Not too much going on. We have moved into the master room, and the new roomie has moved into our old room. We are still having issues with the original roommate pair and are hoping they move back to Texas before we have to kill them. Troubles with filling the spare room too. Keep having people commit and then flake. Irene and Anthony are back in for a month or so, although I'm starting to get very tired of always having to bail them out of bad housing choices. But it's hard to say no...
Work is going okay.
We have a new Prius, and the VW is no more. N's Honda is fixed and looking new. Now we just need to get the bike worked on and we'll be great.
N finally got her financial aid going, and is taking her final class for her degree.
I've had a few fillings done, and will have my wisdom teeth extracted (finally!) at the end of the month.
Ardenwood Ren Faire is this weekend in Fremont. I am looking forward to it. It is likely the only Faire this season I will make it to.
We are starting a DC Heroes RPG on Sundays cause the GM wanted to take a break from D&D. It's shaping up rather nicely with character creation. Should be fun to see how it plays.
Picking up more wedding stuff.
Preparing for Halloween. Expect the official invite to that party coming soon. It should be a lot of fun. I hope everyone comes who's expressed interest. Yay, Discworld!

Okay folks! We will be painting the master room on Monday. If anyone is available that can help (and knows how to hold a paint brush and manuever it in a vaguely vertical fashion against a wall) let us know! It'll be a mini-party or something. We can order pizza and watch a movie or play a game afterward.
And on Wednesday, to help folks prep for our Discworld Halloween party, we will be getting together to watch Hogfather (live action), Wyrd Sisters (animated), and Soul Music (animated). And if we can get our grubby little hands on it, The Colour of Magic/Light Fantastic (live action) as well. (I think it officially goes on sale in September?) If you're interested in joining us, please let me know! We will be discussing costume possibilities as well as viewing the films, so it is sort of a Halloween pre-planning party. :) We have most of the books available for skimming if you need some ideas and are familiar with the books. Arrangements to borrow books can be made if you are not familiar with them, and those of us who DO know them can help you figure out what sort of character you might want and can point you at the correct books from there. :D
RSVP either here, via email or text, or just call me. XD
Hope to see you all this week!

In talking with a few other guests, I learned Sylvester Stallone's brother Frank, and Frank's wife, were also at Celeste's shindig.
And the world continues to tilt. ;)

So, I went to a gypsy horse get together and mini-show this weekend. There was also a riding/training clinic on Day 2 that I did not stay for (too broke) being taught by the imminent trainer in the country at the moment- Diane Rossi. This little shindig was being hosted by Celeste Huston, and I wound up invited because I am on a yahoo group dedicated to these beautiful horses! I brought yresim, and her service dog, along for the ride. It was unbelievable!
Diane Rossi brought her red fresian, and her star fresian, and an andelusian, her arab named Sheik, and and a few others. They were very pretty and it was neat to be able to watch her in action with them. I feel very priviledged! Especially since it did not cost us to attend this part of the get together. And frankly, the clinic was only going to be $65 a person, which is a great deal to be taught by this woman, but we just didn't have the extra finances laying around due to other issues at home right now. *sad face*
This trip was extremely fun, and I finally got to meet some of the many lovely ladies who are on the list whom I have been corresponding with for many years now. And the horses were to die for! I got to see, and before leaving Sunday morning actually visit with, my absolute favorite stallion of Celeste's- St Clarins! He's a gorgeous silver dapple- so brown he looks black, with white white white mane and tail, stockings, and a big bold blaze. I absolutely HEART this horse! yresim has been bitten by the gypsy bug now too. LOL She saw her dream horse at this event- a buckskin paint gypsy stallion who closely resembled a filly she used to own. And he is for sale. She couldn't tear her eyes off him. His name is Sir Collin.
The first person we spoke with on arrival was named Angelica. She pointed out a few people and directed us to our host "she's over there, the one in all pink!" and was very nice. We spoke with her a few more times over the afternoon/evening. During dinner we spoke with a lovely woman named Mary, who tried to sell yresim two horses just like Sir Collin. We spoke with her for several hours over the course of the evening, and she sat at our table to eat dinner. We also got to chat with Ella and many others I recognized from the yahoo group.
Celeste, our host, before dinner told everyone there would be a costume contest and the finalists were being selected by some "secret special judges". We made it into the finals. She later added that the judges making the selections included Angelica Huston (of course, this didn't click right away, as Celeste's last name is Huston and Angelica isn't that rare a name!! We thought, oh a relative is helping out, that's cool.) and Bo Derek. Later, during dessert, she lined up all the finalists for the audience to judge from. Angelica was standing two people away from us with a microphone, in profile, and we were looking her way when Celeste announced that Angelica Huston would be interviewing the finalists. Looking at her when her name was said, it suddenly dawned on me that this was not just "Angelica Huston, relative of Celeste" but was actually THE ANGELICA HUSTON. I turned to yresim and said pretty much that. She looked over at her, and said, "Oh my god, Morticia Addams!" And right about then she got to us and put a microphone in our face. I'm suprised we didn't pass out or say anything too horribly stupid!! And we'd ALREADY BEEN CHATTING WITH HER ALL DAY. And stupid us, left the camera in the car trunk when we'd arrived and never gotten around to fetch it! I hope to get copies of photos from other guests once they've returned home and had time to upload them! As for Bo Derek, we couldn't even remember what she looked like, so we weren't sure we'd actually seen her while we were there. But it was nagging at us in the back of our mind, so we googled her when we got back home and saw a recent photo. BO DEREK WAS MARY WHO ATE WITH US, SPENT MOST OF THE EVENING TALKING TO US, AND TRIED TO SELL US TWO HORSES.
This was the most surreal party I think I have ever been to. Not only were there celebrities mingling with us common folk, but we'd spoken with them and didn't even know it at the time!! They were both super nice ladies. And probably appreciated not being treated like famous people and getting asked for photos or autographs. But geesh! I still can't believe we got to hang out with them!!

