We’ve been anticipating for a long time that my mom’s speech, which has been deteriorating for months, would completely vanish.

We’re finally crossing that bridge.

The image above (minus the creepy smiley face… well, maybe) is part of a homemade AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) board that I’ve been working on that unfortunately we need to start implementing into her daily life immediately. Two days after our reception I was told that my mom went through a three day stretch where her speech was extremely limited, causing quite a panic for everyone at home. Things seem to have evened out a bit, but nonetheless it’s a sign that things are starting to get worse.

I’m told that a new speech therapist is supposed to be working with my mom, but there’s only so much that anyone can do at this point. I’m at least hoping that this person can at least point us in the right direction.

I have no idea what I’m doing.

Aftermath Part 2

2009-11-02T08:07:00.008-06:00

My god, it went by so fast. A single week removed from the big reception and that’s still the biggest thing I dwell on. For all the preparation and hard work and needless stressing out and bickering, the thing was over in a heartbeat.

And of course we were told that would happen. Other couples were more than happy to share their experiences, their pain, telling us what to expect and what to prepare for, but until you go through it… Wow! That was a complete blur!

I wish we had more time to actually hang out with people. Joanna and I were pushed and pulled in so many directions at once that I didn’t even feel like we got to chill out with anyone. Again… things we were told to expect but didn’t quite understand until thrown directly into the belly of the beast.

Both of us barely had a chance to talk to our friends and by the time we did, the whole thing was over. Next thing you know we were packing up, heading home, walking Jasper, feeding the mamimals, somehow losing Veronica on Northwest Highway (even though there were only two other cars on the road with us), meeting family and friends at Abruzzi’s, scarfing down pizza, wings, beer, and then heading to Lake Geneva for a few days of much needed relaxation before both of us succumbing to sniffles and colds.

The vacation was great. Even though it’s barely an hour-and-fifteen minutes away, I had never been to Lake Geneva before and didn’t know what to expect. And yes, I discovered rather quickly that Lake Geneva is indeed a quaint little college-esque type of town that happens to be on a body of water that’s catered for rich folk who seem to have nothing to do but spend spend spend and have disturbing little happy smiles permanently tattooed on their itty bitty teeny weeny white round puny faces.

It was cute. And orange.

Very orange.

Granted, we don’t get to travel very often – but if Fall leaves in transition are your thing, then by George grab yourself a camera, some tissue paper, and your favorite bottle of lotion for some good old-fashioned hardcore stroking because you won’t be disappointed.

We stayed at a place called the Lazy Cloud, just about two miles outside of town. It was very very very relaxing and worth every penny. I highly recommend it.

It was the perfect getaway for both of us. We stayed in a lot, took a lot of naps, did a little site-seeing, window shopping, walked along the lake, visited an orchard, and (from what I remember) got totally blitzed one particular night drinking beer and eating dollar hamburgers while watching Game One of the World Series (did I mention how much I love my wife????). Good times!

And god, even though I don’t smoke it was nice to be able to sit down at a normal bar where the patrons can actually be inside and enjoy their cigarettes and alcohol in peace and not have to step outside every fifteen minutes. It’s been so long not being inside what used to be a rather “normal” environment, that just seeing ashtrays sitting out seemed like a novelty act.

“Can I really smoke inside here????”

So now I’m in limbo. I’ve been up since 4:30, walked the dog three times, Joanna just left for work, but I don’t go back until tomorrow. So I’m trapped here with the animals and my own thoughts and mini-errands to keep me company.

I’m both excited and dreading the return to real life, like it’s the last day of summer vacation before heading back to school. But stuff has already quickly piled on and relaxation is about to end.

Oh joy, oh joy, oh joy.

Aftermath

2009-10-31T09:39:00.008-06:00

And when they opened the box and looked inside, inside their hearts they found...

I'll have plenty more to say about this post-reception/post-honeymoon period both Joanna and I are swimming in, but right now both of us are still relatively relaxed and I'd like to ride this wave as long as possible. Gotta say though that it's great to be back, it's great to be home, it's great to have our animals snuggling with us, barfing, puking, fighting, shedding, shitting everywhere in site. It's oh so magically delicious. Now who wants to go for a walk?

So before everything we left behind a week ago resurfaces and sinks their teeth in I would like to leave you with this (note: e-mail subscribers will have to visit my site to hear the audio off the flash player):

It's the full audio from our introduction from last Sunday's wedding reception. Not sure how long this will be up (many obvious copyright violations here), but please enjoy while you can. The two of us were nervous as heck walking in, but I was certainly aware that it cut off early before we had to go straight into the cake cutting portion of the evening. Enjoy.

Oh, and here's a pretty fierce version of our cake cutting tune (and yes, we did have Star Wars caketoppers):

The First Dance

2009-10-26T06:55:00.008-06:00

What quietly started on July 18 has now officially finally come to an end... GET ME TO MY HONEYMOON NOW!!!

Joanna and I would like to thank everyone who were able to come out last night to share in our special day. As I'm typing this, I'm pretty sure I'm still a little drunk so probably best that I cut this short until sometime later. Sliding drills... What was I thinking????

