Very Long Chronicles

Adventure Log

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:31:00 +0000

Adventure Log

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:28:00 +0000

Stumbled upon a nice little British Columbian family blog. Fans of Unschooling, which you can also learn more about there.

Nurtured by Love

Also: watch Jason Marsh's 25-minute documentary film Unschooled. Met him at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival several years ago. Extremely articulate, nice guy who made a lovely little piece about...Unschooling.

Jeremy M. Long "I've Just Seen a Face"

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:12:00 +0000

Monday

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:40:00 +0000

october 19.
12:58 pm.

I found an orphaned pair of Coach sunglasses today.

We jumped mighty waves, mightily. And snacked on Pirate Booty popcorn. A handful of folks out, tiny breeze, and general giddiness over being at the seaside on a Monday morning.

Where are you, Gramma Susie? Magdelana kept mischievously repeating yesterday in the ocean.

Montag

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:37:00 +0000

october 19.
8 pm-ish.

Preparing to watch Mall Cop. What a fine we had: morning at Kalamas Beach, back for a midday lunch and siesta, then cruising around in our silver Sentra to Pali Lookout. Windy like a...really windy wind.

Debriefing at Starbuck-arinis with our local hosts.

Becca and I make an effective team: she navigates, I drive. And Magdelana watches for "the 'piders" : a pair of gigantic Halloween spiders decorated on someone's house.
I just love you so much, 'piders, she said.

Sunday

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:32:00 +0000

october 18.
8.36 pm.

A picnic with the Worleys at Kapi'olani Park. Leftover Brendan's casserole, peanut butter Oreos, etc. Colten sat on Magdelana's lap, she invited him to snuggly-wuggly, and we conversed and walked up and down the nearby stairs, many times.

And we have an automobile now, from Advantage. Now we can get lost on our own. Will be difficult from the bus system I was used to.

Sunday

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:18:00 +0000

october 18.
8.26 pm.

A sunny day in Waikiki. Spread out the towels and alternated between swimming and snacking on goldfish crackers. Magdelana continues to adore the ocean, though she has become (understatedly) territorial: became very upset, after we had already been swimming for a few hours.

"No Daddy, this is my ocean. You cannot come in!"

But I did not respect her wishes, I went in anyway, and she followed me out, until she was clinging to me with one hand and trying to hit me with the other, chirping angrily the whole time.

She loves Brendan's iPhone, particularly the "dancing Lanessa video."

Sunday

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:55:00 +0000

october 18.
10.20 am.

Yesterday, P.M.: potluck at Kailua was amazing. Am having daydreams about my piled plate, nary a poor entree on it. wow.

Lanikai Beach, where we met the Worleys.
(later: "Hey, that's my friend Colten!" when she saw the picture on Brendan's phone)

Magdelana is loving the ocean. We frolicked and splashed and avoided little stinging blue jellyfish, while the others chatted and Colten tromped around in his hat and Magdelana's green crocs.

I Love You Man last night, acccompanied by Brendan's delicious four-ingredient noodle casserole.

By his own admission, Brendan is not a film person. I use "film" as an inclusive umbrella for film, movies, and television. That is unfortunate, as it is a major bonding ritual for our family. He is, however, a major sports fan and fantasy football player. I will be starting a required viewing list for him that I will dose heavily with classic sports films to begin luring him in.

Suggestions?

Shabbat

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:49:00 +0000

october 17.
11 am-ish.

Kailua SDA. open panels of doors along two sides, breeze blowing through. Magdelana fell asleep on me this morning, while I whispered Androcles & the Lion to her. Talked myself to dreamland too. Becca and Leanna prepared themselves at her place, Brendan returned from his three-hour lower body workout. USC up seven on Notre Dame, to Brendan's disgust.

Magdelana informed me, as she yanked out the pigtails I had painstakingly done, "No Daddy, you do not do a good job. Mama will do piggytails in my hair." And thus she spake, though I know I do a great job on her hair.

Saturday

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:42:00 +0000

october 17.
7.52 am.

We have been up for quite some time, not voluntarily (merci, Miss Magsley). A late night at Ala Moana Park with Bangkok Chef panang and yellow curry (stunningly delectable...and $5.75 per entree!).

Finally got to meet Colten, whereupon he and Magdelana raced and jumped and hugged and organized chapstick (the latter per her invitation).

Brendan is working out. We are not.

Friday

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:57:00 +0000

october 16.
5.14 pm.

What an adventure today has been. Galloping and storytelling and Splenda-organizing in the morning, Then a 1.1 mile trek through the eclectically-designed neighborhoods of Kailua to the sandy heaven of Kalamas Beach. Where Magdelana attacked the ocean with vigor and bravery, and received a sad sunburn. Then fell asleep in Becca's arms.

I nodded off on Brendan's very comfortable couch reading David Gilmour's the Film Club and Rebecca did not fall asleep reading her Dicks book.