Hey guys. It looks like we are going to be obtaining a lawyer to deal with the problem roommates. They are threatening court/lawsuit. Don't even get me started!!


So... what I need from you all, if you can, is:

Personal statements regarding our character

If you have ever been to our home, on Lundy Ave or here on Guanacaste Ct, personal statements regarding the overall state/cleanliness of the location(s) in question

Personal statements regarding unpacked boxes being noted out of the way and neatly stacked or if they were obstructing furniture and thoroughfares

Personal statements as to whether the counters/dishes were observed to be clean

Personal statements as to whether the cat litter boxes appeared to be maintained

In addition, if you were among those who noticed the smell of illegal substances within the home, and particularly from the realm of the master bedroom, a personal statement about what/where you noted the scent and what you believe the scent to have been

If you have been witness to any of the white board communications, particularly the particular tone of certain notes, a personal statement regarding content/implied intent from wording and your perception of such


If you have any dates for any of the above to reference, or photos from parties/gatherings held at either location, please include those as well. For character statements, please include how long you have known us.

Please submit signed statements via postal mail! Just ask for address if you do not have it. We will be happy to provide it.


I hate to have to bring everyone into this, but one of the roommates in question holds a law degree and is insisting on making the entire process onerous, so we want all the ammo we can bring to the table with us!!

So on my way to the ER to be seen for the worker's comp claim, I wind up in a car accident! Some idiot decided to pull out in front of me from a court without looking first. Our car is pretty thrashed. But on the bright side, the police took his license and towed his car for a 30 day hold.
At the ER now, they just did a ct scan of my face from getting punched. Just waiting on results now. At least I'm being paid to be here, and got the night off in the bargain!

Lots to update, but I'll wait till my headache goes away.
Got punched in the face at work today. Stupid street racing punks. At least they threw their beer can at my patrol car first- we can get fingerprints off it to go along with the license plate and police report...
Have a nice goose egg under my left eyeball along the cheekbone.