For those who were unable to attend, I give to you "The First Dance"*...

Music and Lyrics by Neil Klemz, Rabin Pirakitti, and Veronica Yessa

Vocals by Clarissa Novales

Produced by Bill Aldridge, Neil Klemz, and Rabin Pirakitti

*For those who get these things sent via e-mail, you'll need to click on my actual post to access the embeddable Flash player that has the song in it. I'm too tired to post a downloadable version at this time. Meow.

Mustard and Mayo Please

2009-10-01T06:32:00.005-06:00

It's one of those things which, without any sort of documentation or inflammatory evidence, you'd never have remembered. And we're going to keep it that way...

A Moment to Reflect

2009-09-30T06:44:00.001-06:00

It's peaceful when everybody's gone.

Thirty-Four

2009-09-29T09:07:00.004-06:00

Plenty left to add, plenty left to say...

Plenty left to take away.

Twitter

2009-09-28T08:21:00.004-06:00

Yes, it is true. After an almost two year absence Meeting Neil is Easy has returned to the fine world of Twitter. You can follow my daily mundane exploits here.

Rogue One, This is...

2009-09-27T08:48:00.008-06:00

Billy Barule recently sent out an audio file of him messing around with the Rogue keyboard that just happens to be sitting in his lovely studio. I messed around with it a little bit and sent it back... with a little soy sauce.

By Popular Demand...

2009-09-26T14:36:00.004-06:00

Another photograph of Jasper!

Audio sketch inspired by our little man. Woof. Downloadable version available here.

Woof

2009-09-25T05:33:00.001-06:00

This is Jasper. He's a dog.

A Walk in the Park

2009-09-07T21:50:00.005-06:00

H(art) Block in Progress

2009-09-03T09:12:00.005-06:00

Cannonball

2009-08-31T10:11:00.003-06:00

Photograph taken just down the street from my parents. Audio created shortly after. Downloadable version available here.

But Hey...!

2009-07-30T05:36:00.004-06:00

where
have you
been
if you go i will surely die...

we're chained.

He Gone!

2009-07-28T19:35:00.005-06:00

Dear Brian Anderson,

When given the rare opportunity to play, you certainly patrolled the outfield like a golden gazelle. It’s true. And as memorable and outstanding DeWayne Wise’s catch was last week to preserve Buehrle’s perfect game, we all know that if you were in center-field you not only would have caught that ball with your teeth (Andy’s words), but you would have done it blindfolded... with both style and grace. We will miss you.

But god damn it suckhole, as awesome a defenseman you are you certainly know how to ruin it by being the dumbest pile of turdsicle at the dish. Shit man, if you could only just shorten that stupid swing of yours and hit the fucking ball consistently even at a measly .240 you would have OWNED center field. OWNED it. Friggin’ idiot.

So maybe a change of scenery is the best scenario. Clear that head of yours. Start fresh.

So here’s to you, Mr. Anderson. May you improve your approach at the plate as creamy chowdah dribbles from your chin. Maybe the green monster can offer you a delicious crab cake while you’re riding the bench.

- Meeting Neil is Easy

a need for < c l a r i t y >

2009-07-27T22:56:00.006-06:00

a little riff and melody that fell into my lap earlier this afternoon...

Pigs Line Up

2009-07-27T11:59:00.008-06:00

Ahhhh... The cowards have finally decided to show.

For the majority of the 2009 Major League Baseball season the northwest suburban town I reside in has been fairly vacant of the infamous "Cubs Win" flags which usually adorn the majority of homes in my area. To those who own them, these flags are a particularly treasured item symbolising their every ounce of love and devotion to all things Cubbie.

When displayed and utilized properly (i.e. - put 'em out when they win, take 'em down when they lose) a part of me finds them cool in an annoyingly cuddly kind of way. Barf.

Unfortunately this is seldom done. Most homeowners simply leave them up twenty-four hours a day/seven days a week next to their raggedy and discolored American flags. Not sure I know which one I find more offensive.

Up until yesterday there have only been a couple of homes in my area waving their "W" flags. I guess after such a dreadfully slow start to the season, Cubs fans in my area have been hesitant to show their pride. But now all of a sudden that they've finally weaselled their way into first place, they're all crawling out of the mud.

Yesterday during my daily stroll through my neighborhood: 2 flags.

Today during my daily stroll: 17 flags.

And I'm sure there will be more.

Watch out everybody. The pigs are lining up.

And Armageddon is getting bored.

Wash it Away

2009-07-26T07:29:00.005-06:00

"It wasn't the easiest time," says General Dismay of the period after the now legendary falafel incident. "But what in life ever is?"

Mercy!

2009-07-23T16:22:00.007-06:00

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=5699065

Run to the spot children. Run to the spot.

Here we go again...!

2009-07-23T15:05:00.002-06:00

purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrfecto!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DISMAY< b e >

2009-07-22T15:39:00.004-06:00

What can I say? Things are starting to look a little bit different around here...

Photograph by Hobbes.

Help Me, I am in Hell

2009-07-11T10:24:00.004-06:00

b y hook <> by c r o o k / by h o o k <> b y crook