We are going to Ala Moana park this evening.

Friday

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:44:00 +0000

october 16.
9.31 am.

phone with Jonny:

JONNY
what have you been doing?

ME
oh, having a leisurely breakfast of bagels and coffee. relaxing.

BECCA, away from phone
romping! five romps this morning!

ME
think it was actually four.

JONNY, no pause
oh, what I wouldn't give to have sex today. I would practically give up my virginity for that.

Friday

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:40:00 +0000

october 16.
7.45 am.

Sunlight streaming through, bagels and coffee and Magdelana on the floor, obsessively protecting her injury from last evening: a scrape on her knee, earned from a trip on the concrete overlooking "the Blowhole." we are in Brendan's pad, in Kailua, a medium walk from the warm ocean whose breeze and salt I feel even now.

Costco trip and pizza last night. Oh, and Magsley's solo field trip with Aunty Leanna, to work. Where she did not say "hi." To anyone.

Her hair is Tina Turner and her disposition is giddy surprise kisser.

Airplane, pt. II

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:37:00 +0000

october 15.
1.15 pm.

Beyond my wildest dreams, Magdelana slept from 10.55 to 1.15. Nestled, sprawled, zonked. Got some surprisingly good breakfast burritos while she was out.

People used to smoke on planes. Wow, that is rapidly evolving into the same memory archive that holds traces of VCRs, dot matrix printers, and unlocked front doors.

Airplane

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:35:00 +0000

october 15.
11.16 am.

Mags fell asleep at 10.55. Cozied up between us in 43-E. Done quite well so far. Has been carefully organizing the in-flight magazines and working on her new artbook.

Becca told her Goldilocks, whispered and snuggly, and I followed with Androcles, a current favourite. Rebecca is reading Something Mis ing by Matthew Dicks. I have been enjoying a 1972 Alfred Hitchcock anthology and listening to LCD Soundsystem. It is a full aeroplane, and we are over the sea.

There are many white earbuds and Grisham paperbacks, and a duo playing poker, though it does not appear to be strip, yet.

Airport

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:31:00 +0000

october 15.
7.52 am.

PDX. Day One of our Hawaii trip. Magdelana has commandeered the place like MacArthur returning to the islands. Driving her Batman suitcase through and around people (but mostly through), Bangkok cabby style. BUMP! Whoops. Pink and piggytailed, raspy voice squeaking out motorcycle exhaust orders as we troop past kiosks and bookstores and - "oh, look, we have that book at home!" and yes, we do (Jimmy Patterson's Swimsuit).

"I don't want to go on a boat trip!" as we board.

Split Show

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:49:00 +0000

Bittersweet. Becca and Mags head to Rocktoberfest in Rockaway, where the Colorblind Soldiers will hammer the stars with silverstreaked melodies of heartachebreak. Me?

An unfortunate - though fortunate - prior committment to Tender Loving Empire and their release show for Finn Riggins' lovely new indiefolk album, Vs. Wilderness.

Will compare notes later and rock hard now. Au revoir.

Scary Stuff

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:59:00 +0000

3:30 am.
Loud little voice calling for me. Pick her up.

"Daddy, I am sorry for screaming...I just got a little bit scared of the moon and the dark. But now I will try and be brave with you."

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:12:00 +0000

thunderous performance by Colorblind Soldiers on the hills of Mt. Norway Saturday night. amazing.

Christmas show, upcoming.

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:30:00 +0000

5 a.m.

"Daddy, would you mind getting me something to drink please?"

she whispered, so as to not awaken the children.

City Fright

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 01:28:00 +0000

downtown Portland, NW 23rd. saying goodbye to Uncle Jonny. unprompted and earnest.

Thank you for holding my hand, Uncle Jonny, so that I am not scared.

Quite a duo.

Cross Contamination

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:58:00 +0000

Me: Can I have a kiss?

Magdelana inspects me carefully. Umm...no. You have a messy face.

Monday on the Job

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:55:00 +0000

Moon

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:10:00 +0000

Sitting in the backyard last night, watching the city lights across the river. Magdelana scans the sky.

"I wonder...I wonder if the moon is hiding, behind the tree, in the dark."

She has a lively love affair with night's sunshine.

Moon

josephivanlong@hotmail.com (Very Long Media) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:20:00 +0000

Working in my downstairs castle last night. A tearful voice floats from upstairs.

"Daddy, come lay by me! Lay by me Daddy!"

Trudge up. Walk in. Magdelana, bouncing up and down, perspiring in the night heat, repeating herself. "I want you to lay by my crib!"

A moment later, something grabs her attention, dimly luminescent through the window shade. "Hey, what's that? It's the moon! The moon is tired, and taking a nap. Like me!"

And I hugged her, and pulled her out of the crib at 1:30, and we slept on the floor by her crib. Woke up with sun beating in and her sitting next to me, disheveled and ready to rock and roll.

Like that kid.