I am not great, but am okay.
We still have one car in the shop for repairs, and household tensions tend to run high as there are just too many people living in the house. We let a friend and her son rent out the spare room because they had been living in Fresno and her girlfriend at the time beat the crap out of her and her roommate kicked her out when she told her she was thinking of moving back to the bay area (all this in the same week). The two gay boys who rent the master room complain about everything, and use everyone's stuff without asking, and then say they are being picked on when it is pointed out. We've had to start labelling things, and are learning to just ignore their whining, as it seems to mostly be a hobby rather than legitimate complaints. And the other pair of roommates have their three kids coming to visit next week, and they are supposed to be here for about a month. So it is going to be more crowded, and everyone is still adjusting to each other and stressed out. Makes everyone on edge.
Boo started her internship this week also, so I am lucky if I see her at all. She is only home now for maybe five hours all together, and usually sleeping for it since she is working herself ragged.
I was hoping to start classes in the fall with a distance program through Prescott College, as they have the exact combination of degrees that I want to work toward, but with finances as they are, I doubt I will be able to begin this year.
A friend I only knew online, but had offered up her home on our Vermont trip should we be in the area and wanted to drop by, died early yesterday. She'd been hospitalized for asthma, and they'd sucked a massive blood clot and lots of flem from her lungs, over the weekend. She had seemed to be recovering well, but when they began to wean her from the meds keeping her unconscious they found bleeding in her brain that could not be treated and she never woke up. They waited until the family was present yesterday before removing her from the life support. She was in her late fourties, and was a kind and generous spirit. I wish I'd had the chance to meet her in person...
I have been hired part time as an inspector for boats at the county lakes. I start training tomorrow, but it is only going to be two days a week to start. I might have an evening care giver gig for a couple hours during the evenings. I am still on call for Santa Cruz county to sub for their special ed instructional aides. But on the bright side, the house is looking cleaner and more organized and more boxes have been unpacked and gone through. :)

It occurs to me, belatedly, that I should probably actually give you all links for that stuff. D'oh!
Gift cards can be acquired at http://www.victoriantradingco.com
Mead of Poetry is for sale from http://www.rabbitsfootmeadery.com
And my paypal is StormchasersFolly@gmail.com :-)

I was maybe four and a half, in kindergarden. My dad was working for Keebler at the time doing deliveries. I remember him taking me with him on a haul and then being late to class. The teacher, Mrs. Eshelmann, started to get upset and lecture my dad, but he went out to the semi and came back with boxes of graham crackers and cookies- enough for a month of snack times. I was excused from the tardy. It's the earliest coherent memory I have... :-)

Idina Menzel, after a Wicked performance during her last week with the show in New York. We were waiting to get a few things signed and to give her an Elsie cow from RENT. Before she came out, we'd all been told that she wouldn't be posing for pictures or personalizing anything she signed, and she'd just be going through the line and then be gone. There were probably a hundred people outside wanting to see her. She came out, and was signing and smiling nervously and not really talking to anyone. People would hand her flowers and little gifts, and she would hand them to two ladies (her agents probably) behind her to carry. When she got to us, we handed her the first cow. She actually looked up at us, and said "They make these now?" I said yes, and she smiled and said "You know I don't get any money from these". I laughed and said she was probably right. She said it was cute though, and where did I want her to sign? Then she commented on the fluff of the plushy being too fluffy to write on, so she would just sign the cow's t-shirt. She signed and handed it back, then signed a few other things we all had. Then I handed her cow number two and told her that one was for her. She said "Oh my god, really? It's too cute! Thank you!" and smiled and tucked it under her arm to hold as she moved on.
It was about then we realized that the entire rest of the crowd was glaring at us and we were likely to get mobbed by angry fans whom she didn't stop to talk to nor cuddle their gifts. We quickly squeezed through and left the area. I was highly entertained, and thrilled that she liked my present. XD

California's Supreme Court is supposed to announce its ruling on the validity of gay marriage here on Tuesday the 26th. Word is we will hear at 10am if they follow the example of previous years. There is three ways it could go- a complete invalidation, a safekeeping of the currently valid but a refusal of further contracts, or validation of all gay marriage. Obviously we are hoping for the latter, though rumor has it to likely be the middle option. There will be events and gatherings that evening in most cities across the country. Check out http://www.dayofdecision.com to find out more and if any are close to you. I plan on attending in San Jose. I hope you all support the one closest to you!

Boo took me to see Wicked on Tuesday as an early birthday present. It was nice. I enjoyed this cast better than the one that came through last time. Sure, the gal playing Elphaba is still no Idina Menzel, but I have yet to be unimpressed with the choices. And the one playing G'linda was EXTREMELY better than the last one. It was funny- Madame Morrible was played by Patty Duke! Previous Madame Morrible's have been rather more full in shape, and Patty Duke is rather thin, so the costume was more form fitting, but the bum roll didn't get scaled down. It was hysterical! You saw thin thin thin thin omg gynormo bubble butt! I couldn't stop giggling every time she came on stage!

You know, someday I'd like to NOT have something blow up in my life. The Jetta we inherited from Mike is in the shop, Boo's Honda and our motorcycle need varying degrees of work to stay running, the gay boy roommates complain about EVERYTHING and are making the housing situation very tense and unhappy, and to top it all off- my work fired me on Thursday. They had already taken me off the schedule for a week and a half, so at least I was proactive and started looking for work. Had a couple interviews, but nothing terribly promising. :-/ So, apparently the security job had gotten a complaint about my driving in the company Jeep. They said that I was driving over on Cottle at 85, and had cut someone off making an illegal u-turn from the right hand turn lane. Nevermind the fact that I was not near there at the time. I barely know where Cottle IS, and I hadn't taken 85 at ALL that day! I had taken 101 to Blossom Hill to Monterey. How is that Cottle and 85? They don't even look the same! Not to mention the fact that my paperwork and the guard I was postchecking's report put me at his site ten minutes before the supposed incident occured! But the HR woman said she had spoken with the person who had made the complaint, and since they had the exact number from the back of the Jeep and had described me, then they were right and I MUST have been there and did that. She said they were a "reliable middleclass white couple" and therefore were a believable witness in her "considered opinion". And your employee that was PROMOTED because management thought they were doing such a fabulous job? She had a clean enough record for you to let her drive the company vehicle. She freely admits that her only vice is speeding. She is a good driver otherwise, uses her turn signals, doesn't tailgate, and rarely speeds in the company car... She isn't more reliable? She wouldn't have known where she was or how she was driving? What's wrong with this picture?
Of course, the HR manager never liked me from day 1. And all this happened only a day or two after we received confirmation that the corporate office in Georgia had received our letter regarding their denial of benefits for my wife based on our same-sex status and how under California law they are required to extend the benefits regardless of gender. Hmm. Awefully convienent. Makes one wonder who this "reliable" couple knows at headquarters or in management... Not that it matters at this point, as it would be my word against theirs and management has already chosen to back them.
I hate that California is "at will" employment. I don't think a company should be allowed to fire someone without a solid reason. The whole "or no reason at all" clause is such bullshit. It's no wonder there is no company loyalty these days, and companies are allowed to send our jobs overseas. The whole stinking system needs an overhall. :-(

Yeah, I know, I'm horrible at updating this thing. But when do I ever have the time anymore? :)
Got a job with a security company in December, and by January was promoted to field supervisor. Still filling in sometimes at the costume shop. And whenever they need me and I have a day off, I am also still working with the elderly through Senior Helpers, and subbing with special needs classes through Santa Cruz County Office of Education.
We moved in March, a few blocks from the old place. We are now in a four bedroom townhouse. The bedrooms are smaller, but there is more space overall. Now if we can ever get unpacked fully, it might start looking like it!! LOL One pair of roommates chose to come with us. The gay boys did not. But we managed to find another pair of gay boys. Apparently we can't get away from the dynamic. ;) I am fairly pleased with how things are going. We have had some bumps, but they are the sort that usually come with cohabitating with new strangers. Things go smoother every day. We already have one of them addicted to Apples to Apples. He wants to play it all the time, and whines if we go more than a week without playing. Someone come over and play so it isn't just us!! XD
We adopted two kitties in April. Had them about a month now. They are the cutest things ever. Boo is loving them despite herself. LOL It's very fun to watch her interact with them. They are nearly eight months old now. They came pre-named and we chose not to change them- Bonnie and Clyde. Clyde, the boy, is a brown tabby with white stockings on his back legs and white socks on his front, and a white shirt front on his chest leading down his belly in a stripe. He is a big talker too. Loves to follow us around like a puppy and cry cry cry. (I think he's telling on Bonnie.) Bonnie is a brown tabby point siamese. She has the same white stockings/socks that Clyde has, with tabby stripes above them and a white/cream body and tabby stripes on her face, ears, and tail. She is adorable, and about half the size of Clyde. Always into something too. She's the little trouble-maker of the two. They are both very smart, and just love to be around people. They also get along great with dogs of all sizes. Clyde actually likes to play with the roommates' chihuahua. And when we had a greyhound visiting, he tried to get her to play with him too. It was too funny!
Kentucky Derby is today. Someday I would like to go see the race live. I think it would be a lot of fun. The cheapest tickets I have found are for $600 per person though. :( Guess I will have to wait a few years yet... I can't wait to see who'll win. They scratched the odds-on favourite today, and a few others were scratched earlier, so it will be a different race than expected simply from the loss of those horses. Hopefully I Want Revenge will be able to run the Derby next year. He ran some amazing races this year.
Anyhoo, lunch break is nearly over. Catch ya laters!

Mike's parents agreed to donate his organs, and have abided by his wish to be cremated. There will be a memorial service for him this Sunday, January 25th, 2009. It will be at 1875 De La Cruz at the SGI Silicon Valley Community Center. The service will be from 2-3pm, and we will have use of the building until 5pm. Everyone is welcome to join us for this. If anyone wishes to speak at the service, please let us know ASAP in advance so we can make arrangements. There will be finger foods available as well.
The family will be having a small gathering afterward at Dawn's parents' home, but request that only close friends attend this portion.

It's bad. He had a fever last night and his brain kept swelling. He became unresponsive and is no longer breathing on his own. They say he is effectively brain dead. They will run two more tests to establish it, then he will be pronounced dead and the breathing tube removed. They are mostly just waiting for the rest of the family to get here to say goodbye... So we are all here at the hospital now. At least he had a few days here awake enough to tell Dawn that he loved her. This is a hard time for the Spencer and Sandborn families. Please keep Dawn in your thoughts this week. And she will still need some assistance with the hospital bills and now funeral costs... We will keep everyone posted if there are any changes.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, Mike is Novim's sister Dawn's fiancee. He was taken to Valley Med early Thursday morning. He had complained of a headache the day prior, and then collapsed in the bathroom screaming. He couldn't see and had no control of his legs. At Valley Med, they determined it was due to a brain aneurysm. They transfered him to Stanford Hospital. No one was sure he'd even survive the second ambulance ride, but amazingly, he did. They operated on him at 7:30pm that evening. He was out of surgery around 4am. They used a procedure called endovascular embolization. Due to the location of the aneurysm, they were only able to coil approximately 60% because any further would have obstructed other major arteries in the same location.
Friday he seemed to be well. His vision had returned. He was recognizing people, could feel sensation, and could control the right side of his body. But on Saturday, he only recognized Dawn about 50% of the time. He would get aggitated and would yell and curse. Then he ripped the drain tube out of his head that was helping drain more of the blood away from his brain to relieve some of the pressure. Dawn had a panic attack later that day, and was prescribed valium. Sunday his brain scans came back and they were saying he is doing okay so far.
Today however, they are finding that his brain is not releasing pressure correctly. He is losing more motor function. They are doing everything they can, but nothing is helping yet.
So please keep him in your thoughts, and if you are they praying sort please say one for him. If you know him, they are allowing limited visits accompanied by a family member. He is in the E wing at Stanford. Just get in touch with us.
If you want to offer your support and wishes, you can reach Dawn at 408-771-9027. This number accepts texts as well as calls. We have also set up a paypal account if anyone wants to help support in that way. It will go toward hospital expenses, any medical bills, and recovery therapy. The paypal is SandbornSupportFund@gmail.com and that is also the email address to use if you want to send condolences. Feel free to crosspost any of this information to anyone you feel needs to be aware of it.
We will keep everyone updated as we have more information.

Well, I am still alive, contrary to popular belief. Life had exploded this week, but we're getting back on track. Lots of updates to tell, but no time as I must leave for work soon. More later, I promise!
Debbie made me manager at the costume shop, and I'm looking for some overnight security work to suppliment. We are still at the same apartment, and finally have some roommates that aren't so bad and drama filled. *counts blessings*
N and I are still happily together. We bought a motorcycle recently, because my car died and the bike gets better gas mileage.
Xmas party, our house, Sunday December 21st. There's an evite, so if you haven't received it yet and would like to come, give me your email address so I can send you the evite. :)
Gotta jam!

Gays can now be legally married in California.
And Boo and I will be doing just that this upcoming Saturday.
This is not going to be a substitution for the big wedding we are planning, but after much discussion we feel we should get the legal bits done while we have the opportunity. :-)
If there is anyone who would like to attend, get in touch with us for the time and location. This will not be anything formal, just a simple exchange of vows. We will be having dinner in SF afterward, and people are welcome to join us for drinks or something afterward.